GeSCI Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region Initial desk study

1. GeSCI Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) regionInitial desk study

2. Objectives of the study • 1. Define the profile of an ideal partner in the region, both regarding mandatory and desirable characteristics. • 2. Compile a list of potential partner organizations in the LAC region, including contact information, pros and cons of each, current lines of work and how their business complements GeSCI’s planned operations in LAC. • 3. Identify potential gaps in ICT4E activities in the region, in order to analyze potential activities that we could develop in 1-2 years time.

3. The region • 45 countries • 526 million inhabitants,76% urban • Mostly Spanish speaking, brazil Portuguese • Varied political and economic contexts • Most unequal region of the world

4. The region (continued) • Communication infrastructure: submarine cables, satellite, mostly deregulated telecom markets. Rural areas disconnected. • ICT4D: Most nations have had difficulties in effectively incorporating ICTs into the various components of the national development equation • Access to primary and secondary education is universal in most regional economies. Most countries are complying MDGs. Main issues: quality of teachers and school infrastructure. • Focus of ICT introduction: ICT basic skills in secondary schools. • Most schools have computers, effort centered in secondary schools. Most countries have telecenters. Almost all have educative portals. Only 2 have ICT4E policy. • Main concerns: Sustainability of government projects, political instability, corruption and lack of professional skills.

5. The profile of our partner in the region Attempting to define the profile of an ideal partner in the LAC region, by trying to identify those characteristics that are mandatory and desirable in the target organization.

6. What can we offer our partner? What do we expect to get from them? We offer: • A good name • Access to our resources (experts, network) • Capacity development • An additional way for them to achieve their own objectives through us • Money We expect to obtain: • use of their legal/administrative structure • local contacts and use of their local networks • ???

7. Potential partner organizations • @lis - Alliance for the Information Society(EU) • APC - Association for Progressive Communications • Cepal (Eclac): UN Economic Commission for LATC – Information Society unit • IADB Inter American development bank • IDRC – International Development Research Centre (Canada) • Infodev (world bank unit) • OEI – Organization of Ibero-american states for education and culture • RELPE -Latin American Network of Educational Portals • UNESCO

8. Product line

9. Areas of work Potentiality of interventions • ICT4E policies and plans: HIGH • Telecentres, public access: LOW • Infrastructure and connectivity: LOW • Classroom deployment models and Curricula integration: MEDIUM-HIGH • Teacher training: unknown • Software and content development: LOW • Planning and deploying ICTs (large scale): MEDIUM • Special education and gender issues: unknown • Use of ICTs for School management: LOW • Research / M&E of existing projects: MEDIUM