L I R N E . N E T

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and a number of organizations working on ICT issues in the Latin American region, recently participated in a workshop in Quito, Ecuador to build up a ICT4D Andean Network - APC’s CILAC project Communication for influence in Latin America (CILAC - Andean Region), which seeks to integrate research, research communications, network-building and advocacy for affordable universal broadband.

Among other presentations, Hugo Carrion from Imaginar introduced Situación de las TIC Acceso a infraestructura en la Región Andina.

Click here to download an interview with Julián Casasbuenas, director of Colnodo for the radio program ALER Contacto Sur.

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According to the outcomes of the Regional IGF Preparatory Meeting that took place in Montevideo, Uruguay on 20 August, an online platform has been convened to debate and identify relevant issues and priorities for Latin America and the Caribbean that need to be included in the discussions and agenda of the Third Internet Governance Forum (IGF) that will meet at Hyderabad, India, in December 2008.

The online discussions, taking place during 8-11 September, will be structured around four subjects: ‘How to reach the next billion users?‘, ‘Promoting Cybersecurity and Trust‘, ‘Critical Internet Resources‘, and ‘Emerging Issues‘. Each topic will be developed during one-day online discussions.

Click here to access the registration form for the four lists and for further information.

Click here to access panellist presentations and the webcast files of the Montevideo meeting.

Click here for the reflections and conclusions of the meeting organised and presented by Alicia Richero and Valeria Betancourt.

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The first billion internet users were connected because of particular privileges of access to infrastructure, the ability to afford use, education and geography, amongst others. The next billions to be connected to information society networks won’t have the same economic and social privileges and will have different reasons for not already being connected. These reasons need to be identified, targeted and built into information society strategies, business plans and partnerships. In this spirit, the GAID Inaugural Meeting (4-5 February 2008) was an opportunity to discuss and prepare proposals for the II Ministerial Conference on the Information Society, taking place directly after the seminar, and hosted by the El Salvadorian government.

The seminar and network initiative is the joint effort of the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Development Research Centre-Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (IDRC-ICA), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribean (ECLAC).

Go to the IDRC resource page for links to presentations, podcasts, bios and background documents for this event.

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[4-5 February 2008] The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society for Latin America and the Caribbean (DIRSI) is organising a session entitled “Regional Issues relating to National ICT Policies and Strategies for Achieving the MDGs” for the Launch Seminar of the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Network of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID).

The seminar will take place on 4-5 February 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador, in the two days preceeding the II Ministerial Conference on the Information Society eLAC2007 in San Salvador.

Click here to go to the GAID seminar website.

Click here to see DIRSi participation in II Ministerial Conference on the Information Society eLAC2007.

Click here to go to the DIRSI website.
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[6-8 February 2008] The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society for Latin America and the Caribbean (DIRSI) is organising a session for the Second Ministerial Conference on the Information Society, which is meeting El Salvador. DIRSI member, Roxana Barrantes, of the Instituto de Estudios Peruanos (IEP) is the contact person for this activity.

Click here to go to the conference website.

Click here to go to the DIRSI website.
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