GenderIT: Articles

Money for tech? Tech and money? Facilitating women�s engagement in the financing discourse through the use of ICT

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Ireen Dubel, the manager of the gender, women and development programme of Hivos is an active participant in discussions on financing for women and development work. Hivos, Ireen�s organisation, is one of the few donor agencies that have consistently supported ICT for development projects.

In this interview conducted by GenderIT.org writer, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Ireen shares her thoughts on the links between ICT and financing for women�s empowerment and gender equality.

Read more on the 52nd Commission on the Status of Women panel report, "Why the Purse Feels Empty: Financing for women's equitable access to information and communication technologies":
What are the current financing trends and challenges in the ICTD sector?
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Role of ICTs in securing funds for women's groups [part 4]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Donor's perspective on financing gender and ICT initiatives [part 3]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Effective Financing Mechanisms to Progress Gender Equality [part 2]
LISTEN:Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Financing Trends and Challenges in the ICT for Development [part 1]

�We are in the process of constructing a new political field, and this is just the beginning�

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Magaly Pazello is a Brazilian researcher and consultant in gender and information and communication technologies (ICT) and a member of the g2g group. She was the only woman from Brazil to participate in the entire World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. In an exclusive interview with GenderIT.org, Magaly highlights the debates about the reduction in international funding for Latin America, and observes that the search for new partnerships and creation of innovative projects are fundamental steps for moving forwards in constructing this new political field. But also, that �this is just the beginning� of the process.

Read more on the 52nd Commission on the Status of Women panel report, "Why the Purse Feels Empty: Financing for women's equitable access to information and communication technologies":
What are the current financing trends and challenges in the ICTD sector?
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Role of ICTs in securing funds for women's groups [part 4]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Donor's perspective on financing gender and ICT initiatives [part 3]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Effective Financing Mechanisms to Progress Gender Equality [part 2]
LISTEN:Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Financing Trends and Challenges in the ICT for Development [part 1]

Of empty purses and tattered pockets: Stitching funding back into gender and ICT

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The panel on women's communication rights "Why the purse feels empty: Financing for women's equitable access to information and communication technologies" during the recent 52nd CSW brought together donor, development and civil society perspectives on the issue. Erika Smith presents an overview of the discussion around the challenges, importance and opportunities of financing ICT for women's communication rights in this article.

Read the full report on 52nd Commission on the Status of Women panel, "Why the Purse Feels Empty: Financing for women's equitable access to information and communication technologies":
What are the current financing trends and challenges in the ICTD sector?
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Role of ICTs in securing funds for women's groups [part 4]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Donor's perspective on financing gender and ICT initiatives [part 3]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Effective Financing Mechanisms to Progress Gender Equality [part 2]
LISTEN:Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Financing Trends and Challenges in the ICT for Development [part 1]

Financing for ICT for Development in India

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Information and communication technologies (ICT) is increasingly recognised by governments, the private sector and civil society alike in its potential to address existing obstacles to social and economic development of disadvantaged groups, as well as to transform the very systems that create inequalities in the first place. To this end, the work of ICT for Development (ICTD) is critical. GenderIT writer, Xu Weiting examines the role of the State and the private sector in creating enabling environments for the sustainability and success of ICTD initiatives, as well as the importance of women's inclusion and participation to ensure that they meet their broad development objectives of social, economic and political empowerment.

Read more on the 52nd Commission on the Status of Women panel report, "Why the Purse Feels Empty: Financing for women's equitable access to information and communication technologies":
What are the current financing trends and challenges in the ICTD sector?
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Role of ICTs in securing funds for women's groups [part 4]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Donor's perspective on financing gender and ICT initiatives [part 3]
LISTEN: Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Effective Financing Mechanisms to Progress Gender Equality [part 2]
LISTEN:Communication Rights for Women - Why the Purse feels empty? Financing Trends and Challenges in the ICT for Development [part 1]

Where is the Money for Women's Rights Work on ICT? A brief look at the funding landscape for women�s organisations working on information and communic

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

In collaboration with the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), Luc�a Carrasco, Fernanda Hopenhaym and Cindy Clark focuses the findings from "Where is the money for women's right? Strategic Initiative" onto the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) and gender.

In addition, it includes some highlights from an interview conficted with Ms. Sonia Jorge, a specialist in Communications Policy and Regulation working on Gender and Development. This article presents a good overview on the financing and budgetary landscape of women's rights organisations working in ICT, and provides valuable recommendations on how to re-think the relationship between money and movements.

Birthing Choices and Challenges�Understanding the new reproductive technologies

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Kim Surkan is a gender studies professor. She recently gave birth to her son who was conceived through in-vitro fertilization. GenderIT.org writer, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza speaks with Kim about some controversies surrounding the use of new reproductive technologies and genetic selection. They also discuss the role of the information and communication technologies in new reproductive practices manipulated by technologies and genetics.

Integration of ICTs in the Health System: Basic Services and Risks to Privacy

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000

How can a health care system respond to the gender-specificities in terms of providing accurate and timely information & services? And in what way can ICTs augment or challenge this effort? Natalia Fernandez presents a summary overview of various approaches by governments in different regions in adopting ICTs in health care, and highlights the potential risks to privacy that they can potentially create.

ICTs and health in Uganda: benefits, challenges and contradictions

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Information & communications technologies (ICTs) have been continually viewed as having the potential to address several challenges in Africa including in the health sector, and has been implemented at least since the 1970s through the 'telemedicine' concept. By looking at the "Satellife" Personal Digital Assistant Project implemented by the government of Uganda, Patricia Litho surfaces the potentials and challenges at stake in adopting ICTs for health in the region.

The internet is for porn? kaBLOG on harmful content - 1 November 2007

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Are you troubled by pornographic materials on the internet? Do you consider it damaging? Or is it a valid expression of fantasy orof diverse forms of sexualities? Have you been harmed by sexually explicit and/or violent content through information and communications technologies? How have you dealt with this in your own use of the internet, mobilephone etc.?

The fight against female circumcision in West Africa transposed on the internet

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Sylvie Niombo, APC-Africa-Women Co-Coordinator, examines a role of information and communication technologies in the fight against female circumcision, a harmful practice carried out on over a hundred million girls and women in West African countries. She explores 'shadow areas' through a closer look at thus launched a research programme �Contribution of information and communications technologies (ICTs) towards the discontinuation of female genital mutilation in Francophone Africa: civic role of the youth� by Enda Third World of Senegal, a member organisation of the Association for Progressive Communications network.

Demanding our reproductive rights on the web: A Uruguayan experience

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

When it was reported in mid-May 2007 that a Uruguayan woman was being put on trial for having an abortion, many people paid little notice. After all, abortion has been classified as a crime in the country�s criminal code since 1938. Others, however, were outraged by the news and turned to information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a tool for organising, protesting, and putting the contradictions of a legal and sociocultural system that systematically violates women�s reproductive rights back on the political agenda.

Feminist theory, practices and actions can lead to innovative solutions on internet governance

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Civil society entities, academic figures and government officials met in Sao Paulo during the first few days of July to participate in the first seminar of the preparatory process for the meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, with the aim of developing proposals to take to that forum next November. Amongst the presentations, the talk �Internet governance and issues of gender� by gender and ICT expert Magaly Pazello stood out. Gender IT.org interviewed her about the political challenges women face regarding access to ICT infrastructure, as well as the coming landscape as the IGF meeting in November approaches.

Do women�s access to ICTs lead to empowerment? Looking at the CEEWA ICT project in rural Uganda

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Is there a direct connection between empowerment and access to information and communication technologies? Patricia Litho interrogates this question through the CEEWA ICT project case study in rural Uganda. She examines the conceptualisation of empowerment, and its relationship with infrastructure, skills, connectivity, access and participation.

New technologies and women in Arab countries: a forest of concepts, a complex reality

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Natalia Fern�ndez-Diaz identifies the difficulties of understanding feminist concerns regarding the needs and potential benefits of emerging technologies in what is usually known as �Arab countries�. Locating the relationship between women and ICTs in women�s movements, Fern�ndez-Diaz interrogates the concepts of technologists, producers, users, victims and indirect beneficiaries in this complex political, geographical and imaginary terrain.

Revolution in ICT infrastructure: Hope for the Ghanaian woman

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

In the area of telecommunications, Ghana appears to perform relatively well in relation to its neighbours in the West-African region. How does it fare in terms of ensuring that gender concerns are taken into consideration whilst promoting ICTs for development? Emily Nyarko examines this question through a closer look at the Strategic Document for ICT and Gender in the national ICT policy agenda.