1. GeSCI Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region Initial 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 Alternatives Strategic Advice provision (indirect to MoEs in the region) Promote/Assist in the development of ICT4E policies and plans at MoE level Provide MoEs with strategic planning tools (or translate existing ones to Spanish and Portuguese) Support specific research in the region, like lessons learned or monitoring and evaluation of existing projects (example 1:1 OLPC deployments) Knowledge Building and Sharing (at a regional level) Detect knowledge gaps common at MoE level. Partner with specific organizations, like universities in sponsoring the collection and development of specific content to cover these gaps. Support peer collaboration exchanges among the countries in the region, other partner countries, donors and the research community. For example, organize or co-organize regional events similar to AKE to build institutional capacity.(forums? Seminars?) Sponsor the creation, systematization and update of a database of the existing programs and initiatives in the region. Knowledge ToolsCommission, translate, publish and distribute specific tools and documents (i.e. TCO, teacher training material, case studies) that might help MoEs AdvocacyAdvocacy for some critical areas, like ICT4E policy development, ICT & curricula integration, gender issues, M&E of ICT4E projects. Participate in regional forums and debate

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