Research on ICTs
Research: Examining the Potential of ICTs
Women'sNet undertakes research on ICTs as they relate to women and gender, and as they intersect with content development. Women'sNet is particularly interested in examining the impact that ICTs have on women's lives and their potential to meet development goals (in particular the Millennium Development Goals).
Our research work in the past includes the following:
- A Rapid Assessment of the use of Mobiles in HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care work
In December 2006, Women'sNet was contracted by UNICEF to conduct a scoping study on how mobile telephony is used in development practice in general and specifically in relation to HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care work. The study looks at both national and regional examples, with a view to distilling best practices that UNICEF can replicate and upscale in its joint programming with the Department of Health. The research examines the potential of the technologies for meeting the development needs of South Africans. The assessment focuses on South Africa, but does examine projects in Africa as they might apply here. It lists key considerations - both developmental and technology-based - and makes recommendations for future endeavours involving cell phone technologies for development. The report was written by Sally-Jean Shackleton, with contributions by Toni Eliasz of Ungana-Afrika.
document link below (PDF)
- Women in the Information and Communication Technology Sector in South Africa
This study was commissioned by the Embassy of Finland in South Africa as part of a larger study to investigate mechanisms for stimulating the increased participation of women in high-level ICT skills in South Africa. This report, published by the Meraka Institute and Icteum consulting, forms Part 2 of three documents and presents a snapshot of the situation of women in high-level Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in South Africa. The findings are based primarily on desktop research carried out during the period February to July 2006, strengthened by consultations with selected South African experts and key players. The report is edited by Tina James, and the Women'sNet team made contributions as contributing editor and research support.
Link: http://women-in-ict.meraka.csir.co.za/images/7/76/National_print.pdf
- National ICT Skills Development Strategy
In October 2006, Women'sNet was contracted for 6 months by the Department of Communications (DoC) to develop a framework for developing a national ICT skills development strategy. The research was intended to deepen the understanding of the ICT skills supply and demand dynamic, and to develop some proposals of how the address the mismatch between the skills available and the skills demanded by the ICT industry. Natasha Primo conducted the work on behalf of Women'sNet. The first full draft of the report was handed to the DoC in April 2007.(Contact the Department of Communication for more information)
- Engendering Broadcast Legislation:
In 2001, a Women'sNet-led consortium was awarded a tender by the National Department of Communications to investigate and make recommendations on how existing broadcast legislation and regulations could be made more gender-aware. The project sought to understand how effective existing broadcast legislation and government policy have been in: advancing the position of women in the media sector; and promoting diverse images of women that challenge mainstream and stereotypical notions about the social roles and status of South African women across different ages, ethnicities, as well as cultures and religions, amongst others.
(contact Department of Communications)
