Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
August 2014
News / Calls and Awards / Recent and Upcoming Events / New Projects / Project Publications and Articles
Ecohealth Conference 2014
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The 5th biennial Conference of the International Association The Spanish edition of the publication “Ecohealth Research in of Ecology and Health, Ecohealth 2014 took place in Montreal Practice. Innovative Applications of an Ecosystem Approach to from August 11-15, 2014 under the theme: connections for Health”, edited by Dominique Charron. health, ecosystems and society. Download the publication from the IDRC Digital Library. With IDRC’s support, researchers from Latin America demonstrated how their work has contributed to the prevention and decline of dengue in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay, as well as the decrease of Chagas disease in Central America. Read more
Peru: actions for a more informed vote In order to enrich the programmatic discussion of policy proposals, CIES is leading the project “Regional Elections 2014: Focusing the Electoral Debate” due to the regional and municipal elections that will take place on October 5. The project will actively produce research based policy briefs, disseminate them in workshops and seminars for different actors, and train journalists and communicators. Read more (Spanish)
Female Participation in the labour force and the gender bonus in Latin America On August 15, the Project “Counting Women’s Work” was launched in Lima during an event entitled “What is the role of the women in the labour market today? Challenges in Peru and Latin America” organized by ICES. The project is promoted by ECLAC and financed by the Hewlett Foundation and IDRC. The objective of the “Counting Women’s Work” project is to measure women’s total economic
contribution (including non-remunerated work, such as child and elderly care) in the economies of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Access event presentations (Spanish)
Read more about the project
Vulnerability of water resources in Guatemala The scarcity of rain and the droughts that are hitting Central America have wiped out the crops of thousands of agricultural producers. It is essential to gain a better understanding of how climate change is affecting existing water resources and to create mitigation and adaptation plans. Since 2013 the “Water Security and Climate Change in the Central America and the Caribbean” project lead by CATHALAC with the financial support of IDRC, and its multi-disciplinary teams with representatives of academia, governmental institutions, and local actors have been carrying out a study on climate change adaptation in the Samalá river in Guatemala and the Yaqué del Sur river in the Dominican Republic. In this brief interview, project leader Freddy Picardo, describes the tools that local governments must have in order to plan their investments in climate change adaptation, as well as the objectives and reach of the project.
Hardier and more nutritious potatoes In Colombia, researchers have developed new potato cultivars that are highly resistant to late blight disease, combining the best modern technologies and participatory methods. Researchers demonstrated that some of these cultivars contain twice the amount of protein, are higher in iron and zinc tan existing local potatoes, and yield up to 30% more. Three of the cultivars were selected by indigenous farmers, who are now multiplying them. These are some of the achievements of the “Improving potato production for increased food security of indigenous communities in Colombia” project Read more (Spanish)
New GEM Caribbean studies and policy briefs on entrepreneurship now available! Visit the GEM Caribbean website to access a selection of studies and policy briefs on a range of entrepreneurial topics in the Caribbean. These include the 2013 GEM Colombia Country Report entitled Colombian Business Dynamics (in Spanish only), the Caribbean Regional Report 2012, a report on Creative Industries Study In The Caribbean, with information on Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Colombia, as well as the YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP REPORT 2012 and the Gem Trinidad And Tobago 2012 Report. Also available are two policy briefs on Entrepreneurship – The Driver For Economic Diversification In Trinidad & Tobago, and Building Creative Businesses In Jamaica. GEM Caribbean is a three-year project, supported by IDRC, which established, trained, and strengthened entrepreneurship research teams in Colombia, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Barbados . Read more
Open Data project shares its emerging insights on open data
How are open data initiatives fostering improved governance, supporting citizens’ rights, and promoting more inclusive development? The “Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries” project recently made available its initial insights on this question in a report which draws on case studies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and 9 countries from outside of the region. The project, which is a multi-country, multi-year study led by the World Wide Web Foundation, with support from IDRC, aims to understand how open data is being put to use in different countries and contexts across the developing world. Read report
How does social media impact citizens’ participation? To answer this question, the Democracy and Development Foundation and NGO Digital Rights led IDRC funded project “Rethinking Political Legitimacy: Citizen Inclusion and Social Digital Media”, which worked to understand and document these impacts in Chile. To gain a broader panorama, the project also analyzed various digital activism initiatives from around the world. An e-book series with the research results is now available to download.
Read more
New book analyzes international development issues The book “International Development: Ideas, Experience and Prospects” examines the ideas behind development: their origins, how they have changed and spread over time, and how they may evolve over the coming decades. It also examines how the real-life experiences of different countries and organizations have been inspired by, and contributed to, thinking on development. Read more or download individual chapters in PDF from the IDRC Digital Library
Video of the Month – Girardot free from dengue Community members in Giradot, Colombia, have worked with a local research team led by the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá to develop the best ways to prevent the Aedes mosquito from getting into homes and transmitting dengue. This video shows how they did this by sewing and building customized covers. The project is sponsored by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and is part of a multi-country study in LAC on the prevention and control of dengue in LAC. Watch Video (6:24’)
Call for Concept Papers on Open and Collaborative Science The Open and Collaborative Science in Development Network (OCSDNet) is pleased to announce the launch of the public Call For Concept Notes for case studies that explore the linkages between open science and development. Deadline: October 8, 2014 Read more
"Saving Brains" Call for Proposals - Grand Challenges Canada Grand Challenges Canada´s “Saving Brains” program has opened a new call for proposals for projects that seek innovative solutions to problems associated with early child development, and caring for social, emotional and cognitive development during the first 1,000 days of life. Deadline: September 8, 2014 Read more
Call for Proposals: Evaluation of Phase 2 of the Think Tank Initiative
IDRC requests proposals for the provision of an independent evaluation team to undertake an evaluation of the second phase of the Think Tank Initiative over 4.5 years. The evaluation will provide periodic, timely and actionable feedback to allow for the adaptive management of the Initiative, as well as providing rigorously documented and validated learning about the program. Deadline: September 22, 2014 Read more
IDRC Call for concept Notes: Canadian Partnerships Small Grants
IDRC’s Canadian Partnerships Program invites organizations incorporated and headquartered in Canada to submit applications for its 2014-2015 Small Grants for Innovative Research and Knowledge Sharing. These funds are available to local, regional, national, and international organizations incorporated and headquartered in Canada that produce or share knowledge for development. Fecha límite: September 23, 2014 Read more
Call for Research Projects 2014-2015 The South American Network of Applied Economics announces the call for research proposals under the project “Small and Medium Enterprises, Job Creation, and Sustainability: Maximizing Opportunities from South America's Commodities Boom” funded by IDRC.
Deadline: September 29, 2014 Read more (Spanish)
IDRC - The Bentley Cropping Systems Fellowship IDRC offers this Fellowship (a bequest from Helen S. Bentley and C. Fred Bentley) every two years in October to a Canadian, permanent resident of Canada, or a citizen of a developing country. You must be a graduate student with a university degree in agriculture, forestry, or biology, and wish to undertake applied, on-farm research with cooperating farmers in one or more developing countries. Deadline: October 1st, 2014 Read more
Sixth Amy Mahan Scholarship Program for Young Researchers The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI) opened a new call for young researchers. DIRSI promotes research on the most recent advances of the information and knowledge society and the links with development and poverty in countries of Latin America.
Dealine: October 1st, 2014 Read more (Spanish)
11 Aug. 2014
Seminario de presentación y análisis de los resultados del proyecto “Riberas Rioplatenses: Acciones para la Prevención y Adaptación” Impacto de la variabilidad y el cambio climático en áreas costeras del estuario del Río de la Plata”, FLACSO Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
11-15 Aug. 2014
“EcoHealth 2O14: Connections for health, ecosystems and society ”, Montreal, Canada
15 Aug., 2014
¿Cuál es hoy el rol de la mujer en el mercado laboral? Retos en Perú y en América Latin a CIES/Fundación Hewlett/IDRC; Lima, Peru “Open Science, Open Issues. International seminar, workshops and Open Science work group meeting”; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil “6ta Conferencia Boliviana en Desarrollo Económico” Economía Bolivian Conference on Development Economics (BCDE 2014), INESAD; Cochabamba, Bolivia “Taller Juventud y Empleo en América Latina: Desafíos, oportunidades y rol de las políticas públicas” PUC/OIT/EUROSocialAL/IDRC; Lima, Peru “Social protection, entrepreneurship and labour market activation Evidence for better policies”, IPC/IPEA/IDRC; Brasilia, Brazil “XVII Congreso de la Asociación Latinoamericana de la Papa (ALAP) 2014”; Bogotá, Colombia
18-22 Aug., 2014 28-29 Aug., 2014 28-29 Aug., 2014 10-11 Sept. 2014 28 Sept. – 2 Oct., 2014 30 Sept., 2014 3-4 Nov. 2014
ABRELATAM 2014 Mexico D.F.; Mexico Coloquio “Herramientas Efectivas para el Ahorro Inclusivo”; Guayaquil, Ecuador
Reducing the Risk of Water Pollution in Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Cartagena Using hydrological and sedimentological methods, researchers from the Universidad EAFIT will map the hotspots in the estuary of Cartagena Bay, Colombia where the concentration of certain contaminants is particularly high at different times of the year due to the materials flowing out of the Dique Canal. These agrochemicals, sewage and untreated industrial and urban residues are affecting the health of local communities and fish and coral resources in the area. The project will estimate how droughts and extreme rainfall will affect sediment and contaminant levels and distribution in the estuary in order to develop strategies with local communities on how to minimize exposure, and propose a strategy for integrated water management in the region. Read more (Spanish)
Supporting Future University Educators in Haiti IDRC is supporting the Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies of Haiti (ISTEAH) in its mission to train 1000 professionals in the field of science and technology and address the country’s pressing needs for qualified university teaching staff. This grant will do so by supporting a small number of student scholarships, supporting the production of science-based research on a number of priority social and economic issues, and building a network linking Haitian science and technology professionals and educators with others working in this field internationally. The project is being managed by the Groupe de Réflexion et d´Action pour une Haiti Nouvelle. Read more (French)
Hungry Cities Partnership: Informality, inclusive growth and food security in cities of the Global South By 2020, urban populations in developing countries are expected to exceed rural populations for the first time. Accompanying this urban transition is a growing food insecurity crisis in cities and city-regions, due to a lack of access because of high food prices and low incomes. The goal of this project is to promote inclusive growth in the informal food sector through research on policy and measures that support entrepreneurship and decent employment. The research team will analyze formal and informal urban food systems in large cities in 7 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean (Jamaica and Mexico), exploring how they interact, how they are governed, and their respective contribution to food security and inclusive growth. The Hungry Cities Partnership is led by the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada). Other Canadian universities researchers will also participate in this research. Read more
IDRC IN THE MEDIA Want to stay up to date on the information published by the media on the projects we fund in Latin America and the Caribbean? Follow us on Storify, where we update the information daily. Read news: 16-30 August, 2014 Read news: 1-15 August, 2014
HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES •
Daily newspaper El Comercio (Peru) published an interview to Sue Szabo, IDRC’s Director Social and Economic Policy, during her recent visit to Lima “Es importante reducir pobreza, pero también desigualdad”. Author: Marianella Ortiz.
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The Agencia Latinoamericana de Información (ALAI) published an article authored by Fernando Carrión entitled “Economías ilegales y territorialidad en Latinoamérica”. Fernando Carrión, leads the IDRC funded project "Exploring the Political Economy of Violence in the Border Regions of Latin America”.
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Red Agrícola, published an interview with researcher Fernando Santibañez from the Universidad de Chile who comments on climate change in Chile. Santibañez leads IDRC project "Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Extremes in the Americas" (VACEA) funded by the International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change (IRIACC). Author: Jorge Velasco Cruz.
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Universia Ecuador published an article with information on the Workshop “What if Technology is not the Answer? Thinking at the Intersection of People, Information & Communication Technologies,and Equity in Health” that took place in Quito recently. This was the closing workshop of the Public eHealth, Innovation and Equity (eSAC) project, funded by PAHO and IDRC.
AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT •
“¿Unidos podemos? Coaliciones territoriales y desarrollo rural en América Latina”. Asensio, R. Fernández, I.; IEP; RIMISP; 2013. (América Problema, 38)
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“Equity, efficiency and sustainability in water allocation in the Andes: Trade-offs in a full world”. Roa-García, M.C. Water Alternatives 7(2): 298-319; 2014.
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“Stream closure and water allocation in the Colombian Andes”, Roa García, M.C.; Brown, S.; Lavkulich. L.M.; International Journal of Water. 2014
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“Evaluation of education and training in water and sanitation technology: case studies in Nepal and Peru”, Ngai, T.K.K.; ; Coff, B.; Manzano, E.; Seel, K.; Elson, P.
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“Cartilha do Pescador Artesanal: Boas Práticas na Manipulação dos Produtos da Pesca Artesanal”, Universidade Federal do Pará; 2013
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“Reducing global mercury emissions in artisanal and small-scale gold mining”; IDRC; 2014
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY • “Youth Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean Region 2012”; Varela Villegas, R.; Moreno; J.A.; 2014 •
“Medios sociales y activismo digital en el mundo” ; Millaleo, S.; Cárcamo, P. ; Fundación Democracia y Desarrollo; 2014
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“Educación Financiera, Cumplimiento de Corresponsabilidades. Evidencia de la evaluación del Programa Piloto ‘Promoción del Ahorro en Familias JUNTOS”; En Breve N°50; Proyecto Capital; 2014 /
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“Financial Education, Fulfillment of Conditionalities. Evidence from the evaluation of the Pilot Program “Promotion of Savings in JUNTOS UNTOS Families in Peru”; InShort N° 50, Proyecto Capital; 2014
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“La vida informacional de los marginados: un estudio sobre acceso digital en tres localidades mexicanas”; Mariscal, J.; Martinez, A.; DIRSI; 2014
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“Internet en las escuelas. Efecto sobre el rendimiento educativo en el Perú: 2007-2011”; Hopkins, A.; DIRSI; 2014
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“¿Cómo atiende el Estado a la población Indígena? Principales resultados del estudio Instituciones públicas para atender a población indígena”; Blas, A.L.; ASIES; 2014
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“Mecanismos Alternativos al Proceso Judicial para favorecer el Acceso a la Justicia en América Latina”, Centro de Estudios de Justicia de las Américas (CEJA/JSCA); 2014
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“El sistema de pensiones de Paraguay: debilidades que exhibe y perspectivas de la reforma”; Navarro, B.; Ortiz, E.; CADEP; Agosto 2014
GLOBAL HEALTH POLICIES • “Carga de Enfermedad atribuible al Tabaquismo en Argentina”, Pichon-Riviere A, Alcaraz A, Bardach A, Augustovski F,
Caporale J, Caccavo Francisco.C.; Documento Técnico IECS N° 7. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mayo de 2013
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“Carga de Enfermedad Atribuible al Tabaquismo en México”. Pichon-Riviere A, Reynales-Shigematsu L M, Bardach A, Caporale J, Augustovski F, Alcaraz A, Caccavo F, Sáenz de Miera-Juárez B, Muños-Hernández J A, Gallegos-Rivero V, Hernández-San Román E. Documento Técnico IECS N° 10. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Agosto de 2013
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“Carga de Enfermedad atribuible al Tabaquismo en Colombia”. Pichon-Riviere A, Bardach A, Alcaraz A, Caporale J, Augustovski F, Peña Torres E, Osorio D, Pérez Acevedo J, Gamboa Garay O, Gamboa Garay C. Documento Técnico IECS N° 9. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria, 2014
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“Carga de Enfermedad atribuible al Tabaquismo en Perú”. Pichon-Riviere A, Bardach A, Caporale J, Alcaraz A, Loza C, Huayanay L, Augustovski F.. Documento Técnico IECS N° 13. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Abril de 2014
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“Carga de Enfermedad atribuible al Tabaquismo en Bolivia”; Pichon-Riviere A, Bardach A, Caporale J, Alcaraz A, NaviaBueno M, Augustovski F.; Documento Técnico IECS N° 14. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Abril de 2014
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“Carga de Enfermedad atribuible al Tabaquismo en Chile”. Pichón Riviere A, Bardach A, Caporale J, Alcaraz A, Augustovski F, Caccavo F, Vallejos V, Velazquez Z, De La Puente C, Bustos L, Castillo Riquelme M, Castillo Laborde C. Documento Técnico IECS N° 8. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria, Abril de 2014
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“Iniciativas de eSalud para transformar la salud en la Región de las Américas”; D’Agostino,M.; Al-Shorbaji,N; Abbott, P. Bernardo, Th.; Ho, K.; Sinha; Ch.; Novillo-Ortiz, D.; Revista Panamericana Salud Pública 35(5/6), 2014
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Avda. Brasil 2655, 11300 Montevideo, Uruguay Tel: +598 2 7090042 Email: lacro@idrc.ca www.idrc.ca/lacro Comments or suggestions write to lacro@idrc.ca