International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

IDRC was one of our earliest supporters, providing funds needed to launch the APC Women’s Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP) activities around the world during the lead-up to the 1995 UN World Conference on Women. IDRC also provided support to some of the earliest work promoting connectivity through a network of store-and-forward notes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. IDRC continued to support initiatives of the APC WNSP, as well as the development of our Mission-Driven Business Planning Toolkit. IDRC also provided start-up support to our internet rights work through the Global ICT Policy Monitor project, with a focus on activities in Latin America and Africa. In addition, APC’s Betinho Communications Prize to recognise socially meaningful uses of the internet was funded by IDRC for the first two years, along with partial support for the APC Africa Hafkin Prize and, in 1995, for the APC Council Meeting in Brazil.

Work supported:

  • Feminist Internet Research Network (2018-2022)

  • Local Access Networks: Can the unconnected connect themselves? (2017-2018)

  • Mapping Gender and the Information Society (2016-2017)

  • A Rights-Based Approach to Internet Policy and Governance for the Advancement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2013-2016)

  • Building research and communications capacity for an open, fair and sustainable networked society: The APC Action Network (2010-2012)

  • Implementation of a Business Development Strategy for the Gender Evaluation Methodology (GEM business model) (2010-2011)

  • Capacity Building and Institutional Support Project (INSPRO I and II) (2005-2010)

  • Communication for Influence in Central, East and West Africa (CICEWA) (2008-2010)

  • D-Island – online spaces for ICT4D practitioners (2010) Towards Détente in Media Piracy (2008-2010)

  • Gender and ICT Evaluation Methodology (GEM II) (2006-2009)

  • Communication for Influence in Latin America (CILAC) (2008-2009)

  • GenARDIS project (2005-2009) Feminist Tech Exchange (FTX) (2008)

  • Institutional strengthening and assessment of KICTANet (2007)

  • Harambee (2006-2007) GEM workshop in Asia (2006)

  • GenARDIS project evaluation (2006)

  • Making EASSy Easy (2006)

  • Capacity Building for Community Wireless Connectivity in Africa (2004-2006)

  • Gender Research in Africa into ICTs for Empowerment (GRACE) (2005-2006)

  • Media and ICT policy meeting (2006) Meeting of all wireless partners (2006)

  • Wireless Going Forward (2006)

  • Wireless Training workshop at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) (2005)

  • Global Gender and ICT Forum (2004)

  • Africa ICT Policy Monitor project (2004-2005) Africa Hafkin Prize (2003-2005)

  • Betinho Prize (2003 and 2005)

  • Gender and ICT Evaluation Methodology (GEM) (2003-2004)

  • LAC and Africa ICT Policy Monitor Projects (2003)

Link: https://www.idrc.ca/

Not My AI: A feminist framework to challenge algorithmic decision-making systems deployed by the public sector
Not My AI: A feminist framework to challenge algorithmic decision-making systems deployed by the public sector 10 March 2022 Coding Rights

Taking Latin America as a point of departure, this research seeks to contribute to the development of an anti-colonial feminist framework to question artificial intelligence systems that are being deployed by the public sector, particularly focused on social welfare programmes.

Anti-rights discourse in Brazilian social media: Digital networks, violence and sex politics
Anti-rights discourse in Brazilian social media: Digital networks, violence and sex politics 10 March 2022 Horacio Sívori and Bruno Zilli

This report addresses the role of social media in the production and dissemination of hate speech and anti-rights discourse in Brazil. The researchers analysed the impact of this hostile climate on feminists, LGBTIQ people and their allies, as well as their individual and collective responses.

Gender norms, gendered work and intersectional digital inequalities in Rwanda
Gender norms, gendered work and intersectional digital inequalities in Rwanda 07 February 2022 Research ICT Africa

This study combined quantitative and qualitative research to explore what socioeconomic factors inhibit internet access for women in rural and urban settings in Rwanda. It was produced with the support of APC as part of the Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN).

APC Annual Report 2020
APC Annual Report 2020 20 October 2021 APC

This publication tells a story of collective adaptation and resilience, closeness and collaboration, care and connections, of a growing community navigating change.  

First results of internet research with a feminist approach
First results of internet research with a feminist approach 30 August 2021 APCNews

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN) website. The site's goal is to gather in one place the results of FIRN research projects, which aim to provide evidence to drive change in internet policy and law, and a feminist approach to internet rights.

After the Storm: How to restore policy dialogue and supportive discourse against gender-based violence online in Bulgaria
After the Storm: How to restore policy dialogue and supportive discourse against gender-based violence online in Bulgaria 11 August 2021 BlueLink Foundation

The aim of the project is to support state institutions and civil society organisations involved in overcoming gender-based violence on the internet, in identifying the right communication tone and methods to improve its effectiveness.

Platforms, Power and Politics: Perspectives from domestic and care work in India
Platforms, Power and Politics: Perspectives from domestic and care work in India 12 July 2021 Aayush Rathi and Ambika Tandon

This report presents the findings of a two-year research project undertaken by the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) to study the entry of digital platforms in domestic and care work in India. The project was supported by APC as part of the Feminist Internet Research Network.

Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN) second convening report (summary)
Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN) second convening report (summary) 15 April 2021

In this report summary we share presentation briefs, quotes, insights and discussions from the Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN) online convening, held from 15 to 23 June 2020.

Internet governance: What did we achieve from 2016 to 2019?
Internet governance: What did we achieve from 2016 to 2019? 01 October 2020 APCNews

From 2016 to 2019, we worked for internet-related and ICT policy processes to protect the publicness of the internet and to be accessible, democratic, transparent, accountable and inclusive. How far did we get? Check it out!

Feminist internet: What did we achieve from 2016 to 2019?
Feminist internet: What did we achieve from 2016 to 2019? 30 September 2020 APCNews

From 2016 to 2019, we worked for women’s rights and sexual rights activists to engage with internet and ICT policy and development as feminist issues. How far did we get? Check it out!

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