[kictanet] [Fwd: [APC Forum] Research opportunity

[alice]

Greetings All,

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is a partner in
the Harambee project - Reinforcing African Voices through
Collaborative Processes along with Bellanet Africa, Bellanet
International and UNECA (United Nations Commission for Africa).

Harambee is a Swahili word for “Let’s work together”. It is intended
to signify the uniting of a community around a common goal.

The overall goal of the initiative is to enhance capacity development in
Africa around the use of knowledge and ICTs (Information and 
Communication
Technologies) for collaboration, such that Africa-based organisations are
better equipped to play a lead role in development dialogs and action
affecting them. 

For more information on Harambee please visit 
http://www.harambeeafrica.net/ 

We are undertaking research under the Harambee banner and are 
looking for researchers for four (4) research projects. We are looking for
experienced researchers who would take an action-oriented, participatory
and inclusive approach and who understand networks and networking in
Africa. We are wanting both English and French researchers. i.e. some
research projects could be conducted in either French or English.

Researchers will be contracted by APC and remunerated for their work. They
would also need to attend a workshop in mid to late January possibly in
South Africa in order to interview Harambee participants.

All research should be completed by mid-March 2008.

The topics include:

1. Gender issues in networks and differences in the way men and 
women engage in network activities

2. The status of the networking world in Africa, the issues and the
opportunities. 

3. Communication in African networks

4. Networking processes: opportunities and challenges for online
interactions in African networks 

The research approach will include case studies and storytelling in
order to evoke a deeper and more qualitative understanding of the four
themes we are exploring. Harambee is about building on existing research
and experiences in designing and implementing collaborative processes and
technologies. So the methodology should include an understanding of
existing experiences and uses of communication technologies. 

The research is a journey of discovery which is not about answers but
rather what we can learn from the research. It should be participatory,
inclusive and action oriented. 

A key part of the Harambee project are Focus Networks and recipients
of the small grants fund who were selected to implement specific
projects. We plan to include them in the research component to learn
from their network experiences. This will happen at a knowledge
sharing workshop to be hosted in  late January 2008. Researchers are
expected to be there to interview participants as part of the research
process.

Harambee has existing online spaces which could be used to 
communicate with the Focus Networks and small grants fund recipients.
These include dGroups mailing list, a blog and a wiki. 

Although we would like to have a written paper (written in plain
language) as one output of the research process, we are keen to also
include outputs such as audio recordings of interviews, blog postings,
resources posted to the Harambee website, photos, transcripts etc. We
would like to see creative outputs to share easily with people via online
and off line spaces.

Should you want more information and if you are interested or know of
researchers please email me offlist at jenny at apcwomen.org 

We would need examples of previous research.

Warm Regards,
Jenny Radloff
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