Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean March 2014

ENGLISH VERSION News / Calls and Awards / Recent and Upcoming Events / Project Publications and Articles

Safer and more inclusive cities: IDRC at the VII World Urban Forum IDRC and partners from four countries (Pakistan, Brazil, South Africa and Venezuela) will host an event as part of the official program of UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum (WUF7) in Medellín, Colombia, April 5-11, 2014. The event focuses on how to create safer cities, one of six sub-themes under the Forum’s main theme, “Urban Equity in Development – Cities for Life.” Presentations at the event, “Safe and Inclusive Cities: Research to Reduce Urban Violence, Poverty, and

Inequalities” will highlight the work of the Safe and Inclusive Cities Initiative. Panelists from the LAC region include Alice Taylor from the Instituto Promundo (Brazil) and Gloria Perdomo de Farías, LACSO (Venezuela). Safe and Inclusive Cities is a global research program jointly funded by IDRC and the UK’s Department for International Development. Read more

International Forum “Victims and the war against drugs” – live transmission The International Forum “Victims and the war against drugs. Analysis for an integrated policy” will take place in Mexico City between April 23 and 24, 2014.

The event, organized by the Legal Research Institute at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, will be transmitted live on TV Jurídicas and TV UNAM. This activity corresponds to the IDRC funded project “State and Community Responses to Drug-related Violence in Mexico”. Read more

Experts from Latin America, Africa and China debate the possible impacts of the new Chinese economic model on their economies

The Mercosur Network/South American Network of Applied Economics, together with the Inter-American Development Bank, co-organized a 2 day exchange between experts from Latin America, Africa and China. On the first day of the event a working meeting took place to identify possible thematic areas for future joint research. On the second day, March 26th 20145, an open conference was held in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) on “the New Chinese Model: Impacts on Africa and Latin America”. Both activities counted on the support of IDRC and provided a first opportunity to bring together analysts from these three regions in order to generate better understanding of the changes to the Chinese model and their implications for economies in Africa and Latin America, as well as on world trade and in particular on the international insertion strategies of these regions.

Experts from the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) network represented Africa, while analysts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the University of Peking provided a Chinese perspective. Researchers from the Merconet member centres (IPEA, DECON-UdelaR, CENIT, CEDES, UDESA, CADEP) represented Latin America as well as experts from FEDESARROLLO/Colombia, UNSAM/Argentina, y CINDES/Brazil, the IDB and the Inter American Dialogue.

Read more

Citizen Security Dialogues From March 20 – 21, 2014, the “First Citizen Security Dialogue” took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event was organized by the Igarapé Institute and attended by researchers from Latin America and South Africa. The “Citizen Security Dialogues” project is a three year initiative funded by IDRC, which examines what works and what does not work in public security. It involves four high profile conferences (Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Mexico City and Capetown) which bring together experts from the private sector and academia to exchange research experience and findings on the reduction of violence, crime prevention, and the promotion of civic and social stabilization. The partners in these dialogues are the Igarapé Institute (Brazil), the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (Colombia), INSYDE (Mexico) and the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (South Africa). Read more

New study on climate change in the Gran Chaco

The “Evaluation of the Vulnerability and Impact of Climate Change in the Gran Chaco” (Evaluación de la Vulnerabilidad e Impacto del Cambio Climático en el Gran Chaco Americano) document, was presented to the Ecology, Natural Resources and Environment Commission of Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies this past month. The study, produced by the National University of Formosa, the Cordillera Foundation (Bolivia) and the Development Institute (Paraguay) received support from UNDP’s Regatta program. This study is part of a new project funded by IDRC’s Think Tanks Initiative "Strengthening the

Latin American Initiative for Public Policy Research" which involves two Paraguayan institutions: CADEP and the Development Institute. Read more (Spanish) IDRC in the Caribbean

Since the early 1970s, IDRC has supported the efforts of researchers in the English-speaking Caribbean to reduce poverty and inequality, restore degraded coastal ecosystems, and protect communities against disease and natural disasters. Research has helped to improve farming and fishing practices and tackle education, housing and gender-related challenges. Since 1971 IDRC has supported 244 activities for an approximate amount of CA $34.5 million in the Caribbean. Read more: English / French

Series – Innovation in BRIC countries On March 25, 2014 a series of 5 books that bring together the results an intensive research on national systems of innovation in emerging countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was launched during the “BRICS: Systems of Innovation and Development Conference." The event, held at the University of Brasilia, was organized by the Centre for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE) together with the Center for Advanced Studies Brazil XXI Century. The books can be accessed in the following links:

The Role of State

Inequality And Development Challenges

The Promise Of Small And Medium Enterprises

Transnational Corporations And Local Innovation

Financing Innovation

New In Focus collection book

“Information Lives of the Poor. Fighting poverty with technology” By Laurent Elder, Rohan Samarajiva, Alison Gillwald and Hernán Galperin Information and communication have always opened opportunities for the poor to earn income, reduce isolation, and respond resiliently to emergencies. With mobile phone use exploding across the developing world, even marginalized communities are now benefiting from modern communication tools. The core of this book synthesizes the findings from groundbreaking research conducted with IDRC support in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This research catalyzed policy changes that helped improve access to ICTs by all levels of society.

Read the book / Read research results

Wastewater treatment in Latin America and the Caribbean “Selected Technologies for the Treatment of Municipal Wastewater. Guide for Small and Medium Sized Cities”, is the title of the new book published by the Institute of Engineering at the National University of Mexico (UNAM). The book is based on the results of the IDRC funded project "Water and sanitation: Latin American and Caribbean cities adapting to climate change by making better use of their available bioenergy resources". Read more (Spanish)

Alicia Richero, a remarkable contribution

Alicia Richero led pioneering and innovative research projects in Latin America and the Caribbean in the area of Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D). We remember her for her open and generous personality, as well as, for the initiatives which she contributed to. These initiatives continue to generate impacts and affect the modernization of policy in our region, in areas such as school networks and networks of education portals; telework and disability; electronic waste and computer recycling; the social impacts of one laptop per child and per classroom; protection of personal data of children and adolescents on the Internet; and open business models, among others. Alicia passed away on March 1st, 2014.

Awards and Honors February and March were months full of awards and honors for researchers and institutions carrying out projects funded by IDRC and/or working at IDRC. Congratulations to them all!

Adriana Blanco Metzler from the Costa Rica Institute for Research and Education on Nutrition (INCIENSA, Costa Rica) was recognized by the World Hipertension League for her work on strategies to reduce salt intake in Costa Rica. Dr. Blanco-Metzler presently leads the IDRC Project “Supporting a population wide reduction of salt consumption in Costa Rica”

Luz María Londoño Fernández from the Institute for Regional Studies at the University of Antioquía (Colombia) was honored by the Alcaldía de Medellín with the Medal of Female Merit, Gold Metal, Modality Medellin Woman (Medalla al Mérito Femenino, Medalla Oro, Modalidad Mujer de Medellín) for the design of a sensitive research metholodogy which has allowed the voice of victims of the armed conflict to be heard. Phsychologist Londoño presently leads IDRC project “Access to Justice for Indigenous and Peasant Women in Colombia and Guatemala”. Read more (in Spanish)

Esteban Jobbagy from the Universidad Nacional de San Luis, who is also a National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) researcher, received the Konex Prize for scientific distinction, which recognized the 100 most outstanding figures in science and technology over the last decade. He received the distinction in the Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Food category. Dr. Esteban Jobbagy leads the IDRC funded project “Floods, Droughts and Farming on the Plains of Argentina and Paraguay: Adapting to climatic and hydrological changes in the Pampas & Chaco”

Ronaldo Lemos, Director of the Center for Technology and Society at the Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School in Rio de Janeiro and Director of Creative Commons Brazil, and Laurent Elder, Program Leader of IDRC’s Information & Networks program, were among 25 experts selected to form part of the Global Commission on Internet Governance. The Global Commission is a 2 year initiative created by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Chatman House. The Commission, presided over by the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bidt, aims to generate debate on the future of Internet governance among different actors. Ronaldo Lemos has led various IDRC-funded projects. Read more

Rio de Janeiro’s Igarape Institute (Brazil) has been one of the 10 winning institutions of the “New Digital Era” Prize organized by Google’s Executive Director. The work carried out by the Igarapé Institute is focused on violence prevention and reduction through the use of technology. Their mapping of the global arms trade was seen by more than 5 million people in 150 countries. The Igarape Institute participated in the “Urban Violence Reduction and Citizen Security in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa” project. Read more

CIES in Peru has obtained second place in the 3rd edition of the Regional Development Merit Award Juscelino Kubitschek, in the Economy & Finance Category. This prize is awarded by the Inter-American Development Bank. CIES leads various projects funded by IDRC and the Think Tank Initiative Read more

TTI Stories of Influence – ARU Foundation and microfinance loans in Bolivia

The Think Tank initiative has prepared a series of documents entitled “Stories of influence” with the objective of sharing the recent work done by the centers which are part of this initiative. We share this document about the ARU Foundation and an evaluation study that helped

Bolivia’s Productive Development Bank reallocate its resources to small rural businesses for a greater impact on poverty reduction. Access the series Stories of influence / Read Aru Foundation document

Video of the month – Combating Vector-borne diseases

In honour of World Health Day celebrations which this year focus on the theme of vector-borne diseases, we once again share this video that features the research undertaken by multidisciplinary teams from Latin America on how changes in the environment can affect how disease is spread and controlled. Learn about ways in which small changes to building methods can reduce the transmission of Chagas disease in Guatemala or the Gran Chaco region, or new irrigation techniques for rice cultivation in Peru reduce the incidence of malaria, as well as about how land use changes in distinct ecosystems in Latin America are affecting the transmission and incidence of vector borne diseases such as malaria, Chagas and dengue in different ways. IDRC's Ecosystem and Human Health Program – Ecohealth - works with developing-country researchers to find solutions to human health problems rooted in ecosystem conditions. Beyond the vector (13’) / Beyond the vector (36’)

Competition - Canada-Latin America and the Caribbean Research Exchange Grants program (LACREG)

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) announced a new competition for LACREG program designed to strengthen international partnerships and consolidate emerging networks among academic researchers from Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean. LACREG’s purpose is to support small collaborative research activities which will contribute to the creation, dissemination and sustained

application of knowledge in the development process in at least one area of the IDRC’s thematic priority. Elegible countries: Argentina, Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haití, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. Deadline: April 28, 2014

Read more CEDLAS – Competition and Training on Labour Issues in Latin America

The Centre for Distributive Labor and Social Studies (CEDLAS) at National University of La Plata in Argentina, in collaboration with CIEDUR and with the support of IDRC as part of the “Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Better Policies in Latin America” project, is organizing the following activities:

1. “Fourth essay competition on labour and social themes in Latin America and the Caribbean“, for graduate and post graduate economics students from around the world. Deadline: April 15, 2014 Read more (In Spanish)

2. The “Fifth Theoretical-Practical Course on Labour Markets, Poverty and Inequality” will take place in La Plata, Argentina on June 2-6, 2014. CEDLAS with the support of IDRC is offering scholarships for up to 75% of the cost of the course. Deadline: April 18th, 2014 or beforehand in case the 20 places are filled before that time. Read more (In Spanish)

Mar. 20-21, 2014 “Citizen Security Dialogues: Exploring what works in promoting safety and security in Latin America and

Africa”, Igarapé Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Mar. 25, 2014 “Seminario: Experiencias regionales en la reducción del sodio en los alimentos procesados”, INCIENSA, San

José, Costa Rica Mar. 25-27, 2014 “BRICS Seminar: Systems of Innovation and Development”, Universidade de Brasília. Auditório do Instituto

de Biologia. Campus Universitário, Brasilia, Brazil Mar. 26-28, 2014 “4th Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Tobacco or Health”, Interamerican Heart Foundation,

San José, Costa Rica Mar. 26, 2014 Conferencia Internacional “El nuevo modelo de desarrollo chino: los impactos sobre África Y América

Latina, RedMercosur, Buenos Aires, Argentina Mar. 26-27, 2014 “Educación e Innovación para la Inclusión y la Productividad: retos, buenas prácticas y lecciones

aprendidas”, Buenos Aires, Argentina Apr.3, 2014 “Explorando la economía política de la violencia en las regiones fronterizas de América Latina”, FLACSO

Ecuador, Quito Apr. 2-4, 2014 Seminario Internacional “Seguridad, Delincuencia Organizada y Políticas Públicas de Información” ,

RELASEDOR / FLACSO, Quito, Ecuador Apr. 8, 2014 “Ciudades Seguras e Inclusivas. Investigación para reducir la violencia urbana, la pobreza y las

desigualdades” IDRC /WUF, Medellin, Colombia Apr. 9, 2014 “Inequality and Democratization: An-Elite Competition Approach”, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago,

Chile

Apr. 23-24, 2014 Foro Internacional “Víctimas y guerra contra las drogas: Análisis para una política integral”, México D.F., Mexico

Apr. 30, May 7, 2014

2014 “PEP Annual Conference: Inclusive Growth and Employment for Poverty Reduction", PEP / INESAD, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

IDRC IN THE NEWS

• The monthly Bulletin “Ecosalud ETV Colombia” published an interview with Dr. Dominique Charron, Director of IDRC’s Agriculture and Environment Area who recently visited the headquarters of the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation in Colombia.

• The MBA Library of the “America Economía” magazine, comments on the recent document written by Ramiro Rodríguez Revilla “Labour equity for women older than 40 years in Colombia”. This study is part of IDRC funded project “Labour Markets and Inclusive Growth in Latin America” carried out by CEDLAS in Argentina.

• AULA Blog from the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies of the American University in Washington published the article “Social Exclusion and Societal Violence: The Household Dimension” that refers to IDRC funded project “Exclusion, violence, and community responses in Central American cities” carried out by FLACSO Costa Rica. Written by Juan Pablo Pérez Sáinz.

Social and Economic Policy

• “Changes in the Neighborhood: reviewing Citizens Security Cooperation in Latin America” Muggah, R.; Sabo de Carvalho, I.; Instituto Igarapé, Strategic Paper N° 7; 2014

• “Relación entre think tanks y universidades en Paraguay” Galeano, L.; García, D.; González, I.; Mancuello, M.; CADEP; Documento de Trabajo; 2014

• “Los partidos políticos en El Salvador: Una lectura desde las encuestas de opinión”, FUNDAUNGO, • “Cambios en la producción científica de América Latina. Quien escribe más y sobre que”, Asensio, R.; Revista

Argumentos; GRADE; 2014 • “Creciendo en el Perú: una mirada longitudinal al uso del tiempo de los niños y las niñas en el campo y la ciudad” Rojas,

V.; Cussianovich, A.; GRADE; Niños del Milenio. Avances de Investigación N°14; 2014 • “¿Qué es el ahorro programado. Conociendo el producto?”, Martín, J.; ProAhorros, Nota 1, 2013 • “La oferta de ahorro programado. Recorriendo el mercado”, ProAhorros, Nota 2, 2013

Global Health Policies

• “Resultados del estudio exploratorio sobre la cantidad de sodio en los alimentos envasados comprados por los

consumidores”, INCENSA, 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