4. Theapcactionresearchnetwork:Researchcapacityforanopen,Fairandsustainablenetworkedsociety

4. TheAPCActionResearchNetwork:Researchcapacityforanopen,fairandsustainablenetworkedsociety

TheAPCActionResearchnetworkisanetworkofresearcherslocatedinorassociatedwithAPCmemberswhofocusoninformationsocietythemessuchas openaccess,buildingtheinformationcommons,mobilephonesandtheinternet,ICTsandenvironmentalsustainability,opengovernance,privacy,security,humanrights,sexualityandsexualrightsandtheinternetandstrategicuseofICTs.APCisrequestingsupportfromtheIDRCtostrengthenthecapacityofthisnetworktoconductresearchonanongoingbasis,and,aspartoftheactivitiespresentedhere,todoresearchonatleasttwoemergingissuesofrelevancetoopenandfairnetworkedsocieties.(Seesection7below).ThisactivityrespondstoAPC'seighthstrategicpriority:networkingandcollaborationwithintheAPC.

NetworkingandcollaborationwithintheAPC(APCKRA8)

APCmemberswillworkcollaboratively,shareinformation,experienceandskill,tokeeptheAPCavibrant,participatoryhubfortheinnovativeuseofstrategictechnologyandnetworkingforsocialjusticeanddevelopment.

4.1 Problemandjustification:TheroleofresearchintheAPC

TheintegralrolethatresearchplaysinAPC'sworkisdetailedinAppendix3,APC'sTheoryofChange.Researchinformsadvocacyandcapacitybuilding,and,capacitybuildinginturnsupportsresearch.NetworkbuildingisbothanoutcomeofhowAPCdoesresearch,aswellasamechanismforconductingcomparativeresearchandformakingsurethatresearchlinkstoadvocacythatinfluencespolicy.ThereforeitisimportantthatAPCengagesinresearchcapacitybuildingandbuildingnetworkingamongresearchers,aswellaslinkingresearcherstoadvocacyandpractitionernetworks.

StrategiccommunicationsandoutreachisatthecentreofhowAPClinksresearch,advocacy,capacityandnetworkbuilding.Wehavelearntthatunlessresearchresultsareeffectivelypackagedandcommunicateditwillnotreachtargetaudiencesorinfluencepolicy.Wehavealsolearntthattobuildcapacityweneedtoolsandresourcesintheformatsandlanguagessuitabletotheindividualsandorganisationsweareworkingwith.

AssessmentofAPCresearchcapacityandcapacitybuildingneedsusingtheBernardframework

APCneedsexcellentcapacityinallfivecategoriessuggestedbyAnneBernard[1]inaconceptpapershedevelopedfortheIDRCin2005:conductingresearch;managingresearchactivities;conceiving,generatingandsustainingresearchinasector;usingresearchoutcomesinpolicyorpractice;andmobilisingresearch-relatedpolicyandprogrammes “systemsthinking”.

ResearchinAPCvariesenormously.Insomecasesweworkwithestablishedacademicresearchers.Inothers,weworkwith “activistresearchers” withintheAPCnetworkinparticipatoryprojects.

AresearchprocessandbooklikeGlobalInformationSocietyWatch(GISWatch) – ourannualwatchdogreportonthestateoftheinformationsociety--combinesthesetwoapproaches – someofthewriters(notablythosewhoproducethethemeaticreports)arerealexpertsintheirfield,others(especiallythecountryreporters)areprimarilyfromcivilsocietyorganisationsactiveinICTissuesintheircountries.Formanywhenthepublicationwas launchedin2007,itwasthefirsttimetheyhadputtheiranalysisofthestateofICTintheircountriesonpaper.Since2007,GISWatchhascoveredcitizenparticipationinICTpolicyprocesses,accesstoICTinfrastructureandaccesstoonlineinformationandknowledge(toadvancedemocracy).ThatthesameauthorsarewritingabouttheseissuesfromacountryperspectivesuggeststhattheirunderstandingofabroadICTpolicyenvironmentshouldgrowovertimeastheygrapplewithwhat,forsome,maybenewtopics.Astheirunderstandinggrows,sodoestheirconfidenceandabilitytoengageinrelatedpolicyandadvocacyprocesses.ForAPC,thisistherealvalueofGISWatchresearch.

WhilesomeAPCstaffmembershavethecapacitytomanageresearchthisisanareawhichweneedtodevelopoverallintheteam.Weunderstandthistorefertopracticalexperienceandprofessionalknowledgeofapplyingmanagementprinciples,processesandproceduresintheresearchcontext.Itinvolvesdevelopingclearresearchbriefs,drawingupresearchbudgets,contractingresearchers,supervisingresearchandmonitoringprogress.Ifalargerresearchteamisinvolveditalsoentailscoordinationandfacilitatinginteractionamongtheresearchers. Wewilladdressthisgapinonlineandfacetofacecapacitybuildingduring2010-11andalsoworkwithskilledresearchcoordintorsonfundedprojectssothattheycanmentorotherstaff.

Thereareareas,suchasevaluatinggenderinICTinitiativesandaccesstoICTinfrastructure,whereAPChasamplydemonstratedthecapacitytoconceive,generateandsustainresearch. Forinstance,APC'sGenderEvaluationMethodologywasconceivedofalmosttenyearsago,hasbeentestedbyhundredsoforganisationsandresearchcontinuesasthemethodologyisadaptedfordifferentcontexts(ruralICT,softwarelocalisation,ICTpolicyadvocacy,telecentres).HereBernardrefersto “comprehensivedisciplinary,sectororproblemareaexpertise,coupledwithstrongandexperienced-basedknowledgeofthefield,appropriatetoengagingwith,inventingandexchangingnewideasandtogeneratingresearch”.However,asAPCtacklesnewissueareasinthebroaderICTfordevelopmentandsocialjusticefield,wewillneedcapacitytodosoeffectively.Thisproposalwillhelpusengagetwosuchrelativelynewareas:ICTsandenvironmentalsustainabilityandICTsandprivacy,securityandcybercrimefromahumanrightsperspective.

Bernard'sfourthareaisthecapacitytouseresearchresultse.g.inpolicy-makingandimplementation.APChasbecomeprogressivelystronginthisareaandwearemindfuloftheneedtoensurethisisbuiltintoallresearchactivitiesandfeatureinresearchplanning.

Bernardpointsoutthiscapacitytouseresearchresultshasimplicationsforintendedusersoftheresearchsuchaspractitionersandpolicy-makers.Theyneedenoughbasicknowledgeofthesubstanceofthe processesand/ortechnologiesinvolvedintheresearchsothattheycanapplyitintheirpolicyand/orpracticeenvironment.APCbuildscapacityinthisrespectthroughstrategiccommunications,throughcapacitybuildingactivities,andthroughnetworkbuilding.Forexample,intryingtochangehowtelecommunicationsregulatorsandpolicymakersregulatedpricingofunderseafibre-opticcablesinAfricaAPCundertookallthefollowingactivities:

apubliceventbringingtogetherawiderangeofstakeholdersinEastAfricathatwascombinedwithacapacitybuildingeventformembersofthemediainMarch2006[2]

capacitybuildingforregulatorsthrougharoundtablediscussionheldinJuly2006[3]

commissionedresearchfromexpertresearchersonhowaccesstotheSAT3underseacablewasdeployedinsixcountries

shortversionsoftheresearchreportsandonesynthesisedissuepaperproducedinprintanddistributedtopolicymakers[4]

capacityandnetworkbuildingofcivilsocietyactorsatasideeventtoanInternationalTelecommunicationsUnionconferencein2007thatalsoproducedanadvocacyoutputintheformofastatementofdemandandproposedactionbycivilsociety,addressingpolicymakers[5].

Bernard'sfinalareaisthecapacitytocreateormobiliseresearchlinkstosystemicpolicyformationorchange,andtopromotesystemschange.HereAPCisstrongintheareaswehavebeenworkingforthelasttenyears:accesstoICTinfrastructure,arightsorientedapproachtotheinternet,participationinICTpolicyprocesses,andgenderandICTs.

Bernardrefersto “toknowledgeoftheresearcharea,particularlyinrelationtodevelopmentproblems/issuesanddimensionsofriskorbenefitindealingwiththeresearchproblematnational,regionaland/orgloballevels;andprofessionalandpracticalknowledgeofpolicysystemsandprocessesingeneralandwithinthespecificcontextsrelevanttoresearchapplicationappropriatetomobilizingandfacilitatingapplication.” Itrequires “peoplewithcapacitiestothinkandactintermsoforganizationsassystemsandindividualsaspartofcoherentgroupsandabletoworkcollaborativelywithcommongoals.” Itincludescapacitiesto:

• useresultsinpolicyandorganisationalsystems;
• communicateresearchresults/implicationstopolicy-makersandimplementers;
• advocateandmobilisewithinandacrosspolicybodiesandinterestgroups;
• network—notsimply “bein” anetwork—withself-confidenceasanactive-listener,interlocutor,catalyst;
• disseminateskillsandresultsofresearchtoothercommunities;and
• thinkandactininstitutionalandsystemschangeterms.

APC'slongtermengagementinseveralglobal,regionalandnationalpolicyspacesatteststoourcapacityatthislevel.InacasestudyoftheWorldSummitontheInformationSocietyMiltonMuellerconcludesthat:“ThereisnodoubtthatWSISwasamoresubstantive,inclusiveandmeaningfulexerciseinglobalgovernancebecauseofthecivilsocietymobilizationpioneeredby[the]CRIS[Campaign – ofwhichAPCwasalsoanimportantpart]andmanagedsoimpressivelybyAPC.”

“APC’snetworkofaffiliatedorganisationsinvolvesandincorporatesactorsfromnearlyallcommunication-informationpolicyissues,anditsnetworkcontainsanunusualdegreeoftechnicalknowledgeabouttheInternetandtelecommunication.APChaveputparticularemphasisonbroadeningaccesstoICTsinthedevelopingworld.ButtheywereneverjustanICT4Dgroup;theyalsopromotedfreeexpressionrights,privacyrightsandgenderequalityaswell.[…] …whentheWSISdebatesshiftedtowardInternetgovernanceAPCalonewaswellpreparedtohandleit.Thatflexibilityandscope,coupledwiththefacilitationandorganisingskillsofAPC’sprofessionalstaff,accountsforitscentralityandinfluence.”[6]

Ourweakestareasin-houseareaspectsofthecapacitytoconductresearchwithreferencetowhatBernarddescribesas “technical,disciplinaryand/orsectoralknowledge,masteryofresearchmethodsandanalyticalskillsappropriatetoconductingeitheracurrentoranevolvingresearchinvestigation”.ResearchanalysisandmethodshavealreadyandwillcontinuetobeafeatureofAPCresearchcapacitybuilding.

4.2 Objectives

Theoverallgoalistobuildresearchcapacityandgrowthe “APCActionResearchNetwork” ofresearcherswhoare,uniquely,locatedinorganisationsthatcandonationalandregionaladvocacysupportedgloballybyAPCstaff.Theresearchnetworkisexpectedtooperateforatleastfiveyearstostartwith,andbuildingandstrengtheningthenetworkwillbeaniterativeandcontinuousprocess.

Specificobjectivesofthisactivityfor2010and2011areto:

buildresearch,networking,communicationandadvocacysupportfortheAPCActionResearchNetworkspecificallyintwothematicareas:sustainableuseofICTSandopenspectrumfordevelopment.Researchinitiativesintothesetwoareasarepresentedinsection7ofthisproposal.

facilitatelearningandnetworkingamongresearcherswhohaveworkedonprivacy,security,cybercrimeandhumanrightsinpolicyandregulationwithaviewtoscopingfurtherresearchinAfricaandLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean

buildthecapacityofthenetworktoundertakefuturenetworkingandadvocacyactivitybeyond2011

4.3 Methodology

Weaimtoachievetheaboveobjectivesbyimplementingsixinter-relatedactivities.

1. Buildingresearchcapacity:mentoringandsupportforresearchersbyexpertsinthefieldandAPCstaff.
2. MemberLearningandExchange: DiversificationoftheAPCMemberExchangeFund(MEF)toincludecommunication,networkingandadvocacysupporttomemberswhoareactivelyengagedintheAPCActionResearchNetwork
3. StrategicTravelSupport:DiversificationoftheAPCStrategicTravelFund(APCSTF)tosupportmembersofthenetworktoparticipateineventsandprocessesthatallowmaximumopportunityforcommunication,advocacyandnetworkingaroundresearchoutcomes
4. Networkbuildingandlearningforum:Learningeventsthatbringtogethermembersoftheresearchnetworkstoshareknowledge,strengthennetworks,defineadvocacystrategies
5. Networkfacilitation:Developmentofonlinespacesandtools,learningandknowledgesharingplatformsandfacilitatedsupportoftheirusebythenetwork
6. Strategiccommunicationsupport:IntegrationofastrategiccommunicationscomponentintothetworesearchinitiativespresentedinSection7.

Theapproachwillbetwo-fold:a)providingsupportthatisspecifictothetworesearchnetworksprioritisedforthe2010-2011periodandb)developingcross-networkinteractionandlearningaroundcommonareassuchasresearchmethodologies,knowledgesharingsystems,toolsandplatforms,onlineinteractivelearningspaces,facetofacelearningeventsandsoon.

4.3.1 Buildingresearchcapacity

Allactivitieswillcontributeinsomewaytowardsbuildingresearchcapacity.Capacitycanbebuiltthroughon-linecommunication,throughfacetolearningexchangesandevents,throughknowledgesharingplatforms,andthroughparticipationinstrategicevents.

Wewillprovidetargetedmentoringandguidance,fromresearchexpertsthroughouttheresearchprocess,forthetwothematicareasprioritisedfor2010-2011(seeSection7):

PromotingsustainableICTuseintheICTforDcommunity

Supportingaffordableaccessforallthroughopenspectrum

WewilluseElluminate,anonlinelearningplatform,toconvenelearningeventsinconductingresearchandwewillconvenepre-eventworkshopsduringtheNetworkBuildingandLearningForumwhichformspartofthisproposal.ThefiveelementsoftheBernardFrameworkwillbeconsideredinallthecapacitybuildingefforts.

Outcomes:

Increasedcapacityamongparticipatingresearchers,andwithintheAPCActionResearchNetworkasawholetoconductandmanageresearch

Morecoherentandrigourousresearchdesign,methodologyandcoordination

Moreeffectivecommunicationofresearchresults

Specialisedknowledgegainedinwhatinsomecases,arerelativelynewareasformanymembers

StrongercapacityintheAPCtouseresearchresultsandtolinkresearchtosystemicpolicyformation

[1]MappingCapacityDevelopmentinIDRC,byAnneBernard,2005.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]Mueller,M.etal.(2007) “DemocratisingGlobalCommunication?GlobalCivilSocietyandtheCampaignforCommunicationRightsintheInformationSociety” inInternationalJournalofCommunication, 1 (2007), pp. 267-

296.