GRACE NETWORK
The Gender Research in Africa into ICTs for Empowerment (GRACE) project was initiated in 2005 involving 14 research teams in 12 countries to find answers to questions like these. This stimulated the formation of an African network of gender and ICT researchers. In March 2008 the GRACE project entered a second phase, continuing to involve the network of the research teams in Africa, and introducing the project to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Thirty researchers from 7 countries met in Yemen in December 2008 to initiate their research processes and the Gender ICT Research in the Arab World network. Over time both networks will expand to include many other individuals and organizations throughout Africa and the Middle East. Their work is building a substantial body of research on how African and Arab women access and use ICTs, which will influence policies and interventions to help reduce the obstacles women currently encounter.
The findings emerging from the first research phase have been captured in African Women and ICTs: Investigating Technology, Gender and Empowerment, published by Zed Books. Electronic access to our book is provided by co-publisher International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and distribution in Africa is by the University of South Africa Press (UNISA Press). The book was released in April 2009.
For further information, contact Ineke Buskens, project leader and research director at Ineke@researchforthefuture.com or visit our web site www.grace-network.net