> INFORMATIONAL LIVES OF THE POOR: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN THREE MEXICAN COMMUNITIES

JUDITH MARISCAL & MARÍA ANGÉLICA MARTÍNEZ

September 26, 2013

> OBJETIVES

We seek to understand how the poor obtain, share and use ICT on their everyday life –what we call the informational lives of the poor.

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Using “before and after” studies we attempt to identify and understand mechanisms through which ICT (and broadband,in particular), may have an impact on poverty alleviation

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> METHODOLOGY

Does ICT access enhance the capabilities/assets of members of low- income communities?>2

How the adoption of broadband and other ICTs (or lack of) changes the pattern of information seeking? Can these changes be tied to development outcomes?

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

BROADBAND

ACCESS

NO

YES

Las Margaritas

Fixed broadband

Mobile broadband

Shared public accessLocal Mobile NetworkM-Banking

Access through Tablets with 3G (personal, ubiquitous and continuous)

SANTIAGO NUYOÓ

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE:

-CRUZ DEL PALMAR-LOS TORRES-ESTANCIA DEL CANAL

> INTERVENTION

> LAS MARGARITAS

. Agency: TOA (NGO). No ICT Intervention

. Access to: Radio, TV, Community shared telephone

(sat)

> Community Center (library and computer with no

connectivity)

> Productive community activity: Cooperative “Flor del

Desierto”

> SANTIAGO NUYOÓ

. Agency: Telecomm (public entity) . Intervention: Mobile local access

and M-Banking . Access to: Radio, TV, lSat and

Telecentre (restricted)

> Telecomm provided satellite connection with local mobile

network and financial services. NGO offered financial and digital

training.

> SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

. DIRSI, introduced by NGO Jóvenes . Adelante to the community.

. Intervention: Provision of 3G Tablets, donated by Nextel.

. Access to: Radio, TV, and mobile broadband

> Tablets were given to 3 undergraduate students, who were responsible of teaching

their family members. Searching techniques and instruction

strategies were provided by DIRSI.

The prevailing idea is that those who can reap the most benefits from ICTs are children and youth. High expectations are placed on having kids learn how to use the Internet; it is perceived as a key instrument for social mobility through education.

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People have preconceptions about the potential benefits of Internet use: regardless of its availability.

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INITIAL OBSERVATIONS:

> RESULTS

“Learning by doing” and “Leaning by watching” enables populations at the BOP to develop new skills, to engage in new practices and to find useful applications for old and new abilities and interests.

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The role of infomediaries allows permanent communication with primary social ties, and results in contacts with institutions, service providers and authorities.

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IMPACT ON HUMAN CAPITAL:

> RESULTS

In terms of skills, the impact of ICTs does not imply a direct, immediate link between increased access and improved livelihoods; the positive impact on human capital requires effective training process.

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> IMPACT ON HUMAN CAPITAL

Santiago de Nuyoó: Banamex Foundation

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“Even I said I´d never learn… I could not even imagine having a phone in my hand… and I learned to dial and text and now I say, that´s good. I can also send payments, not many because we don´t spend much but there are some.” [Interview, Agustina, 47, housewife Nuyoo, 25/10/2012]

San Miguel de Allende: Immediate Family

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“I asked her what she wanted to find out about and she mentioned several things, including about breast cancer. She said she was always been curious to find out what is and what causes it.” [Diary, Leontina, 23, grant holder, San Miguel, 27/03/2012]

CRUCIAL ROLE OF INFOMEDIARIES

Family members as infomediaries: contributed in creating conditions for the most vulnerable social groups to feel trust, confidence, empowerment.

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IMPACT ON SOCIAL CAPITAL:

> RESULTS

“I though this was only for those who are young. ‘We are here in the kitchen and looking for something to eat, but when they taught me, I realized that I can learn. I liked it because I can see things I told my neighbor: -I can do things now. I was pleased to brag about it.” [Interview, Omar´s mother, 43, San Miguel, 04/04/2013].

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> RESULTS

Las Margaritas>1Lack of ICT access generates negative Social Capital as the community trusted a gatekeeper.

> One of the community members centralizes all the public information and functions as a true gatekeeper, filtering the news that deserves to be disseminated and concentrating knowledge about subsidies and social benefits.

San Miguel de Allende>2Grant holder´s skills and ability to connect to the Internet, in San Miguel, changed the communication and power relations. Government officials approach grant holders to access, process, generate and convey key information.

“Now, [with the tablet] it will be easier for me when my delegate calls me to help write e-mails or whatever. [As] I´m the only one in the town who knows how to use the internet, [that] is an advantage” [Interview, Isela, 23, grant holder, San Miguel, 24/03/2013]

IMPACT ON SOCIAL CAPITAL: ELIMINATION OF GATEKEEPERS

Adopting broadband may strengthen social capital and political participation

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One of the main benefits of access to ICTs is obtaining information may create business opportunities and reduce transactions costs.

> LAS MARGARITAS

Cooperative Flor del Desierto products are available in websites created by NGO, but members of the community cannot access the web page.

“We need to be taught to use the computer and the Internet; they say that we can talk outsiders.” [Interview, Ángeles, 52, member of Flor del Desierto Cooperative, Las Margaritas, 07/09/2012].

> RESULTS

IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL > Cooperative Flor del Desierto products

> RESULTS

IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL

> SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

This case highlighted the value of young family members as infomediaries. Sharing common assets created incentives for information queries that could generate family income.

“When I visited the FONAES web page, I thought that we could ask for a loan to open a kitchen that I would open with my mother…” [Leontina, Student].

> RESULTS

> SANTIAGO DE NUYOÓ

“So I said I´ll never learn ... not even imagine having a phone in my hand ... And I learned to write and send messages and I thought it's good. but now I can also send payments, not many because we don´t spend a lot". [Housewife, 47, Santiago Nuyoo, 25/10/2012]

IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL

When ICT access is supported by effective training through infomediaries, information and communication strategies indeed change and capabilities are enhanced.

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> CONCLUSIONS

Without broadband access, communities face high transaction cost and forego business opportunities>1