Patterns of penetration of ICT goods and services in Latin American and Caribbean households: analysis based on data from national population and housing censuses, round 2000

This paper explores the usefulness of data deriving from Population and Housing Censuses in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the 2000 Round, in order to describe the patterns of penetration of ICT goods in the households of the countries in the region. With this purpose in mind, the report approaches the following issues: The availability of information on ICTs in the 2000 Census Round. Characteristics of the instruments used for registering and measuring the ownership of ICT goods. The penetration of the various kinds of ICT goods. Profile description of households with greatest connectivi…

Compendium of practices on the implementation of ICT questions in households and businesses surveys in Latin America and the Caribbean 2010

The Compendium of practices on the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT); questions in households and businesses surveys has been prepared by the Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean (OSILAC);, in cooperation with the working group on ICT measurement of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of ECLAC with the following objectives: i); to collect and organize the main developments in the design and implementation of questions on access and use of ICT in the household and business surveys of the countries of the region, ii); …

Caribbean Outlook 3: Economic recovery and repositioning in the era of COVID-19. Policy Brief

The economies of the subregion were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those dependent on tourism. As a result, the Caribbean has seen a reversal of the hard-won gains achieved in growing their economies and reducing unemployment and inequality. The inflation stemming from pandemic supply chain disruption, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, has made the sustained uptick in economic performance beyond pre-pandemic levels unlikely, notwithstanding strong growth estimates for 2021 and 2022. The last two years have taught the region that continued ‘business as usual’ is…

Improving broadband quality and affordability in the Caribbean: Policies to advance digital inclusion in the subregion. Policy Brief

In this digitally transforming world, digital inclusion is becoming increasingly important to social inclusion and sustainable development. Affordable access to broadband is an essential precondition to digital inclusion. Internet quality, as measured by speed and other indicators, is also important, as digital inclusion is ultimately about ensuring equal access to the benefits and opportunities offered by digital technologies and the Internet. This policy brief provides insight into Internet speed and affordability across the Caribbean, and offers some recommendations for policymakers working…

Selected online learning experiences in the Caribbean during COVID-19. Policy Brief

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread closure of schools and disruption of education systems worldwide, requiring unprecedented adaptation to ensure learning continuity for students. In place of classroom learning, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been adopted to support online distance learning – with mixed results. While Caribbean governments have piloted a range of online learning modalities, many children in the subregion, especially those from poor and rural households, were not able to leverage those facilities. As a result of a lack of access to the Internet …

Disability, human rights and public policy in the Caribbean: A situation analysis

This study presents a situation analysis of persons with disability in the Caribbean. It includes a compilation and analysis of national census data from 16 countries including data from both the 2000 and the 2010 census rounds. The study also assesses national laws, policies and programmes in the context of relevant international treaties and agreements. The topics covered include health and rehabilitation, accessible buildings, transport, information and communications technology, education and labour market participation. In each of these areas, good practices, gaps, and priorities for acti…

ICT in Latin America: a microdata analysis

This book is the final report of the ECLAC-IDRC project Observatory for the Information Society in Latin American and the Caribbean OSILAC, which aims at understanding the dynamics of the ICT evolution and revolution and producing evidence on its potential to promote socio-economic development. As such, microdata analysis drawn from National Household Surveys and National Innovation Surveys in Latin America were used in the framework of the project in the attempt to reach those objectives. Both statistical information sources provide attractive potentialities in order to investigate not only d…

Characteristics of households with ICTs in Latin America and the Caribbean

This report examines the availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs); in households in Latin America and the Caribbean region. It draws on household surveys from a number of countries in the region conducted over the last few years. These surveys are contained in the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Database of Household Surveys (BADEHOG, Banco de Datos de Encuestas de Hogares);, a restricted access database. The ICTs that have been analyzed are: Radio, Television, Fixed telephone, Mobile telephone, Computer and Internet.The scope of the co…

Selected online learning experiences in the Caribbean during COVID-19

This study examines how ICTs have supported equitable development of online distance learning for students in primary, secondary, and tertiary education systems across the Caribbean. By presenting data obtained through interviews with government officials and other key stakeholders in five countries and territories - Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – the study highlights learning continuity challenges and successful adaptations specific to the subregion during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identifies best practices and recommendations to integr…

Líderes de América Latina y el Caribe definieron prioridades de la agenda de recuperación pos-COVID-19

Nueva York, Estados Unidos, 14 de enero de 2021 – Más de 2.700 asistentes y representantes de gobiernos de 35 países se reunieron virtualmente los días 12, 13 y 14 de enero en el XII Foro Ministerial para el Desarrollo en América Latina y el Caribe con el tema “COVID-19 - Más allá de la recuperación. Hacia un nuevo contrato social para ALC”. El evento coorganizado por el gobierno de la República de Colombia y el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD), y que incluyó la Cuarta Reunión de la Mesa Directiva de la Conferencia Regional sobre Desarrollo Social de América Latina y …

Digital Transformation as a Coping Strategy To Deal With The Fallout From The Pandemic In The Caribbean

Caribbean economies have been disrupted by the pandemic and the fallout from the war in Ukraine. Therefore, in the short to medium-term, there is need for policies to deal with post-pandemic recovery, including strengthened health and safety protocols, social protection measures and managed economic reopening to stimulate growth and employment.…

Exploiting the potential of the Caribbean information society as an enabler of human development in the region

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC);, conducted a survey of Caribbean countries aimed at documenting and subsequently monitoring public ICT policies in the following areas: policy development; State modernization and e-government; access; supply of goods and services; and public budget expenditure. Seven countries were studied…

Persiste brecha de género en inclusión digital en países de la región

(9 de abril, 2013) Las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) abren variadas oportunidades para el empoderamiento de las mujeres y la igualdad de género, pero las mujeres latinoamericanas y caribeñas no están todavía en igualdad de condiciones en comparación con los hombres en la sociedad de la información y el conocimiento, señaló Alicia Bárcena, Secretaria Ejecutiva de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). Bárcena fue la oradora principal en el panel "Las mujeres y la inclusión social" que forma parte del Foro de Líderes Gubernamentales: América Lat…

ECLAC Executive Secretary opens High Level Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago

“There is no question that the Caribbean is shouldering an unsustainable debt burden which compromises the capacity of the economies for sustained growth and restricts the options available to governments to introduce important social and welfare programmes” the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, said via video conference in opening the 17th meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) on 26 June, during which Ministers and high-level Government representatives from the…

Report of the twenty-ninth session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Towards an information society measurement instrument for Latin America and the Caribbean: getting started with census, household and business surveys

This document is part of an effort to take inventory of the current state of ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) statistics in Latin American and Caribbean countries, particularly in National Statistic Offices (NSOs). In this study fifteen countries are investigated regarding three sources of information: Internet research, e-mails and phone calls and through the meta-data questionnaire Status of information society statistics in National Statistic Offices, applied to NSOs of Latin America and the Caribbean during August 2004 in the frame of OSILAC. The effort concluded with a wo…

Information and communication technologies in the health sector: opportunities and challenges for the reduction of inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean

This document starts by identifying and describing the several benefits expected as a result of incorporating ICTs in health and goes on to summarize present and future challenges for health policies, especially inasmuch as the most vulnerable populations are concerned. Thirdly, the document showcases global progress made in several applications, strategies implemented and difficulties faced in some developed and LAC countries. The document finishes with generic proposals for the formulation of policies and strategies to be considered and adapted by countries throughout the region.…

Information and communications technologies for the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper examines the ways in which Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) can promote greater inclusion of persons with disabilities. It characterizes the patterns of ICT use among persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean and proposes recommendations and strategies to expand access to and use of ICT among persons with disabilities in the region to harness the potential of these tools to promote greater inclusion. This investigation is based on mixed methods that include the analysis of census data, complemented by interviews, bibliographic review and online se…

Digital review 2007 of Latin America and the Caribbean: progress and challenges policies for development with ICT. Abridged document

SummaryThis document is an abridged version of the Latin America and the Caribbean Digital Review 2007 report which provides an inventory of the national policies and strategies that aim to guide the different countries of Latin America and the Caribbean towards Information Societies. It aims to contribute the understanding of the situations faced by these countries as this process matures. The report is the result of a collective effort by UNDP, ECLAC, DIRSI and ICA-IDRC. It describes the progress achieved and challenges remaining for policy development in 21 countries of the re…

Application of information and communication technologies for health systems in Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden

This document describes and analyzes implementation of eHealth in several European countries, as well as strengths and weaknesses, using this experience in order to support the management and execution of this kind of projects in other scenarios. Five EU member States evidencing different degrees of advancement in their national eHealth projects have been selected for this purpose: Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden. In addition to these five cases, a brief study has been made of several international collaboration projects for the implementation of cross-border spaces for…