DIRSI - Dialogo Regional sobre Sociedad de la Informacion

TERMS OF REFERENCE
STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE NETWORK

1. Background
The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI) is a network of academic researchers in a variety of fields from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean devoted to studying the challenges posed by the development of the Information Society and public and regulatory policy problems and solutions. The key focus of the network’s members is the creation of useful knowledge to promote reflection and the design of policies that foster the inclusion of all sectors of society in the benefits of the Information Society.

The network is made up of researchers from ten Latin American and Caribbean countries who work in institutions based in the region. The network also invites researchers from other institutions to participate in specific research projects. There are therefore two categories of network participants: plenary members and associate researchers. In both cases, researchers are middle-aged professionals with a PhD who are either members of academic institutions in their countries or work as independent consultants. There is a document attached describing the network’s structure. At present, the Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, based in Lima, Peru, is the entity responsible for administering the network’s resources, in compliance with the network members’ preference for the administrative entity (EA) to be one of the institutions with which at least one member is affiliated. The EA must also have the necessary experience and financial support to play this role. Its main functions are to serve as the depositary for the network’s funds, to administer its resources under the supervision of the network Facilitator, and to report on the administration of finances to the Steering Committee.

Since its foundation in November 2004, DIRSI has undertaken a number of research projects, which are detailed below:

-    Digital Poverty. The network members who met in Montevideo in November 2004 produced documents which subsequently became a book entitled Digital Poverty. On the basis of a jointly agreed approach, each member chose a specific theme and carried out the corresponding research work.

-    Mobile Opportunities. This is the network’s main project, and it is being undertaken in two phases, one in 2006 and the other in 2007. The first was the preparation of background papers to identify knowledge gaps, while the second, which is currently underway, involves the gathering of primary data in seven countries on the uses of mobile telephony among the most disadvantaged sectors in urban areas, based on a determined number of cities in the countries selected. -    Digital Review. This project is being carried out under the leadership of ECLAC and with the collaboration of the UNDP. A small number of DIRSI researchers are directly participating.

-    Technological convergence and regulatory harmonization. This project was carried out under the coordination of DIRSI and the leadership of ECLAC. Three DIRSI plenary member researchers participated.

  -    Scholarships for young researchers. Two rounds of competitions have taken place so far. Researchers participate by serving as tutors for the scholarship recipients and thus helping to guide their research.

-    Telecom Regulatory Environment (TRE) Study. A competition was held to identify potential new members of the network. The project is currently underway.
DIRSI is thus engaged in a variety of ways in a wide range of activities that involve both plenary members and other researchers invited to participate in specific projects. While the unifying language is English, we work in Spanish or English depending on the specific context.

Within this general framework, DIRSI faces the challenge of assessing the most effective way to continue its work as a research network in Latin America and the Caribbean. The questions that would need to be answered by such an assessment include:

-    What are the organizational forms used by international research networks? What are the best international practices in this regard? What are the best practices for virtual networks?

-    How are networks structured? What are the mechanisms used for the integration of members (models and criteria), the sharing of resources, rewards and punishment, etc.? What are the characteristics of their governing bodies, and how effective are they? How does DIRSI compare in this regard (diagnosis of the current situation)?

-    What are the characteristics of the best functioning networks? Which of these characteristics are relevant for DIRSI, and how does it measure up?

-    What are the difficulties faced by networks that involve comparative work in different countries? What difficulties has DIRSI faced, and how has it resolved them?

-    How does DIRSI rate with regard to the foregoing questions? What challenges does it face in order to grow, develop and enhance its visibility and impact? How can these challenges be tackled?

2. Objectives
The final objective of this assessment study is to evaluate alternative forms of organization for the DIRSI network and formulate concrete recommendations to be implemented in the short term.

3. Activities and deliverables
To carry out this study the consultant should undertake the following activities:

3.1. Identify research networks; characterize them; identify best practices with regard to evaluation of outcomes, models and criteria for membership, functioning of governance mechanisms, etc.

3.2. Propose and describe in detail criteria for evaluating network performance. Apply them to DIRSI. 3.3. Interview DIRSI researchers and associate members as well as members of other networks whose functioning can provide useful lessons for DIRSI’s functioning.

3.4. Prepare presentation and evaluation reports on other networks as well as the alternatives available to DIRSI.

3.5. Prepare a final report that contains the evaluation of other networks and the alternatives for DIRSI.

The consultant should submit a Work Plan at the time of contract signing, a preliminary report, and a final report. At the end of the sixth week, a preliminary report should be submitted containing the answers to the questions posed. The final report should incorporate DIRSI’s comments on the draft version. 4. Deliverables and timeline The study should take a total of ten weeks.

5. Qualifications and Experience
•    Vast experience in research network functioning and development
•    Post graduate, with a degree in a related area
•    Working fluency in English and Spanish
•    Research project experience
•    Experience in Latin America and the Caribbean

6. Payment
Payment is set at 4,000 USD.

If interested in applying, please send a CV with three references, and fill out the attached form, and send to  Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra los robots de spam, necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla  by 19 September 2007.