"This report provides an overview of how digital technologies are being used to support youth’s transition from school to work, ‘learning to earning’, in displaced and host communities. Based on a rapid analysis of emerging approaches and lessons in this burgeoning space, the report’s purpos
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e is to inspire concerted attention and action to ensure effectiveness and scale of such digital enablers. The focus of the report is on youth in forcibly displaced and host communities, though many of the solutions presented serve youth in vulnerable contexts more widely, with applicability to forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) and migrant populations more broadly. Many insights are also relevant to youth programming more generally, though efforts have been made to draw out the specific considerations for forcibly displaced youth. The report intentionally takes a global view, though the majority of solutions presented are implemented in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions, which coincides with the focus of the PROSPECTS Partnership. The experiences of forcibly displaced youth vary widely, across and within national boundaries. The solution landscape is also complex, involving different national and international agencies working at national and local levels. Even within countries, school-to-work transition differs according to whether forcibly displaced youth reside in camps or in resettled urban settings, and whether youth are still ‘in transit’. This report does not aim to cover these considerations in detail, though context specificities are of major relevance to solution design." (About this report, page 4)
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"A pesquisa apontou que em 91% das arquidioceses, dioceses e prelazias da Amazônia Legal brasileira contam com espaços permanentes de comercialização de produtos agroecológicos, da agricultura familiar e economia solidária. A maior parte desses espaços são as tradicionais feiras que reúnem
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diferentes modalidades e produtos, abastecendo comunidades e até cidades inteiras com hortaliças, verduras, frutas, pequenos animais e outros itens produzidos pelos agricultores e agricultoras [...] Em 28% das arquidioceses, dioceses e prelazias existem Feiras de Economia Solidária, que reúnem empreendimentos solidários urbanos e rurais mas também cooperativas, redes de comercialização e outras experiências de economia solidária. É importante ressaltar que, apesar de parecer um número baixo, a existência dessas feiras em pelo menos 19 municípios indica a força da economia solidária na Amazônia, resultado da mobilização de pastorais sociais, movimentos sociais e das políticas públicas específicas implementadas no Brasil entre os anos 2003 e 2016." (Página 29-30)
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"The size of China’s State-owned media’s operations in Africa has grown significantly since the early 2000s. Previous research on the impact of increased Sino-African mediated engagements has been inconclusive. Some researchers hold that public opinion toward China in African nations has been im
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proving because of the increased media presence. Others argue that the impact is rather limited, particularly when it comes to affecting how African media cover China-related stories. This article contributes to this debate by exploring the extent to which news media in 30 African countries relied on Chinese news sources to cover China and the COVID-19 outbreak during the first-half of 2020. By computationally analyzing a corpus of 500,000 written news stories, this paper shows that, compared to other major global players (e.g. Reuters, AFP), content distributed by Chinese media (e.g. Xinhua, China Daily) is much less likely to be used by African news organizations, both in English and French speaking countries. The analysis also reveals a gap in the prevailing themes in Chinese and African media’s coverage of the pandemic. The implications of these findings for the sub-field of Sino-African media relations, and the study of global news flows are discussed." (Abstract)
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"This resource presents options for adapting gender-based violence (GBV) case management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic so that survivors can continue to access and receive safe and confidential services. It focuses specifically on phone-based case management. In this resource, phone-based
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case management is defined as case management that caseworkers provide over the phone to existing clients (or, in some cases when resources, safety and referral processes allow, new clients through direct referrals). It may be accessed through appointments agreed upon by the survivor and caseworker or through survivor-initiated calls when the caseworker is available (i.e., not open to the general public, or operating all hours). This resource also provides recommendations for scaling up hotlines as a strategy for meeting urgent support and referral needs of survivors and those at risk." (Page 4)
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"Spaces for social and political dialogue within communities and across social levels in inequitable contexts generally do not incorporate difference across community, or enable the most marginalized people to participate meaningfully. In this article, we propose that participatory video can contrib
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ute to building agonistic pluralism, namely a recognition of the unavoidable tensions between perspectives, and maintaining, rather than erasing, difference when working towards positive change. We draw on our comparable experience using participatory video methodologies to consider how it can be used to progressively build agency and deeper criticality, address difference across communities and to collectively construct political leverage." (Abstract)
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"Only one of Freire’s (1969/1983) books directly and more broadly addresses the scope of communication; it is 'Extension or Communication?' published in 1969, originally in Spanish, during Freire’s exile in Chile. This book became an important reference for the studies and practices of participa
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tory communication worldwide and was decisive for the review of diffusion models, which took communication as a tool to guide the reproduction of models considered modern and developed, without paying attention to local experiences and knowledge. Approached more broadly, the transversality of communication in Freire’s pedagogical perspective can be discussed from at least three perspectives. The first combines language, education and communication. The second links education and communication with popular mobilization and, more openly, with processes of political engagement. The third stems from Freire’s own critical positioning in relation to the media. These three inflections will be discussed in more detail throughout the material compiled in this edition of MATRIZes." (Introduction, page 5)
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"The study showed a changing pattern in the misconceptions and misinformation about COVID-19. Initially myths were largely on causes and vulnerability. It was widely speculated that black people had some immunity against COVID-19. Also, the condition was perceived to cause severe disease among the e
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lderly. These misconceptions served as risk attenuators among Ghanaians, especially the younger generation. As the infection evolved in the country, another misconception emerged that the hot climate in Africa inhibited viral replication and transmission only to be followed by speculations and conjectures that COVID-19 was being used as a biological weapon to target developed economics. For the management of COVID-19, the use of local remedies such as Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and herbal preparation also emerged. Myths about the efficacy of locally manufactured gin (akpeteshie) and hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis led to abuse of such substances. Interview segments revealed the use of myths to propagate political agenda in the country. The study concludes that COVID-19 misconceptions and misinformation are widespread and cover the course of the condition. These myths necessitate culturally sensitive health communication strategies that take into account local perceptions of COVID-19 in order to tackle the circulation of misconceived messages about the pandemic in Ghana." (Abstract)
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"The subject of religion and the behaviour of religious actors in the COVID-19 crisis appear at first glance to constitute either just marginal issues or factors which tend to be negative. On the other hand, there is far less public discussion on the key role played by religious communities as civil
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society partners of governments or the WHO, as agencies providing charitable and pastoral assistance, and as a resource for hope and contingency management so as to successfully cope with the pandemic. This study analyses the ambivalent role of actors in the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of a theory-based empirical analysis, presents the most important developments, learning effects and problem areas yet to be addressed and finally, based on this, draws up policy recommendations for action." (Summary, page 6)
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"Radio shows which invite audience participation via short message service (SMS)—interactive radio–SMS—can be designed as a mixed methods approach for applied social research during COVID-19 and other crises in low and middle income countries. In the aftermath of a cholera outbreak in Somalia,
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we illustrate how this method provides social insights that would have been missed if a purely qualitative or quantitative approach were used. We then examine the strengths and limitations associated with interactive radio–SMS through an evaluation using a multimethod comparison. Our research contributes an application of a mixed methods approach which addresses a specific challenge raised by COVID-19, namely utilizing media and digital technologies for social research in low and middle income countries." (Abstract)
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"The ubiquitous presence of digital games has resulted in an expansion of the applications of these games from mere entertainment purposes to a great variety of serious purposes. In this edited volume, we narrow the scope of attention by focusing on what game theorist Ian Bogost has called 'persuasi
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ve games', that is, gaming practices that combine the dissemination of information with attempts to engage players in particular attitudes and behaviors. This volume offers a multifaceted reflection on persuasive gaming, that is, on the process of these particular games being played by players. The purpose is to better understand when and how digital games can be used for persuasion by further exploring persuasive games and some other kinds of persuasive playful interaction as well. The book critically integrates what has been accomplished in separate research traditions to offer a multidisciplinary approach to understanding persuasive gaming that is closely linked to developments in the industry by including the exploration of relevant case studies." (Publisher description)
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