Centre for Development Studies seminars by MA thesis students 
15 March 2012
1pm
Venue: Room 201, Arts 1 (Building 207)
Centre for Development Studies Seminar
Three of our MA thesis students will report on their recent research experience.
Doreen Iga: “Power of civil society to negotiate for development assistance from donors. Case of CARE International in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea”
Research was undertaken with the civil society organisations in Papua New to see whether the organisations have the power to negotiate for development assistance from donors. The preliminary findings of an international NGO, three locally based NGOs and a Ward Development Committee in Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea.
Wahyu Wijayanto: “Bringing Connectivity to All Citizens: Experiences and Challenges in the Implementation of the “Smart Village” Program in Indonesia”
Recent statistics for the telecommunications sector in Indonesia show that regulatory regime and institutional arrangements in support of liberalisation, privatisation, and competition have been successful in fostering rapid growth in the telecommunications industry; however they have failed to reduce the disparity in access to ICT between the urban and rural areas, and between the western and eastern parts of the country. As market brings little benefit to areas with limited networks, the “Smart Village” program has been implemented by the government in order to ensure the provision of access to ICT in rural communities across Indonesia. How has the Smart Village program been designed and implemented? What kind of connectivity has been achieved in the village? Who is able to use this internet facility? In this seminar, I will discuss my field work experience in Indonesia, which was intended to explore the extent and the way in which the “Smart Village” program creates more equitable and sustainable access to ICT in rural communities.
Sofia Lanyon Pereira: “Mate Ceremony with Mapuche Women - in Temuco surroundings”
Mate Ceremony is one of the many things Sofia learned from Mapuche women on her field trip in Southern Chile. It is a space for reflection and sharing every day experiences with family and friends, while drinking Mate.
Sofia will share some reflections about her experiences; how it was to revisit a place and a culture as a student researcher, how different people -that have always been there- revealed themselves, and how important it is to pay attention to the processes people interact through in these places, with each other and with strangers.
All welcome!
