The Local Networks initiative by APC began in the year 2017 aiming to understand 'Can the unconnected connect themselves?'In this direction, the project focused on bottom-up connectivity strategies of connecting the unconnected. An indepth analysis of Community-led small scale telecommunication infrastructure networks in the global south was undertaken. To document the benefits of and challenges facing small-scale community-based connectivity projects, APC researchers visited 12 rural community networks in the global south in 2018 and studied a number of others through desk research and interviews. The primary goal of the research was to provide information that can be used for evidence-based policy making that would contribute to creating a more enabling environment for small community-based local access networks. In addition, the research aimed to identify opportunities for these networks to be more effective and encourage more such organisations to support the development of these networks for connecting the unconnected. Based on the research findings from this indepth research, in 2019, APC implemented another project in partnership with Rhizomatica that aims to directly support the development of community networks with funds from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

https://www.apc.org/en/node/35376

• Africa
• Asia and Pacific
• Latin America and the Caribbean

• Women

The project works alongside 12 community networks in Asia, Africa and Latin America (4 in each continent). In all these community networks, women champions are identified who can voice for digital inclusion and have increased capacity and resources to create and meet demand for alternative models of connecting the unconnected. Special emphasis on women-led initiatives and integration of a gender perspective at all levels of the project is emphasised. All the community networks had a very special women focus. In some, emphasis was laid on training women to deploy connectivity networks in the village, while in others immersive, collaborative event for learning about hardware, software and care was organised especially for women. Some of the stories of women's empowerment were also observed. In a remote, rural village of Maharashtra, India, a women banking correspondent was trained to carry out banking services for the people in the village with the help of internet connectivity enabled in the village through the APC project. In another community network in rural Karnataka, women are seen to take over the local radio station in the community. We observe that women in this community develop programmes for the community, script and narrate for the community in the radio station. In another community network Portal sem Porteiras or gateless portal, women overlay the connectivity network alongside the other layers of relationships that already exist between people in the community. Women's node depict stories of various women who are working in community networks and showcase their journeys with technology, autonomy and self-realisation. Hence community networks are autonomous connectivity solutions to structural divides in the society. In some community networks like Gram Marg and BAIF in Pathardi, women have begun making products like art and craft based on the local traditional knowledge and sell the same in an E Commerce platform specially made for the purchase of selling the products online.

The ultimate aim of the project is to contribute to an enabling ecosystem for the emergence and growth of community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives in developing countries. In addition to this, the project also addresses the human capacity and sustainability challenges along with policy and regulatory obstacles that limit the growth of community-based connectivity initiatives. The project focuses on 12 locally managed community networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America (four per region) It adopts human rights-based and gender equality approaches, with a special emphasis on women-led initiatives and integration of a gender perspective at all levels of project conceptualisation, planning and implementation.

This project has been innovative in various ways: 1) It strengthens the community network movement through grant support, peer learning and capacity building. 2) Enables establishment of new community networks through awareness raising and movement building. 3) Support innovative technology use and approaches that enable scaling and sustainability of community networks. 4) Contribute to an enabling policy and regulatory environment for local access at national, regional and global levels. 5) Integrates gender analysis into all aspects of project implementation and supports women's participation in community-based connectivity initiatives.