The document summarizes the SIRCA (Social Impacts of Communication Technologies in the Asia Region) Programme. SIRCA seeks to identify future research leaders and facilitate their development through research grants and capacity building. It provides details on SIRCA objectives, management, grant dissemination process, 2008 grant call and awards, mentorship support, and expected outputs which include enhanced research capacity and knowledge sharing on ICTD issues in Asia. Upcoming activities include developing young scholars through graduate awards and an ICA pre-conference in 2010.

1. PAN-ALL Meeting 2009
Penang
Ang Peng Hwa

2. Agenda
1. SIRCA Objectives and Management
3. Grant Dissemination
5. Grand Awards
7. SIRCA Support and Mentorship
9. SIRCA Outputs

3. SIRCA Objectives and Management

4. SIRCA Management

5. About SIRCA
• The SIRCA Programme seeks to identify future research
leaders and to facilitate their development through the
support of research grants.
• Researchers benefit from concerted capacity building
exercises including a mentorship arrangement.
• Grant focuses on social science research, in particular,
the relationships between ICTs and society.

6. SIRCA Objectives
• Support research capacity building;
• Support theoretically-based and
methodologically-rigorous research;
• Create opportunities for mentorship between
established researchers and grant recipients;
• Provide spaces for recipients to share
experiences in face-to-face settings (e.g.
workshops, preconference, e-newsletter, online
forums); and
• Disseminate research findings.

7. SIRCA Grant Dissemination

8. SIRCA Grant Dissemination
Process
• Eligibility
• Preparing the Grant Application
• Submission Process
• Evaluation of Application
• Funding
• SIRCA Research Grant Proposal Guidelines
• Budget Submission Guidelines
– Sample Budget Format
• Expectations of Grant Recipients
• Frequently Asked Questions

9. SIRCA Grant Dissemination
SIRCA
Brochure

10. SIRCA Website (sirca.org.sg)

11. SIRCA Website - IFAQ
Users can type their
questions here,
using lay terms.

12. SIRCA Website - IFAQ
Once the user enters a
question, a pop-up window will
appear with the relevant
answer/s.

13. SIRCA Website - IFAQ
If new question, system
prompts administrator for
answer. Question is now
added to FAQ list
automatically.

14. SIRCA Project Review Process

15. SIRCA Grant Call 2008 Summary
Registration Submission % (Sub/Reg)
Total 111 57 51
Topic* 13 11 85
(Technology)
Topic* 25 19 76
(Beneficiaries/
Outcomes)
Country 23 19 83
*Categories of Technology and Beneficiaries/Outcomes are not mutually exclusive.

16. SIRCA Grant Call 2008 Summary
• Examples of Topics:
– Technologies: Community radio, E Centers, Mobile
Phones, Weblogs, Community Radio, Information
Systems
– Beneficiaries/Outcomes: Agriculture, Disaster, E
Commerce, E Government, Healthcare, Education
• Examples of Country:
– China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia,
Vietnam, Nepal, Philippines, Mongolia.
*Categories of Technology and Beneficiaries/Outcomes are not mutually exclusive.

17. SIRCA Grant Review Meeting 2008
• 25th – 26th October 2008, Changi Village Hotel, Singapore
• List of Reviewers
– Dr. John Traxler, Prof. Heather Hudson, Prof. Rahul De, Dr.
Jonathan Donner, Dr. Erwin Alampay, Dr. Roger Harris, Dr. Arul
Chib, Ms. Chaitali Sinha, Ms. Kathleen Flynn-Dapaah
• Process:
– Prior to meeting, reviewers engaged in double-blind review
based on SIRCA Grant Assessment Matrix
– During meeting: All 57 proposals were discussed and feedback
was given to each applicant based on Reviewers’ comments
and panel discussion

18. SIRCA Grant Review Meeting 2008

19. SIRCA Grant Review Meeting 2008

20. SIRCA Grant Award 2008
Categories Number List of Topics/Countries
Total 13
Topic* 6 Mobile phone, PDA, Wi-Fi, Internet,
Information systems, Laptop
(Technology)
Topic* 10 Agriculture, Disaster, Education,
Political Participation, Foreign workers,
(Beneficiaries/
Rural communities, Healthcare, Socio-
Outcomes) economic divide, ICT labour market, E-
Governance
Country 8 India, Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Philippines, Nepal, China,
Sri Lanka
*Categories of Technology and Beneficiaries/Outcomes are not mutually exclusive.

21. SIRCA Grant Awardees
Principal Investigator Country Project
India Empowerment of farming community through use of ICTs:
V.L.V.Kameswari
A study in the Indian Himalayan region
Vietnam Upper River Erosion and Landslide Protection Planning: An
Pham Huu Ty integration of erosion and landslide hazard mapping using
GIS and remote sensing and the value chain approach
Cambodia Internet for Learning and Knowledge Building: Students’
Peou,Chivoin Perceptions and Utilization in Cambodian Higher
Education
Nepal Telemedicine for Community Health Workers:
Shefali Oza An Analysis of the Effects of Connectivity on Health Equity
in Rural Nepal
Kanliang Wang China Healthcare Information Systems in China
Bangladesh An impact assessment framework to evaluate the
effectiveness of Information Communications Technology
Md. Mahfuz Ashraf
(ICT)-led development project at micro (community) level
in developing country; Bangladesh

22. SIRCA Grant Awardees
Principal Investigator Country Project
Cambodia Mobile Phone Application Development for Rural
Phal Des
Cambodia
Bangladesh Agricultural Market Information Services (AMIS) and
M. Sirajul Islam its implications on the rural community in Bangladesh :
Theory and practice
Mary Grace P. Philippines The Filipino Blogosphere: An Emerging Alternative Venue
Mirandilla for Political Participation in the Philippines
India Nature of Work, Quality of Employment and Working
Balwant Singh Mehta
Conditions in ICT Sector: A Case of India
Ma. Regina M. Philippines Lifeline Online: E-Counseling And The Well-Being Of
Hechanova Overseas Filipino Workers And Their Families
T. B. Dinesh India Communities, Participation and Technology
Sri Lanka Learning from challenges; an image based mapping
MJR David process to study influences of community based ICTD
initiatives in Sri Lanka.

23. SIRCA Support and Mentorship

24. SIRCA Outreach
SIRCA Grant Review Committee
SIRCA PIs
SIRCA Mentors

25. SIRCA Mentorship
• List of Mentors
– Dr. Alexander Flor, Prof. Ang Peng Hwa, Dr. Arul
Chib, Dr. John Traxler, Dr. May Lwin, Prof. Rahul De,
Dr. Richard Heeks, Dr. Roger Harris, Dr. Shaikh
Salam and Dr. Vibodh Parthasarathi
• Each Mentor will make a site visit and work closely with
SIRCA and PI for the duration of the research project.

26. SIRCA PI
• PIs are given access to IDRC and NTU’s online library
resources.
• SIRCA Compliance:
– Submission of 6-monthly progress/financial reports
and 1 Final Report
– Attendance of SIRCA Workshops and Dissemination
Conference
– Work with SIRCA Mentor for the duration of the
project
– Arrange for Mentor’s site visit

27. SIRCA eNewsletter (end June 09)

28. SIRCA Workshop 1
3rd – 4th July 2009, Nanyang Executive Centre, Singapore
Trainers: Dr. Alexander Flor, Dr. Arul Chib, Prof. Czarina
Saloma-Akpedonu, Prof. Rahul De
Objectives
– Equip PIs with a clearer understanding of literature and
methodological issues with regards to their projects;
– Equip PIs with a clearer understanding of how their
project relates and contributes to the broader ICTD
discipline;
– Provide PIs with necessary information to adhere to the
SIRCA Secretariat compliance;
– Highlight practical issues and challenges in fieldwork.

29. SIRCA Pre-Workshop Trailer

30. SIRCA Pre-Workshop Trailer
PI Expectations of Workshop
Workshop is a great opportunity
…To broaden my understanding for scholars to meet, share, and
of ICTD and the practical issues exchange creative new ideas and
and challenges related to the experience in research field.
field survey.
I feel that I’m lack of theory of
I am very interested in hearing
information system; I expected the
from both the workshop
organizers and the other PIs…
workshop can explain some new
the best way to form new ideas theories in deep.
and learn from others’
experiences.

31. SIRCA Evaluation Forms

32. Evaluation of SIRCA Projects
Review Process

33. SIRCA Mentor Feedback Form

34. SIRCA PI Feedback Form

35. SIRCA Workshop Feedback Form

36. SIRCA Project Progress Reports

37. SIRCA Six-Monthly Progress Report

38. SIRCA Project Amendment Form

39. SIRCA Account Closing Form

40. SIRCA Projects Final Report

41. SIRCA Outputs

42. SIRCA Outputs
• Enhanced research capacity in the region, demonstrated by the
increased quality and reach of strong, methodologically rigorous,
theoretically sound research findings;
• Creation of a space for discussions and knowledge sharing on ICTD
social science research issues in Asia;
• Creation of linkages among emerging ICTD researchers in Asia, as
well as among established and emerging researchers through the
mentorship program; and
• Greater awareness of ICTD research published by Asian-based
researcher through dissemination of findings in international peer-
reviewed publications and conferences

43. Upcoming Activities
1. Developing young scholars
– SIRCA Graduate Award
2. ICA Pre-Conference 2010