Creating complex information systems: using ICTs to cover the last

mile

Anahi Ayala Iacucciaayala@internews.org

Innovation.internews.org@anahi_ayala

@info_innovation

Information Ecosystems

Information ecosystems are complex adaptive systems that include information infrastructure, tools, media, producers, consumers, and sharers. They are complex organizations of dynamic social relationships; information moves and transform in flows. Through information ecosystems, information appears as a master resource, like energy, the lack of which makes everything else more difficult.

The 8 critical flows of information ecosystems

1. Information needs

Information needs is the need of information that people have that would allow them to make

decisions. Are they known to information producers? Are they known to information

consumers? Are the needs of all groups being served? Populations’ information needs are

diverse and changing.

2. Information landscape

An Information landscape is the physical and institutional infrastructure that support information production and flow. What are the characteristics of the information providers? What are the intermediary organizations: media, government, private industry, civil society? Are they robustly equipped to verify, filter, sort, and disseminate information?

3. Production and movement

Production and movement refer to the variety of types of information available (e.g. government services, community news). Who are the producers of information and the owners of the means of production and dissemination? What is the role of word of mouth, social media, bulletin boards, and other local information hubs? (How) are rapid changes in internet and mobile media impacting the flow of information? What types of content are available and to whom? How does the perspective on these dynamics shift if information flows are framed as storytelling?

4. Dynamic of access

Dynamic of access is the environment in which information flows (e.g. political, cultural, time, cost, and other factors)? How easy is it for residents to access, find, use, and share different types of information? What are the barriers to participation? What about the broader structures that influence access: governance, legal, political, economic, and infrastructural factors affecting access?

5. Use

Use: What does the audience / users do with the information? How is it processed, disseminated,

and applied? Does information facilitate civic engagement?

6. Impact of information

Impact of information is how information has enabled or constrained individual and community opportunity, health, and economic development. How does the community organize around different types of information? (How) has information informed community planning and action? How has information affected policy and implementation?

7. Social trust

Social trust is how the networks of trust influence the flow and use of information. How is trust built around information? Where are the disruptions in trust tied to information (or its lack)? What are the challenges in building trust around information flows?

8. Influencers

Influencers: Who are the people, organizations, and institutions that influence how information flows? Who builds trust and how? How do points of influence shift over time, especially during disruption?

How does this apply to conflict?

One Practical example: CAR

The Information ecosystem

1. Information needs 2. Information landscape3. Production and movement4. Dynamic of access5. Use6. Impact of information7. Social trust8. Influencers

“Technologies” used

COMMUNITY RADIOS & COORESPONDENTS

COMMUNITIES

LOCAL AUTOHORITIES (Gov/churches) HUMANITARIAN

COMMUNITY

Humanitarian Map

Humanitarian Response

Humanitarian Response

RJDHRCA

Clusters

Local Communities

Humanitarians

DonorsVisibility & Advocacy

South Sudan

What does social media have to do with South Sudan?

Real Time Monitoring

From big to small

Contextual News discovery

Momentum

Correlations

The contributors

Location

Making data useful

How does the online content influence the offline content and vice-versa?

Thanks

Anahi Ayala Iacucciaayala@internews.org

Innovation.internews.org@anahi_ayala

@info_innovation