Catalytic intervention grants aim to support a more sustainable community network environment. To create such an environment, we have to explore ways to overcome the isolation of local community networks, improve their access to spectrum, actively foster their diversity and provide solutions for their resilience (e.g. alternative energy) as well as technological innovation. These grants are part of the project Connecting the unconnected: Supporting community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives.
The 11 community network projects selected, and the representatives appointed by them, are the following:
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Barefoot Women Wireless Engineers strengthening community networks and community radios in promoting public Wi-Fi access, implemented by Digital Empowerment Foundation.
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Co-creating local knowledge networks: A women-centric approach through local music, songs, folklore and dance, implemented by Deccan Living Labs, Janastu / Servelots and Gram Marg.
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Connecting Amazon forest indigenous and local communities through HF radio technology, implemented by Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and Brazilian Association of Digital Radio (ABRADIG).
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Digitising rural livelihoods based on local knowledge in indigenous communities: Building a connectivity-based platform enabling economic empowerment of women, implemented by Gram Marg and Janastu / Servelots.
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Emancipating content creation: Community networks, implemented by Instituto Nupef.
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Indigenous communities and LTE in Mexico, implemented by Telecomunicaciones Indígenas Comunitarias, A. C.
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Improving the technical and infrastructural sustainability of the Fantsuam Community Network, implemented by Fantsuam Foundation.
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Latin American Community Networks Organisation for Technological Appropiation, implemented by Coolab, Instituto Bem Estar, Colnodo, AlterMundi, InterPueblo, Universidad de Oriente, Rede Moinho and NuestraRed.
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Nodes that bond: Portal sem Porteiras, implemented by Portal sem Porteiras Association.
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Promoting local content: Tunapanda and Murambinda, implemented by Murambinda Works and Tunapanda Institute.
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The !Huin!om project, implemented by the San Council of Namibia, the Traditional Authority of the Ju|’hoansi, led by the International University of Management (IUM), Namibia, with support from the University of Wolverhampton (UK).