Missions

ICT to help bridge the digital divide in Nicaragua's remote and rural communities

Near the northern border of Nicaragua, Telpaneca is a district populated by indigenous populations. In the eponymous town of 20,000 inhabitants, the economy relies mainly on the production of bananas and coffee. The IT Cup centre opened by TSF in partnership with the PIT facilitates access to ICT for students, teachers, farmers and local NGOs. It also enables residents to learn about the uses of the internet, to improve their daily lives.

TSF organised a capacity building programme to strengthen the humanitarian response system through the optimal use of technologies

TSF contributes to narrowing the digital divide in some of the world’s most remote and vulnerable areas. For the past 10 years, TSF, from its regional base in Nicaragua, has been providing computer and Internet training sessions to the inhabitants of the San Bartolo area. This region situated in the northwest of the country, far from the other main cities, is characterized by its poorly developed rural areas.

Technical experts and logisticians from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Service received training in emergency telecommunications from TSF in Nairobi.

In response to the severe food crisis in northern Kenya and its neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa, TSF dispatched a team to the affected area of Dadaab in northeastern Kenya. TSF were are responsible for connecting the crisis centre for NGOs working in the region.

After almost two years of drought, the situation in northern Kenya deteriorated in the summer of 2011. TSF partnered with VSF-Germany to conduct Cash For Work activities in South Marsabit District, Turkana West, North Horr and Loyangalani. Thanks to TSF's expertise, beneficiaries were able to be paid by the M-PESA mobile payment system.

Between August 2010 and February 2011, TSF trained 102 staff members from organisations and humanitarian agencies in Asia and Central and Latin America to improve effective use of telecommunications service in emergency situations.

Hurricane Ida swept the coasts of Nicaragua and El Salvador in November 2009. At the request of UNDAC, TSF teams traveled to both countries to provide communications to the United Nations assessment teams.

Following Hurricane Felix, TSF installed three emergency communication centres for the United Nations and the humanitarian community in the Puerto Cabezas region, in partnership with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

Just after having returned from their mission in Guatemala, TSF Latin America teams are again called upon by Managua's authorities.

As part of their collaboration agreement, TSF's Regional Base for the Americas and the SINAPRED intervened in Cerro Musun, affected by heavy floods and landslides.