 | What is OSILAC?
The lack of ICT data in most of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2003, called for the ECLAC and the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) of the International Development Research Center (IDRC) to create the Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean (OSILAC). The objective was to have an Observatory in charge of fostering the creation of ICT statistics in the region.
The main objectives of OSILAC are: i.) Promote statistical harmonization so as to strengthen the monitoring of ICT policies and projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, ii.) Monitor and analyze the progress of the regional countries towards the development of Information Societies, iii.) Support countries in the compilation and analysis of statistical data, developing capabilities or assisting countries with survey Implementation (NSOs and other official institutions).
OSILAC has played a relevant role in the ICT harmonized measurement process at a regional level, in the following areas:
•Identification and description of the stage of development of the ICT data collection at a regional level and the needs for information in the region. •In the combined work with the National Statistics Offices and other members of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, definition and consolidation of the core indicators in the measurement of ICT and promotion of the methodological discussion concerning the concepts and strategies of ICT data collection. •Data, statistics and indicators collection by the National Statistics Offices as an input for the analysis and research oriented towards the creation of a regional and subregional overview of the state of development of the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Additionally, OSILAC worked together with the Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies of the Statistical Conference of the Americas (SCA) of ECLAC and, concomitantly, they have collected and developed the contents of the Compendium of Practices on Implementation of ICT questions in household and business surveys in Latin America and the Caribbean, and of the methodological guidelines for the measurement of ICT in households and individuals, businesses, government and the education sector, which were presented at the Fifth Meeting of the SCA, held in August 2009. | | | | | | | | | |
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