Mobile Technology and Social Media
Mobile phones are no longer a luxury item and have become a ubiquitous and essential part of our lives. Similarly, social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs have radically changed the way we interact and communicate. The many sessions under this theme highlight:
- innovative use of mobile telephony in agriculture
- how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have helped improve the bargaining power of smallholder farmers and provided a more direct link to markets
- the power and potential of social media in connecting people and creating local, national and global networks
- how social media tools can create conducive learning and sharing environments across geographical and language boundaries
Land matrix knowledge system: a sneak preview of what the world’s largest database on large-scale land-based investments tells us (50)
At the session, participants will have an opportunity to get a sneak preview of ground breaking information set on verified large-scale land-related investments. This wealth of information has been gathered by the International Land Coalition, CIRAD/University of Pretoria, Oxfam, CDE/ University of Bern, GIZ, and GIGA/University of Hamburg. The application will be made available in the coming months and will provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the extent of this phenomenon and its key features. This is the first step towards building an online public platform for documenting land investments globally and in particular focus countries. The aim of the initiative is to enhance transparency, foster equitable negotiation, and equip citizens and policy makers to make informed decisions.
Michael Taylor and Gine Zwart
ILC, Oxfam