Online engagement in the global South

This working paper examines the experiences and challenges of climate change practitioners in the global South as they transitioned to online engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 CDKN survey and interviews across Africa, Asia, and South America, the document analyzes the impact of the digital divide, evaluates various communication platforms, and provides lessons for organizing inclusive virtual events for marginalized and remote populations.

• The 'digital divide' significantly hinders online participation in the global South, characterized by high costs for data, unreliable electricity, and limited access to hardware. In 2019, internet usage was only 28.2% in Africa compared to 77.2% in the Americas, and Africa had the lowest percentage of households with a computer at home (10.7%).
• A CDKN survey of 30 respondents identified reliable internet as the primary requirement for adequate online engagement, cited by 87% of participants. Other significant barriers include the cost of data (37% of respondents), power supply issues, and a lack of appropriate hardware.
• Zoom is the preferred platform for many practitioners due to its user-friendly interface, functionality in low-bandwidth environments, and features like breakout rooms and screen sharing. However, users noted frustrations such as the 40-minute time limit for non-paid accounts and difficulties accessing platforms via mobile phones.
• Virtual engagement has provided benefits including reduced travel costs, increased flexibility, and broader access for introverted participants or those with English as a second language, who may prefer using chat functions over speaking.
• An evaluation of an IPCC Working Group III virtual meeting involving 287 experts found that 36% of respondents from developing countries felt unable to fully participate, compared to 25% from developed countries. Major barriers included competing domestic and work commitments, as well as the timing of live meetings across diverse time zones.
• In Sudan, online engagement is specifically challenged by persistent power cuts of seven hours per day and economic sanctions that restrict access to platforms like Zoom and Google, requiring the use of costly and sometimes unreliable VPNs.
• Effective inclusion of remote participants, as seen in Kenya and Peru, requires multifaceted strategies: providing data bundles, conducting preliminary technical training, adjusting meeting times to accommodate gender-based domestic duties, and facilitating travel to municipal offices or schools for better connectivity.

APA

Scodanibbio, L., & McNamara, L. (2021). Online engagement in the global South. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Southern-perspective-on-online-spaces-WEB.pdf

Chicago

Scodanibbio, Lucia, and Lisa McNamara. Online engagement in the global South. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2021. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Southern-perspective-on-online-spaces-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Scodanibbio |first1=Lucia |last2=McNamara |first2=Lisa |title=Online engagement in the global South |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=April 2021 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Southern-perspective-on-online-spaces-WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scodanibbio2021online, author = {Scodanibbio, Lucia and McNamara, Lisa}, title = {{Online engagement in the global South}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Southern-perspective-on-online-spaces-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }