Award Information
Based on my current research analyzing development programs designed to benefit women through communication interventions, I propose to expand my focus to include the work of the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JlCA), given its prominence as the largest bilateral donor in the field.My research will explore JlCA's institutional discourse on the role of gender in constructions of development communication beneficiaries and on the process of social change facilitated through communication technologies. Initial research on JlCA as a case study will also facilitate comparative analyses with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other development agencies. The proposed research with JICA will build on in-depth interviews with development practitioners and reviews of institutional documents describing programs and policies. Given the worsening conditions of women on a global scale, it is critical that we explore how development agencies are attempting to address women's issues through strategic intervention.