Why is digital literacy important for refugees?

Digital literacy is crucial for refugees to navigate essential services like housing, education, and employment in a new country. It helps bridge language barriers, facilitates communication with organizations, and allows for participation in online environments, aiding overall integration and reducing social inequities.

How does the IRC design its digital inclusion programs?

The IRC designs its programs by aligning with its mission, setting clear goals (e.g., increasing client confidence), identifying stakeholders and beneficiaries, and linking activities to expected outcomes. Key priorities include staff development, curriculum design, client-focused planning, and social impact delivery, all while ensuring multilingual support.

What are the key components of the IRC's digital assessment tools?

The assessment tools measure key indicators like digital skill gain, technology access, and client demographics. They also focus on client-specific needs such as household management, civic engagement, media literacy, work readiness, and digital security. Assessments are designed to be adaptable to different languages and skill levels.

How does the IRC ensure clients have access to devices and internet?

The program collaborates with community organizations and libraries for device donations (laptops, Chromebooks) and ensures clients have internet connectivity through programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and hotspots.

What support does the IRC offer beyond basic digital skills?

The program offers one-on-one coaching, vocational education referrals, support for parent engagement with school platforms, and workforce development programs. Services are available in multiple languages, often with interpretation, and clients can receive support for topics like e-commerce, digital marketing, and website building based on their feedback.

How does the IRC measure the effectiveness of its digital inclusion program?

Effectiveness is measured through pre- and post-assessments to track skill gain. Data is collected and analyzed using statistical modeling, comparing scores across various demographic variables like head of household status, gender, race, and household size to identify program impact.

What role do client feedback and partnerships play in the program?

Client feedback is vital for refining the program, identifying unmet needs, and guiding the development of new workshops. Partnerships with community organizations, institutions, and even clients themselves are essential for resource sharing, program reach, and achieving digital equity.

What are the challenges faced by Afghan refugees in accessing digital services in San Diego?

Afghan refugees often face significant challenges due to language barriers and a lack of basic digital skills, such as composing emails or operating computers. This hinders their ability to access essential services, communicate effectively, and integrate into the new environment.

Why was the focus on parents, particularly mothers, in digital inclusion?

During the pandemic, it was realized that while students received devices, parents lacked the digital skills to monitor their children's education and communicate with schools. Empowering parents, especially mothers, with digital literacy helps them support their children, identify issues like bullying, and actively participate in school systems.

Are digital inclusion resources available remotely or in languages other than those listed?

While the San Diego office currently serves only that area, the IRC has a YouTube channel with digital literacy content in multiple languages. Other IRC offices are also developing resources. For programs outside the US, UNHCR Digital Innovation and UN Development are working on digital inclusion curricula.

How can organizations in refugee camps, like in Africa, partner with IRC or access these services?

For partnerships or services outside the US, it's recommended to reach out to the local IRC office in your country. UNHCR Digital Innovation and UN Development are also collaborating with IRC in Africa to initiate digital inclusion programming.

Key Moments

Developing a Co-Created Digital Inclusion Program - Migration Summit 2023

MIT OpenCourseWare

Education4 min read70 min video

Apr 28, 2023|175 views|12

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Key Moments

TL;DR

IRC San Diego's co-created digital inclusion program empowers refugees with essential digital skills.

Key Insights

The program is co-created with refugees to address their specific digital learning needs and barriers.

Digital inclusion is viewed as a crucial tool for refugees' active social integration and agency.

Assessment tools are tailored to the unique needs of refugee populations, considering language and access barriers.

The program offers a tiered approach to digital skills, from foundational knowledge to e-commerce and digital marketing.

Partnerships with clients, community organizations, and the IRC network are vital for program success.

In-language training and culturally relevant content are essential for effective digital inclusion.

PROGRAM ORIGINS AND MISSION

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Digital Inclusion Program, launched in San Diego in 2020, aims to bridge the digital divide for refugees and impacted communities. The program's mission is intrinsically linked to the IRC's overarching goal of helping individuals affected by conflict and disaster survive, recover, and gain control of their future. By focusing on digital skills, the program seeks to remove barriers to full participation in digital environments and empower clients, particularly those from forced migration backgrounds.

CO-CREATION AND CLIENT-CENTERED APPROACH

A cornerstone of the San Diego program's design is its co-creation with clients, aligning with the IRC's Strategy 100 and the UNDP's digital strategy goals. This client-centered approach aims to reduce passivity and foster agency, making the program more impactful and relevant. By involving refugees in identifying learning gaps, delivery methods, and curriculum development, the IRC ensures that the program directly addresses their lived experiences and aspirations, moving beyond a "one-size-fits-all" model.

PROGRAM GOALS AND FRAMEWORK

The program's goals include increasing client confidence in digital skills, enabling them to apply for jobs, navigate digital spaces as parents, and enter the workforce. It addresses refugees, immigrants, and other low-to-moderate income individuals in San Diego. The framework emphasizes "active social integration" and the "fourth space" concept, examining how digital and physical realities intersect to support integration. Key indicators include access to devices, internet connectivity, basic skill needs, and confidence levels, with a specific focus on increasing female clients' confidence.

ASSESSMENT TOOL DEVELOPMENT

Developing effective assessment tools is critical. The process involves defining key indicators, researching existing models, and tailoring them to the program's unique beneficiaries. Given that many clients lack consistent technology access and may have language proficiency challenges, the IRC developed new measures. These assessments gauge foundational skills, comfort levels, and specific skill acquisition, allowing for the creation of in-language cohorts and personalized learning plans. The aim is to measure not just deficits but to build upon existing strengths.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND DELIVERY

Implementation focuses on ensuring access to devices (like laptops and Chromebooks) and connectivity through programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and partnerships with libraries. Training and support are provided in multiple languages, including one-on-one coaching covering computer basics, file management, and digital security. Specialized cohorts address parent engagement with school platforms and workforce readiness, including entrepreneurship and digital marketing, all tailored to client needs and languages spoken.

MEASUREMENT AND DATA ANALYSIS

Tracking program efficiency involves collecting data through pre- and post-assessments and evaluating client-set milestones. Data analysis uses statistical methods to identify correlations between demographics (e.g., head of household status, gender, race, household size) and skill gain. Findings indicate that female clients, in particular, show significant skill improvement. This data-driven approach helps refine the program, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate its impact, ensuring accountability to funders and beneficiaries.

THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIPS

Digital equity is achieved through robust partnerships. The IRC collaborates with various stakeholders, including local institutions, the broader IRC network, and most importantly, its clients. Eliciting feedback from clients is crucial for program adaptation, ensuring that services meet evolving community needs. Client-driven initiatives have led to the development of new workshops, such as those on digital security and e-commerce, underscoring the value of their active participation in shaping the program's direction.

VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY

Client testimonials highlight the profound impact of digital inclusion. Participants from Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iraq shared personal experiences of struggle due to the digital divide and the empowerment gained through the program. Language barriers and a lack of digital literacy were identified as significant challenges in accessing essential services, employment, and education. The availability of in-language training was repeatedly emphasized as a critical factor for successful learning and integration.

EXPANSION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The program's success has generated interest in expansion beyond San Diego. Recommendations include scaling the model to other California offices and particularly focusing on underserved areas with significant refugee populations, like East County. Efforts are ongoing to create more accessible digital resources, including a digital skills library on YouTube in various languages. Partnerships with other organizations like UNHCR are also being explored to broaden reach and impact.

Mentioned in This Episode

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●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Designing a Co-Created Digital Inclusion Program

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Align program goals with organizational mission (e.g., IRC's mission).

Co-create programs with clients to foster agency and reduce passivity.

Focus on essential digital skills for integration, employment, and daily life.

Establish baselines and core indicators: access to devices, internet, basic skills, confidence.

Develop assessment tools considering clients' unique barriers (language, access, proficiency).

Offer training in client's native languages and use interpreters.

Provide one-on-one coaching and create individual learning plans.

Collaborate with community organizations for device distribution and connectivity support (e.g., Affordable Connectivity Program).

Continuously gather client feedback throughout program implementation.

Build digital security and resilience skills.

Consider the impact of technology on household management, civic engagement, and work readiness.

Leverage existing resources like YouTube channels for digital literacy content.

Prioritize digital inclusion programs within resettlement services.

Avoid This

Do not create programs that reproduce existing social inequities.

Do not assume clients have prior digital knowledge or access.

Do not rely solely on English-based assessments.

Do not overlook the importance of parental digital literacy for children's education.

Do not limit services to a single geographic area if expansion is possible.

Do not view feedback solely as criticism; embrace it for program improvement.

Digital Literacy Skill Gain by Demographic Variable

Data extracted from this episode

Variable	Baseline Average Score	Post-Program Average Score	Change in Score
Head of Household	Lower than Non-Head of Household	Higher than Non-Head of Household	Increase observed
Gender (Female)	8	10	Largest jump (+2)
Gender (Male)	Similar to baseline	Similar to baseline	Increase observed
Gender (Non-binary)	Similar to baseline	Similar to baseline	Increase observed
Racial Background (Multi-racial)	N/A	Slight increase	Observed movement
Household Size (3-4 people average)	N/A	N/A	Score centered around this range
Household Size (6 people)	N/A	Small positive shift	Observed shift
Household Size (9 people)	N/A	Noticeable shift upward	Observed shift

Common Questions

A co-created digital inclusion program is designed and developed in collaboration with the target beneficiaries, such as refugees and immigrants. This approach ensures the program addresses their specific needs, reduces passivity, and empowers them to gain agency in their digital journey.