Smart Rural Communities: Action Research in Colombia and Mozambique

Calzada, Igor ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4269-830X 2023. Smart Rural Communities: Action Research in Colombia and Mozambique. Sustainability 15 (12) , 9521. 10.3390/su15129521

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Abstract

This article contributes to the ongoing discussion on rural development programs aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South. The research question examines how the Smart Rural Communities (SRC) framework can support the SDGs as an international cooperation model. The article presents findings from fieldwork action research including a crit-ical analysis of the hegemonic discourse on smart cities and provides final recommendations. Additionally, it introduces the concept of SRC. The fieldwork action research was conducted in post-conflict rural areas in Colombia’s Bolivar region and remote settlements in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. Led by Ayuda En Acción in collaboration with co-operatives such as Mundukide Foundation, Alecop, and LKS from Mondragon Co-operative Corporation, these in-terventions aimed to engage local communities through Living Labs. They utilized Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social innovation to promote the well-being of rural residents. The article comprises (i) an introduction; (ii) a literature review; (iii) a presentation of the fieldwork action research in Colombia and Mozambique; (iv) findings from a SWOT analysis and policy recommendations for SRC Living Labs; (v) conclusions addressing the research ques-tion. The SRC framework offers valuable insights for international cooperation models striving to achieve the SDGs in the Global South.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > J General legislative and executive papers J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JC Political theory J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) J Political Science > JL Political institutions (America except United States) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration J Political Science > JX International law J Political Science > JZ International relations T Technology > T Technology (General)
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2071-1050
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 June 2023
Date of Acceptance:	8 June 2023
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2023 17:08
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160302

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