The Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries initiative seeks to bring about effective, sustainable public access to information and communications technology in libraries for people in developing and transitioning countries who would not otherwise have access, and to ensure it is useful and used in ways that improve people’s lives and spread the benefits (e.g. get health information, use government services, manage finances, look for jobs, do research for school and work, and keep in touch with family and friends). There is a great inequality in the global distribution of information technology. Worldwide, approximately 5 billion people—nearly 90 percent of the world’s population—do not have an opportunity to use computers connected to the Internet. Community Science was selected to support the Gates Foundation in its Impact Planning and Assessment (IPA) process. The IPA process helps grantees in build country grant programs that best meet users’ needs; provides guidance on how to assess grantee program activities and measure their impact, which feeds continual learning and program improvement, as well as advocacy activities aimed at achieving sustainability for public access services in public libraries; and helps grantees demonstrate accountability and meet foundation requirements. Specifically, Community Science manages the Impact Work Group, a global learning community of IPA specialists; develops impact assessment and evaluation capacity building tools and programs; and serves as one of the Global Libraries technical assistance providers for the 13 countries that are currently Gates Foundation grantees (2012- present).
