-------------------------------------------------- G D R C M o s a i c www.gdrc.org April 2007 -------------------------------------------------- Welcome to another edition of GDRC's Mosaic! This month, GDRC Mosaic is being set to more than 1200 subscribers in 120 countries worldwide. -------------------------------------------------- THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT: Microfinance and Disasters from GDRC's Programme on Microcredit and Microfinance The concept of microfinance as a viable tool for the poor was tested to its limits during the 2004 tsunami tragedy. It was clear that none had prepared for a disaster of such proportions and its impacts. Lessons are emerging, social safety net mechanisms to assist the poor and other populations affected by disasters, and promoting diversified income options for populations in high risks areas to reduce their vulnerability to hazards. GDRC has been working on these and related issues. Resources on this topic are available at: http://www.gdrc.org/icm/disasters/ As with all sections of GDRC, contributions, comments and suggestions are always welcome from users and subscribers! Please contact GDRC's Coordinator at - mosaic@gdrc.org -------------------------------------------------- FOCUS ON GDRC: LEARNING LESSONS Making the ‘A-ha’ happen! Information becomes knowledge only when it is linked to something the user already knows … Packaging information properly so as to facilitate its contextualizing and customizing by the user to create tacit knowledge is an iterative cycle. In the information cycle, based on a user-needs assessment, information is collated and analyzed to build patterns. The iterative process is repeated by incorporating feedback and review it until it matches the needs of the user. The information cycle is an aid to decision- making, of understanding what and how information is used by the target users, and developing a channel to deliver it to the user. It should make the 'a-ha' - a spark of insight and inspiration - happen for the user so that the right decision can be taken at the right level at the right time. -------------------------------------------------- MONTHLY STATISTICS FOR GDRC'S WEBSITE Total hits encountered - 1,499,869 Total files downloaded - 1,235,474 Total pages viewed - 463,183 Total web visitors - 207,270 Total KBytes - 18,619,820 Pages per day - Avg: 14,941 Max: 18,372 Visits per day - Avg: 6,684 Max: 8,207 -------------------------------------------------- See what new items have been added to GDRC's website: http://www.gdrc.org/about/whats-new.html -------------------------------------------------- ABOUT GDRC MOSAIC The "GDRC Mosaic" is a monthly email newsletter that provides information bites, and summarizes programme activities of GDRC, including new items added to the website. You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends and interested people! To subscribe or unsuscribe, please visit: http://www.gdrc.org/about/newsletter.html Comments/suggestions/contributions: mosaic@gdrc.org -------------------------------------------------- CONTACT ADDRESS: Global Development Research Center 1-5-1-1013, Mori Minami Machi, Higashi Nada-ku, Kobe 658-001, Japan Tel / Fax: +(81-78) 452-8414 Email: gdrc@gdrc.org Web: http://www.gdrc.org/ -------------------------------------------------- Copyright (C) 2008-2010, GDRC. All rights reserved.