Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM, or the Third World Institute) is a transnational alternative policy group and civil society organization, that disseminates analyses, proposals and information tools, directed towards the construction of democratic, socially just and ecologically sustainable alternatives.ITeM, which was established in 1989, shares the same secretariat and coordinating personnel as Social Watch and is based in Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Goals and Activities
The organization describes itself as a civil society organization that encourages citizen involvement in global decision-making processes.Among its principle aims are to:
The organization places civil society organizations as key agents in the process of social transformation and focuses on information, communication, and education activities on an international level. It has produced original research and critical policy analysis, and has built electronic communication networks through Chasque.
The organization has been known for the publication of the The World Guide (formerly called the Third World Guide), which acted as a reference book focusing on diverse global issues and concerns, as seen from the perspective of the Global South.
Choike
The portal site Choike (http://www.choike.org/), created by the Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM) seeks to improve the capacity of both users and publishers to understand and influence national and international decision-making processes that affect local communities.
Choike originated from the will of promoting information and knowledge sharing among Southern civil societies and strengthening citizenship and participation in the design and implementations of local, national, regional and international development policies by promoting the use of ICT for South-South exchange, to strengthen Southern NGO participation in international decision-making and improve visibility of Southern content.