Carla Rocha (Candidacy for Coordination Committee)

Name of the candidacy (individual ): Carla Rocha

Composition: Carla Rocha

I am a Professor and Software Engineer at the University of Brasília, where I lead a women-driven free software lab dedicated to the inclusion and empowerment of developers. With extensive experience in researching and implementing digital participation technologies, I am one of the leaders in adopting Decidim in Brazil, now engaging over 1.5 million participants. My candidacy for the Decidim Association's Coordination Committee is driven by a commitment to strengthening the platform's inclusive governance, amplifying diverse Latin American voices, and promoting accessible technologies for populations with limited connectivity and digital skills.

Objectives of this candidacy:

Supporting the adoption of Decidim in Latin American countries: Advocate for the expansion of the Decidim platform to other Latin American countries by sharing the successful experience of the Brazilian instance, which currently has over 1.5 million participants. This dissemination reinforces a commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible digital participation culture in the region, contributing to democratic strengthening.

Promoting inclusive participation technologies for populations with limited connectivity: Share the results of research and applications of inclusive technologies, such as using messaging apps for digital participation, with the global Decidim community. This approach facilitates the inclusion of low-income populations with limited connectivity, enabling everyone, regardless of technological barriers, to engage in participatory processes.

Encouraging gender equity in free software development: Bring the experience of leading a women-driven free software lab at the University of Brasília, which emphasizes welcoming practices and developer training. This helps address gender imbalance in the development of the Decidim platform, fostering a more inclusive and representative development network.

Strengthening Decidim Association’s Global Governance with Latin American voices: Promote the formal participation of Latin American stakeholders in Decidim's governance, enhancing the diversity and relevance of the Association for various global contexts. This leads to more inclusive and representative governance that considers the specific demands and realities of Latin America.