Community Local Information System
(SILC)
The - Community Local Information System (SILC).Developed since 2002 by Fundación Cimas del Ecuador, it is a georeferenced platform designed to integrate, analyze, and visualize information collected through participatory community censuses. This system combines advanced technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), orthophotos, and satellite imagery, with local participatory processes, aiming to identify needs, prioritize target groups, and inform policies to reduce inequities and improve public health. The SILC is regularly updated to respond to local needs and ongoing research.
In 2014, it received the First Prize in the eSAC Innovation Competition, an award granted by the eHealth and Equity in Latin America and the Caribbean Project (eSAC), jointly developed by IDRC, the University of Toronto, and PAHO. The initiative focuses on improving equity and well-being for marginalized populations.
Applications and Updates
Data Updates: The system incorporates updated censuses and records, such as the 2017 population and housing censuses conducted in various parishes, as well as mortality and hospital discharge databases up to 2020.
Project Support: The SILC has supported local initiatives such as:
- Early Childhood Centers for Well-Being (CIBV)
- Daily Care Centers for Older Adults (CECUIDAM).
- ESPINA Project – on secondary pesticide exposure
- CINCA – Intercultural Center for Training and Agroecology
- Water Resources Mapping, among others
The SILC has proven to be a key tool for local development planning and monitoring, establishing itself as a model of social and technological innovation in service of communities.
