Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa

Event description

How is Africa building capacities for internet governance (IG) and digital policy? What are its main initiatives? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Africa’s digital capacity building? What are the main opportunities and threats for building IG capacities in Africa?

Join us for a presentation of Diplo’s study and report titled Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa which suggests the action plan ahead. 

The report was commissioned by the African Union (AU) and is part of the IG track of the Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA).

Africa’s active participation in IG is beneficial not only for Africa but also for a more inclusive, impactful, and informed global digital policy. Building IG capacity for African stakeholders is an urgent necessity. IG capacity building can facilitate the process of harnessing digital technologies and innovation to generate inclusive economic growth, stimulate job creation, and promote socioeconomic development. At the same time, capacity building could positively contribute to the engagement of African stakeholders in global digital policy discussions, effectively promoting African interests in the international arena.

Under the PRIDA framework, the African Union (AU) commissioned a study that would gather elements for the development of an action plan for sustainable capacity-building internet governance initiatives in Africa. The report suggests concrete steps that should be taken on the continental, regional, and national levels, as well as the role of the African Union Commission (AUC) and PRIDA in supporting the implementation of measures to foster sustainability in IG capacity building. 

The launch of the report will be an opportunity to present the key findings and recommendations of the study. An interactive discussion will follow among IG capacity-building experts and practitioners, and interaction with event attendees.

Confirmed speakers 

• Mr. Moses Bayingana, Ag. Head of Information Society Division, (AU)
• Mr Esteve Sanz, Head of Sector, Internet Governance and Multi-stakeholder Dialogue, Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT), E3: Next-Generation Internet (EU)
• Ms Susan Teltscher, Head of Capacity and Digital Skills Development Division,  International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Mr Philip Thigo, Senior Adviser, Regional Bureau for Africa, UN Development Programme (UNDP)
• Ms Marilia Maciel, Digital Policy Senior Researcher, DiploFoundation, and author of the report 
• Prof. Clement Dzidonu, President, Accra Institute of Technology
• Prof. Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa (RIA)
• Dr Kossi Amessinou, West Africa Regional Director, African ICT Foundation
• Ms Anriette Esterhuysen, Chair, United Nations Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF MAG)

Host and moderator 

Dr Tereza Horejsova, Director, Partnerships and Project Development, DiploFoundation

About PRIDA 

PRIDA is the fruit of a partnership between the African Union Commission and the European Commission. The overall objective of PRIDA is to foster universally accessible, affordable, and effective wireless broadband across the continent to unlock possible future benefits of internet-based services. Its specific objectives are: a) to facilitate efficient and harmonised spectrum utilisation, b) to harmonise measurable ICT/telecommunications policy, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks, and c) to strengthen the ability of African stakeholders to actively participate in global IG processes. Activities pertaining to the latter are collectively referred to as the ‘internet governance track’ of PRIDA. The Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa report is part of PRIDA’s IG track.