Diplo Africa Newsletter
October-December 2024
We reflect on 2024 with gratitude for a year filled with meaningful connections and accomplishments by the Diplo Africa team!
Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
Dr Katherine W. Getao, Senior Regional Advisor of Diplo Africa, participated as a judge in the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, which is an annual competition that immerses students in developing policy responses to simulated cyber crises. The Cape Town edition took place on 7-8 October 2024, bringing together university teams from across Africa to address complex cybersecurity scenarios.
The competition was organised by the Atlantic Council in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, the MITRE Corporation, the Cybersecurity Capacity Centre for Southern Africa (C3SA), and the University of Cape Town. It provided students with the opportunity to present their strategies to a panel of regional experts, enhancing their understanding of cyber policy and crisis management.
‘Africa in Cyber Diplomacy’ panel at the IGF 2024
Dr Getao participated virtually in a panel titled ‘Africa in Cyber Diplomacy: Multistakeholder Engagement’ organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) at the 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December. With projections from the International Finance Corporation and Google estimating that Africa’s digital economy could contribute US$180 billion by 2025, the panellists emphasised the vital role of African influence in shaping global cyber policy.
In addition, the ravages of cybercrime on economic development, the impact of digital exclusion on vulnerable groups and the importance of leveraging cyber to address African concerns such as youth employment and education were highlighted. Panel moderator Dr Mactar Seck from UNECA humorously pointed out that all the panellists were female, highlighting the progress of gender inclusion in African technology issues.
Diplo Africa webinars in 2024
We hosted webinars focused on the African continent on topics ranging from Tools for disaster management, Cybersecurity risks in social media, the Impact of AI on data collection, exploitation, protection, and privacy, and the Digital Trade for Africa’s Prosperity webinar that highlighted prioritising infrastructure development, regulatory harmonisation, and consumer empowerment to create a prosperous and secure digital trade environment across Africa.
Unpacking the Global Digital Compact
We encourage you to explore Diplo’s latest publication, Unpacking the Global Digital Compact: Actors, Issues and Processes, authored by Diplo’s Director of Knowledge, Sorina Teleanu, for valuable insights and perspectives!
The publication provides a detailed account of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) negotiations over the 18-month-long process, tracking and analysing changes across different versions of GDC drafts. It presents a balanced interplay between zooming in on specific provisions and zooming out to provide a broader perspective on digital governance and cooperation.
As we wrap up, we’d like to thank you for your unwavering support throughout the year. As we step into 2025, we look forward to another year filled with meaningful collaborations and opportunities! While planning for the year ahead, feel free to share any key events you believe we should spotlight, promote, or participate in.
And don’t miss Diplo’s first event of the new year, 2025 forecast: AI and Digital developments on 8 January—join us as we explore what lies ahead!
Happy New Year!
Diplo Africa
Interested in publishing internet governance-related blog posts to our Africa digital diplomacy and governance page?
Contact Diplo’s African Initiative Coordinator, Mwende Njiraini.
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