CIPESA is an initiative to help Africans to better understand the policy-making processes that affect them, especially in the area of information and communications technology (ICT) and development. Our objectives are to raise awareness about key issues, provide useful information to assist African participation in policy-making, and stir debate by sparking discussion and convening productive gatherings. Decision-making related to the use of ICT for poverty reduction is a primary area of interest. If you would like to collaborate with CIPESA, please contact us.

Mission

CIPESA's mission is to increase the capacity of East and Southern African stakeholders to participate in international ICT policy-making. The aim is to promote the effective representation of African interests in international policy-making processes, and to see that international policy decisions can effectively be translated into positive outcomes for Africa. To accomplish these objectives, CIPESA will:

• Facilitate dialogue among stakeholder groups in the East and Southern Africa region;
• Collaborate with journalists, NGOs, government officials, development organizations, businesses, universities and others who share an interest in the field;
• Inform stakeholders by providing policy analysis and briefing materials on key issues;
• Stimulate discussion and debate;
• Organize and participate in workshops; and
• Widely disseminate publications.

CIPESA is a programme of bridges.org, a non-profit organisation with bases in the Uganda, South Africa and US.

Staff

• Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, CIPESA Director
• Anthony Mugeere, CIPESA Policy Associate

Associated Staff:

• Teresa Peters, Executive Director, bridges.org
• Joy Olivier, Policy Associate, bridges.org
• Karin Silk, Administrative Coordinator, bridges.org
• Jean-Paul Bauer, Website Administrator, bridges.org

Advisory board

The CIPESA advisory board comprises experts in the field who have made a commitment to guide our efforts. They critique our ideas, make introductions, and champion our work in a variety of fora, to help us maintain high standards of excellence, connect with like-minded initiatives, and extend the reach of our efforts. The advisory board members also double as stakeholders in the region and are used as resource persons for the various activities CIPESA undertakes.

The Advisory Board members are:

• Anna Ruth Menezes, Advisor to Minister of Science and Technology, Mozambique
• David Sawe, Office of the President, Tanzania
• Johnson Nkuuhe, Member of Parliament, Uganda
• Priscilla Jere, Director, OneWorld Africa