The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is one of two centres established under the Catalysing Access to Information and Communications Technologies in Africa (CATIA) initiative, which was funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DfID). CIPESA focuses on decision-making that facilitates the use of ICT in support of development and poverty reduction.

CIPESA’s establishment was in response to the findings of the Louder Voices Report prepared for DfID and the G8 Dot Force Implementation Team, which cited the lack of easy, affordable and timely access to information about ICT-related issues and processes as key a barrier to effective and inclusive ICT policy making in Africa.

While based in Kampala, Uganda, CIPESA has worked across East and Southern Africa, informing policy-making, and stirring debate and convening productive gatherings. We work with networks, individuals and organisations (private sector, governmental, academic, civil society) across the region, and we are key members of several African and international initiatives that aim to improve the inclusiveness of the Information Society. CIPESA is a member of the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

Since inception, CIPESA has positioned itself as a leading centre for research and analysis of information aimed to enable policy makers in the region to understand ICT policy issues, and for various multi-stakeholders to use ICT to improve livelihoods. We produce and publish commentaries, briefing papers and newsletters that are widely circulated. Our commentaries - short and informative pieces aimed at sparking thinking and dialogue - provide an overview of selected international ICT policy and Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) issues relevant to African stakeholders.