Événement en ligne: Échange Régional sur les Indicateurs d’Universalité d’Internet (IUI)

Événement en ligne |

Le 16 Mars 2022, la Collaboration sur la Politique Internationale des TIC pour l’Afrique Orientale et Australe (CIPESA), en partenariat avec l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture (UNESCO), accueillera un dialogue régional sur les Indicateurs d’Universalité d’Internet (IUI). L’événement mettra en évidence les leçons tirées des évaluations de l’IUI menées au Bénin, en Éthiopie, au Ghana, au Kenya, au Niger et au Sénégal en 2021 dans le but de recueillir les meilleures pratiques en matière d’évaluations nationales des médias et des écosystèmes Internet.

L’événement s’appuie sur les efforts de la CIPESA et de l’UNESCO pour sensibiliser à l’intersection de l’accès à l’information et de l’application de l’IUI initiées lors des célébrations de la Journée Mondiale de la Liberté de la Presse en 2018 et du Forum sur la liberté de l’internet en Afrique de la même année dans le cadre des célébrations de la Journée Internationale de l’Accès Universel à l’Information (IDUAI) qui se tiennent chaque 28 Septembre.

Évolution des Indicateurs d’Universalité d’Internet (IUI)

En 2015, la 38e Conférence générale de l’UNESCO a approuvé une nouvelle définition de l’université de l’internet basée sur quatre principes – droits, ouverture, accessibilité à tous et participation multipartite – les principes ROAM. Les quatre principes, sur lesquels repose l’IUI, définissent un cadre d’évaluation des paysages numériques nationaux en vue de promouvoir la croissance et l’évolution de l’internet et la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable.

L’ajout d’indicateurs transversaux en 2018 a abouti au cadre d’indicateurs ROAM-X comprenant 303 indicateurs qui évaluent la mesure dans laquelle les parties prenantes nationales, y compris les gouvernements, les entreprises et la société civile, se conforment aux principes ROAM.

En 2008, le Programme international pour le développement de la communication (PIDC) de l’UNESCO a approuvé les Indicateurs de Développement des Médias (IDM) qui servent à évaluer l’environnement global du développement des médias dans un pays. Un autre cadre d’évaluation du PIDC est les Indicateurs de Sécurité des Journalistes (JSI), qui servent à identifier les mesures prises par les différentes parties prenantes concernées pour promouvoir la sécurité des journalistes et lutter contre l’impunité au niveau national.

Ensemble, l’IUI, le MDI et le JSI sont d’importants outils pour examiner les écosystèmes d’Internet et des médias, mais pour favoriser les collaborations numériques et stratégiques aux niveaux national, régional et international.

Pourquoi les Indicateurs sont Pertinents pour la Communauté de la Gouvernance de l’Internet et les Acteurs en Afrique.

Malgré la diversité croissante des médias et du paysage numérique en Afrique, la pluralité, la neutralité, la sécurité et la liberté d’expression font face à des affronts continus. Le secteur est également aux prises avec des préoccupations concernant la confidentialité des données, l’abordabilité de l’accès à Internet, la modération du contenu et la surveillance, entre autres.

Ces facteurs font en sorte que les médias de plusieurs pays ne sont pas à la hauteur des IMD et des JSI, tandis que les changements régressifs croissants dans l’accès et l’utilisation d’Internet par les citoyens et les médias affectent également la performance des États sur les IUI. Cependant, une évaluation approfondie et structurée peut mieux révéler la mesure dans laquelle les États fonctionnent réellement et permettre de parvenir à une réforme des politiques et des pratiques fondées sur des données probantes.

Voie à Suivre

En accueillant l’échange régional, on espère que davantage d’acteurs susciteront l’intérêt en utilisant les indicateurs pour éclairer le plaidoyer en faveur de la liberté des médias et des droits numériques

Inscrivez-vous au webinaire ici.

Prochains pays d’Intérêt

À la suite du webinaire, des sessions de formation nationales sur les indicateurs seront organisées au Cameroun, en Somalie, en Namibie, au Malawi et en Ouganda. Pour vous impliquer, envoyez un courriel à [email protected].

Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2021 (FIFAfrica21) Set For September: Propose a Session!

Announcement |

On September 28-30, 2021, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will host the eighth edition of the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica). The Forum is a landmark event that convenes a wide spectrum of stakeholders from across the internet governance and digital rights arenas to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online.

Taking on a hybrid approach (virtual and physical), FIFAfrica responds to rising challenges to the enjoyment of internet freedom in various African countries, including arrests and intimidation of online users, internet disruptions, digital taxes, and a proliferation of laws and regulations that undermine the potential of digital technology to drive the continent’s socio-economic and political development. 

FIFAfrica, therefore, puts internet freedom on the agenda of key actors including African policymakers, regulators, human rights defenders, academia, law enforcement representatives, and the media, paving the way for broader work on advancing digital rights in Africa and promoting the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.

Internet freedom is multi-faceted, and just like it requires to have a multiplicity of stakeholders working jointly, it also requires diversity in the voices, backgrounds, viewpoints, and thematic work areas of those that attend FIFAfrica.

 In the shadow of Covid-19, FIFAfrica is an extension of our work and that of diverse stakeholders to ensure continued proactive efforts to advance effective and inclusive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy debates and to elevate marginalised communities and at-risk groups – including women and vulnerable minorities such as refugees, sexual minorities and persons with disabilities – in internet governance dialogues.

Content Themes At FIFAfrica21

This year, FIFAfrica will pivot around three key themes through engagements running over three days. Through carefully curated sessions and workshops, it will interrogate the deeper internet freedom layers shaping these themes as listed below. 

1. Access To Information: The right of access to information especially in the online domain is coming under increased threats, including through digital taxation, network disruptions, and laws criminalising some content. Since inception, FIFAfrica has coincided with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) marked every September 28 so as to increase awareness on the right to information. Over the years, UNESCO, media organisations, government agencies and civil society entities have joined in to host sessions, workshops, and specialised training on the various ways in which access to information and digital rights coincide. This year, we will continue to join the global community in celebrating the integral role of this right in advancing human rights both online and offline.

2. Digital Inclusion as a means to an end for the Web We Want: The internet is public good and a basic right. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, this is far from reality. Promoting an inclusive internet is at the core of what we do at CIPESA and is one of the reasons why we are members of the global Web We Want coalition initiated by the Web Foundation. Digital exclusion is shaped by numerous factors including disability, language, education, income, and gender. 

Further, there is a growing concern that minority and marginalised communities such as refugees and persons with disabilities are being left behind in accessing information on Covid-19. This is because, despite the recent expansion in ICT usage, digital exclusion persists due to limited access and affordability of the requisite ICT tools, low digital literacy skills and shortage of content in accessible formats.

3. Key Trends in 2021 shaping the digital landscape in Africa: The various challenges that were affecting digital rights in Africa have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the guise of addressing the health concerns emerging from the pandemic, many measures introduced may have granted authoritarian regimes a blank cheque to impose unnecessary, broad and long-lasting measures that affect digital rights. However, there are some positives that have been registered with technology gaining centrality in the lives of states, persons and communities. Nonetheless, the pandemic has illuminated the unequal access to technology in African countries and  FIFAfrica will delve into the trends that have emerged over the course of the year, and explore ways to address the gaps and concerns.

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How To Be A Part Of The 2021 Edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa

There are various ways in which individuals and organisations can be a part of FIFAfrica as listed below:

  • Host a session (panel discussion/ workshop/ training: Is there a particular area of interest you would like to engage on? – Click here
  • Contact us directly if you have an alternative approach you would like to discuss further – Email us here

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 Important dates: Please note the below important dates related to participation at the Forum:

  • Session proposals will be accepted till August 21, 2021
  • Successful session proposals will be directly notified by August 31, 2021

CIPESA and WBA to Host Roundtable on Digital Inclusion in Africa

Roundtable Meeting |

In 2020, four of Africa’s leading digital companies (SafaricomJumiaMTN, and Naspers) were ranked and scored on digital inclusion by World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)‘s Digital Inclusion Benchmark. These companies as well as the other benchmarked companies have business footprints in more than 30 countries in Africa.

The Digital Inclusion Benchmark results showed that commitment and contribution towards digital inclusion are highly uneven across industries in the digital sector. Clear and consistent support to improve digital skills is needed, especially for vulnerable and underrepresented groups. There is also an opportunity for companies to help bridge the gender digital divide, through initiatives that target skills training for women and girls.

It is for this reason that WBA and The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) are holding a roundtable with stakeholders committed to digital inclusion in the region. We aim for this roundtable to help foster coordinated multi-stakeholder actions that encourage a race to the top on digital inclusion and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa. More people require internet access and intermediate skills to work remotely due to the measures put in place to manage COVID-19.

According to a 2020 report by Global System for Mobile Communications Associations (GSMA) on Mobile Internet Connectivity, mobile internet adoption stood at 26% in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2019. The region accounts for almost half of the global population not covered by a mobile broadband network. 3G internet coverage stood at 75% while 4G coverage was at only 49%, according to GSMA. The gender gap and a rural-urban gap in mobile internet stand at 37% and 60%, respectively. The lack of digital literacy skills, especially for women and rural populations, is the biggest barrier to mobile internet adoption, according to GSMA.

Objectives

  • Bring together African multi-stakeholders to foster greater collaboration on digital inclusion.
  • Share WBA’s Digital Inclusion Benchmark data as a tool for companies, governments, investors and civil society organizations for driving digital development.

Date: 9 June 2021

Time: 15.00 EAT |14.00 CEST | 08.00 EDT

LocationZoom Room

The speakers include:

  • Andrew Rugege – International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Regional Director for Africa
  • Dr. Wairagala Wakabi – Executive Director, CIPESA
  • Philippe-André Rodriguez – Deputy Director of the Center for International Digital Policy, Global Affairs Canada
  • Onica N. Makwakwa – World Wide Web Foundation, Head of Africa, Alliance for Affordable Internet
  • Farid Abasov – Emerging Markets Telecoms Analyst, Fidelity International
  • Benjamin Makai – Senior Manager, Technology for Development, Safaricom PLC

The event will be moderated by the distinguished Waihiga Mwaura, 2018 BBC Komla Dumor Award winner and Special Projects Editor at Citizen TV Kenya.

We invite you to register for the event 

Register for The Data Privacy Summit 2021

Online Event |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) alongside Article 19, Facebook, FGI Benin are pleased to host the Data Privacy Summit 2021 (#DataPrivacySummit21) in commemoration of Data Privacy Day.

Data Privacy Day was launched by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 26th April 2006, to be celebrated each year on 28th January; the anniversary of the signing of Convention 108 – the first legally binding international treaty on privacy and data protection. Since then, this day has come to represent international efforts to empower individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data and build trust.

Data Privacy Summit 2021, thus aims to raise awareness on contemporary privacy and data protection issues in Africa and the Middle East, as well as to inspire individuals, policymakers, organisations to take action and adopt best practices that protect privacy while promoting innovation in a manner that mitigates risks in the increasing use of digital technologies.

To see the lineup of sessions and speakers, register here.

CIPESA Advances the Digital Rights Debate at re:publica Accra

By Simone Toussi |
The first African edition of Europe’s largest internet and digital society festival – re:publica – was held in Accra, Ghana, December 14-15, 2018 and drew in hundreds of participants to showcase and discuss how politics, the arts, innovation, and digital rights have been affected by an increasingly digitised society.
Co-organised by Impact Hub Accra, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and with the support of several partners including the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), re:publica Accra aimed to strengthen Afro-German dialogue about digital issues, and to explore the intersection between digitalisation and collaborative developmental efforts.
With support from BMZ and the German Society for International Cooperation agency (GIZ), CIPESA hosted a Digital Rights Lounge throughout the duration of re:publica, organised workshops on civic participation and online content regulation, and also participated in sessions on the work of investigative journalists and activists, among others.
The Digital Rights Lounge
To reflect its multi-disciplinary nature, re:publica Accra featured four lounges on health, digital creation, digital rights, and hardware innovation. The CIPESA hosted Digital Rights Lounge featured organisations sharing experiences and showcasing work related to advancing digital rights in Africa.
The lounge featured an exhibition on the state of digital rights in Africa including visuals on press freedom, the gender dynamics of internet usage, access to information, data protection and privacy, affordability, non-discrimination, and network disruptions. This was complemented by research publications and videos on the ongoing efforts to engender progressive internet policies and practices that support human rights, innovation, and development.
Also presented at re:publica were key action areas that emerged from the 2018 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica), which was held in Accra, Ghana, at the end of September 2018. Since 2014, CIPESA has held this annual forum that brings together various stakeholders to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online on the continent. Previous FIFAfrica editions have been held in Uganda (2014-2016) and South Africa (2017).
Sessions held around the lounge included conversations on involving more girls in tech, privacy challenges, regulating emerging technologies, hands-on skills session on steganography, and online content creation. There was also a session on the work of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), which groups 30 governments who have committed to work together to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms online.
Advancing Civic Participation through Digital Technologies
Re:publica served as a platform to also share insights on the role of technology in social accountability, civic engagement, transparency and accountability, during a session titled ‘Advancing Civic Participation through Digital Technologies’. The session explored the opportunities and gaps in responsive solutions/platforms for civic participation and for transparency and accountability. Panellists presented cases studies on technology in governance including political mobilisation through print, broadcast and online media in Kenya; public finance tracking in Nigeria; parliamentary monitoring in Ghana; creating an enabling environment for civic technology in post-conflict Somalia; and service delivery monitoring and human rights reporting through ICT in East Africa.   
The session also interrogated how the legislative landscape affects access and infrastructure, cybercrime, and access to information; and how, content regulation and taxation in the respective countries weaken the potential of technology-based initiatives to advance democratisation.
Impact of Online Content Regulation on Digital Rights in Africa
In this session, panellists discussed the online content regulation landscape in Africa with a focus on countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, DR Congo, Burundi and Zambia which in 2018 proposed or passed laws and regulations that undermine freedom of expression and access to information online.
These controls are undermining public confidence in the use of online platforms, and could lead to self-censorship and complete withdrawal from online discourse by ordinary citizens and by vocal bloggers and other social media enthusiasts. They are also leading to arrests of some journalists and social media users, including those that express legitimate.
The session comprised digital rights experts and researchers from Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe who shared ideas on alternative approaches aimed at enhancing adoption and use of online platforms as well as content generation for advancing digital rights in Africa.
The panel noted that there was limited citizens’ consultations in coming up with the laws and regulations around internet control and online content regulation, and stressed the need for campaigns to have internet regulation that promotes individuals’ rights and livelihoods and not just the narrow interests of powerful actors such as governments and ruling party officials.
However, for such campaigns to work, it is crucial for civil society and other actors to conduct research to generate evidence to inform advocacy and decision-making; and to proactively offer alternative positions to governments rather than only offering criticism. In addition, the need to involve more actors in promoting digital rights – not least traditional human rights organisations, women’s rights organisations, and private sector actors – was emphasised. The need for digital security training and digital literary campaigns, and for increased use of tools of anonymisation and circumvention tools, was also emphasised.
The support of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and GIZ enabled CIPESA to support the participation at re:publica of 13 individuals from 10 African countries. The support also went towards the hosting of a Digital Rights Lounge throughout the duration of the event alongside organising workshops on civic participation and online content regulation, and participation in sessions on the work of investigative journalists and activists, among others.