Every year on the third Thursday in April, the world celebrates International Girls in ICT Day. Girls in ICT Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of promoting girls' participation in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) using strong female role models in ICT-related fields and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. 

Like many regions, Africa faces a significant gender gap in the ICT sector. Girls in ICT Day raises awareness about this gap using role models to encourage girls to consider careers in technology, thereby helping to address disparities in access to and participation in the ICT industry. According to ITU, Digital technologies are an essential pathway to gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be possible until we close the digital gender gap.​

Africa's economy is increasingly reliant on technology and digital innovation. Encouraging more girls to enter the ICT sector helps to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and economic growth in the region.

This year, we have put together a digital campaign that features voices of leading women in ICT drawn from National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and iPRIS partner organisations across Africa. 

1. Abosede Olabimtam (Head of Procurement South& East Africa, General Manager Ericsson Zambia)

2. Dr. Caroline Wamala-Larsson (Director of SPIDER)

3.  Dr. Emma Anna Otieno (Deputy Director, Communications Authority of Kenya)

4.  Ms Minenhle Rollaine Masuku (Quality Services Engineer Eswatini Community Commission (ESCCOM)

5.  Dr. Katja Sarajeva (Program Manager ITP Network and Researcher at SPIDER)

6.  Moira Ayo Onek Leonzio (Special Programs Officer National Communications Authority (NCA) South Sudan)

The role of iPRIS

ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) contributes to bridging the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory bodies. Targeting 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance inclusive digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. 

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001). The project aims to provide inclusive peer-to-peer capacity-building for African National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations, recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulation in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.

 By highlighting the achievements of women in ICT and providing role models for young girls, the iPRIS girls in ICT campaign helps to break down notable  barriers such as:

1. Underrepresentation in STEM Education: Like in other parts of the world, women and girls in Africa are often underrepresented in STEM education, which serves as a pathway to careers in ICT. Factors such as cultural norms, lack of access to quality education, and stereotypes about gender roles can contribute to this disparity.
2. Workforce Participation: Women's participation in the ICT workforce in Africa varies by country and region. In many African countries, women are underrepresented in technical roles within the ICT sector, such as software development and engineering. However, women may be more represented in non-technical roles such as project management and administration.
3. Access to Digital Skills Training: Women and girls in Africa may face barriers to accessing digital skills training and ICT education programs. These barriers can include limited access to technology and internet connectivity, as well as cultural and socio-economic factors that may discourage girls from pursuing ICT-related fields.
4. Entrepreneurship and Leadership: Women are often underrepresented in ICT entrepreneurship and leadership positions in Africa. While there are initiatives aimed at promoting women's entrepreneurship and leadership in the ICT sector, such as mentorship programs and networking opportunities, more efforts are needed to address systemic barriers and biases.
5. Gender Pay Gap: Limited data is available on the gender pay gap specifically within the ICT sector in Africa. However, broader studies on gender pay disparities in the region suggest that women often earn less than men across various industries, including technology and ICT.

Addressing the gender gap

Efforts to address the gender gap in ICT in Africa include initiatives to promote STEM education for girls, provide digital skills training and mentorship programs, support women's entrepreneurship in the technology sector, and advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality and inclusivity in the ICT workforce.

While progress has been made in some areas, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women and girls in Africa have equal opportunities to participate and succeed in the ICT sector. Continued investment in education, skills development, and gender-responsive policies and programs is essential for closing the gender gap and harnessing the full potential of Africa's digital economy.  Girls in ICT Day  encourages girls to pursue their interests in technology without fear of discrimination or bias.

For more media related queries/ more information about iPRIS 

Please contact,

Ms.Edna Soomre - Project lead, iPRIS

Email: ipris@spidercenter.org

www.ipris.digital

The 13th AGM of The Communication Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa CRASA was held from 11- 13 April 2024 at the Royal Villas Hotel in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini.  The AGM was be hosted by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCOM).

Dr. Bengt Mölleryd on the podium during the Annual General Meeting. Photo courtesy of iPRIS.

CRASA  organised a pre-AGM conference from the 8th to 10th of April 2024, themed “Innovation for Better Regulation”, which will also be hosted at the same venue. During the conference, Bengt Möllerydfrom SPIDER delivered a keynote presentation on the barriers to technological innovation.

(CRASA) is a forum for information and communications technologies (ICT) and postal regulators in Southern Africa. CRASA is a specialised agency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and was set up in 1997 within the framework of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology (1995). CRASA consists of four institutions: the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Executive Committee (EC), the Specialized Committees, and the Secretariat. The RRO has 14 ICT and postal regulators from the SADC Region who are members of CRASA.

The Innovation for Better Regulation Conference

Over the years, the regulation landscape has undergone significant changes, influenced by technological advances, shifts in consumer demands and expectations, and evolving business models. To keep pace with this dynamic environment, CRASA Members must embrace innovation to enhance regulatory effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability as regulators of the electronic communications and postal sectors.

Enhancing innovation in executing regulatory mandates is imperative in our increasingly digital and interconnected world. The Innovation for Better Regulation Conference will, therefore, tackle the following pertinent questions through interactive presentations, panels and roundtable discussions moderated by subject-matter experts from all over the world:

1. What are the key challenges in regulations that hinder innovation and digital transformation in the communications sector?
2. How can regulatory flexibility and agility be achieved when digital technologies evolve rapidly?
3. What are emerging technologies' potential risks and benefits, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G? How can innovation regulation maximise the benefits while mitigating the risks?
4. How do the rapidly evolving digital technologies and services impact competition policy?
5. How can innovative regulations foster expedited and secure cross-border flows of data, financial transactions, and merchandise to support regional and global e-commerce and trade?
6. How do differing cybersecurity and consumer protection approaches in various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries affect innovation in cross-border digital services and products?
7. What is the role of digital ethics and data privacy in digital regulations, and how can they be integrated with the regulation to achieve responsible innovation?

The Provisional Conference programme can be accessed on the link:

https://events.crasa.org/media/INOVATION-FOR-BETTER-REGULATION-CONFERENCE-PROVISIONAL-PROGRAM_001.pdf

The second day of the iPRIS Africa Regional peer-to-peer capacity building workshop for the 2023 A cohort included sessions on cybersecurity, risk assessment for 5G networks, project management, and broadband deployment.

About iPRIS

ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) is a capacity-building project that focuses on boosting the capabilities of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa. Targeting 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. Building on the success of the ICT Regulation Policy and Practice (ITP) program by SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (2016-2022), iPRIS marks a strategic leap forward, focusing on empowering National Regulatory Authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, boosting their capacity to shape and implement regulatory frameworks, especially in telecommunications..

The iPRIS project is implemented by  The SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions ), The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR).

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001). The project aims to provide inclusive peer-to-peer capacity-building for National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulations in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.

Here are some photo highlights from day 2 of the iPRIS Africa Region peer to peer workshop :

Front from left: Eng. Choolwe Andrew Nalubamba, Ms. Susanna Hughes, Mr Caludio Bacigalupi

Benson Kekeocha (NCC) presenting CI progress in Zambia

Front row from left: Shaka Sasha Essa, Abdul Bah, Thomas Mohamed Jusu (NatCA), Benson Kekeocha (NCC), Middle row from left: David Deng Kuol, Moira Ayo Onek Leonzio (NCA), Back row from left: Kerstin Borglin, Dr. Bengt Mölleryd (SPIDER)

Participants during a presentation in Lusaka, Zambia

The intensive four-day regional peer-to-peer capacity-building workshop (2023-A cohort) took place  (March 18-22) in Lusaka, Zambia. The participants included seven of the 43 National Regulatory Organisations (NRAs) covered by iPRIS and representatives from the Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), in Africa including CRASA, WATRA, ARTAC and EACO (NRAs). The NRAs representatives include delegates from Kenya, South Sudan, Eswatini, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Namibia.  This peer-to-peer capacity-building session followed the intensive Europe Regional session held in November 2023 in Sweden.

To be part of iPRIS, a country has to be part of a Regional Regulatory Organisation (RRO), notably CRASA, WATRA, ARTAC, and EACO. RROs are the regional governing bodies responsible for developing and enforcing ICT regulations, policies, and standards to promote fair competition, ensure consumer protection, and foster development and innovation within their respective sectors.

Eng. Choolwe Nalubamba, Director General of ZICTA, Susanna Hughes from the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia, and Claudio Bacigalupi from the European Union. Photo credit: iPRIS

Peer-to-peer cooperation between the European Union and African region ICT regulators

During the opening on Monday 18th March, Claudio Bacigalupi from the European Union underscored the importance of collaboration in achieving regional harmonisation and creating a more conducive environment for innovation, investment, and cross-border digital services.

Bacigalupi further added, “We want to have peer-to-peer cooperation between the European Union and African ICT regulators and this is of utmost significance in achieving regional harmonisation. We are very happy to collaborate with Sweden and Luxembourg on this task; their collaborative approach can bring considerable benefits, including a more seamless digital ecosystem, enhanced Cross Border Services and greater opportunities."

Susanna Hughes from the Embassy of Sweden in Zambia remarked,  “As you may know, even though Africa's share of the world's population is now 17%, its share of global trade is only 3%. There are many challenges to strengthening regional trade in order to achieve the aspirations of the African continental free trade area. She stressed the importance of  ICT regulation as one of the important parts of the puzzle towards creating an interconnected digital ecosystem. “It's clear that better regional ICT harmonisation can strengthen cross-border digital services and economic growth. So while the challenges are many, the potential benefits are great”, she remarked. In her conclusion, Susanna Hughes stated, “As regulators, you will have an important responsibility to encourage competition while also ensuring digital inclusion and accessibility.”

During his address, Eng. Choolwe Nalubamba, Director General of ZICTA and host for the week stated, “Zambia has been one of the longest beneficiaries of the project, and there are a few issues that we can point to that we have benefited from this partnership, which include the work that we're doing under the digital financial services.”

Risk assessment for 5G networks, project management and inclusion, among the key topics covered 

The second day of the iPRIS Africa Regional peer-to-peer capacity building workshop for the 2023 A cohort) included sessions on cybersecurity, risk assessment for 5G networks, project management,  inclusion and broadband deployment.

About iPRIS

iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning. The regulators participating in the project include National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.

iPRIS is implemented by SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions), the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR). In collaboration with the African Regional Regulatory Organisations, the implementers support the participating National Regulatory Authorities to achieve their strategic change initiatives.

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001).

The inaugural iPRIS Europe phase training was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from November 12th to 29th, 2023. Participants represented seven of the 43 National Regulatory Organisations (NRAs) in iPRIS: Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Eswatini Communication Commission (ESCCOM), Sierra Leone National Communication Authority (NatCA), National Communication Authority of South Sudan (NCA), Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), and Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA).

 Peer-to-peer exchange on regulatory topics 

The workshop provided an opportunity for expert presentations and peer-to-peer exchange among regulators from Europe and Africa.The  following regulatory topics under the  Joint European Offer  were explored:

Institutional and Legal Framework

This topic includes the following sub-areas:

• Governance of the NRA: Models for budgetary, financial, and organisational issues
• Independence
• Bilateral and regional collaboration
• Models for monitoring, compliance, and enforcement
• Dispute stakeholders
• Regulatory impact assessment
• Models for stakeholder interaction, public and private

Competition Regulation for a Dynamic Market

 This topic includes the following sub-areas:

• Theoretical foundation of competition regulation
• Methods for setting up a market observatory
• Methods of market analysis and analysis of market dominance
• Business market regulation, Roaming, and interconnection
• Regulation of fixed telephony/broadband and mobile operators
• Cost models for fixed and mobile infrastructure sharing
• Non-price regulation: transparency
• Quality of Service, access, and non-discrimination
• Price regulation: accounting separation
• Regulation on net neutrality

End User Protection

The following subtopics are explored:

• Theoretical foundation of end-user protection
• Regulation of end-user protection
• Handling of consumer complaints
• Specific measures for inclusion of users (gender, age, language, urban/rural and function variation users)

4. Spectrum Management

This JEO topic includes the following sub-topics:

• Theoretical foundation of an efficient assignment and managing of frequencies
• Development of a spectrum strategy
• Auctions and alternative methods for efficient allocation of spectrum
• Coverage and Quality of Service obligations
• Spectrum migration
• Network and spectrum sharing
• TV white spaces and public Wi-Fi networks

Broadband deployment

 The topic includes:

• Theoretical foundation of broadband deployment:
• Measures to support broadband deployment in areas outside the scope of commercial deployment:

Numbering and Addressing

This JEO topic includes:

• Theoretical foundation of an efficient assignment and managing of numbers and addresses
• Models for managing numbers
• Managing a numbering plan and number portability
• IP addressing, including IPv6, peering and domain names

Secure communications

This topics covers, a theoretical foundation of secure communications, robustness and resilience of the telecom infrastructure, confidential communications, regulation and supervision, and other measures.

New regulatory Issues

This JEA topic includes

• A theoretical foundation for the evolution of the ICT ecosystem and the development of ICT regulation
• Regulation proposed by the EU within ICT
• Regulation of OTT (Over-The-Top) and platforms,
• Relevant parts of data, data governance, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and Sustainability related to the EU Green Deal program.

Change Initiatives 

The participating African Regulatory authorities  also developed concepts for change initiatives. Change initiatives are deliberate and structured efforts undertaken to address challenges and opportunities within the ICT sector in SSA. Each initiative is specifically designed to align with the strategic agenda of each regulatory authority and focuses on policy development and implementation.

Change initiatives within iPRIS involve identifying key issues within the ICT sector, such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory inefficiencies, or digital inclusion barriers. The participants also benefited from presentations by experts in project management, gender equality and inclusivity.

Visit to Ericson 

The participants also toured Ericsson company in Stockholm

Follow up meeting in Zambia 

After the 2.5-week training, the participants returned to their countries. The next phase will be a week-long training scheduled to be held in Zambia in March 2024, four months after the European training, to review the progress of the change initiatives, present results, and encourage discussions.

Assesment and Evaluation

One year after the start of the training round, the implementation of the change initiatives of the participating NRAs will be assessed, fostering continuous improvement.

ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning. Engaging 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance inclusive digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT. The regulators participating in the project include National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.

iPRIS will contribute to bridging the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory bodies. Engaging 43 countries in Africa, iPRIS aims to enhance inclusive digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT.

iPRIS will build peer-to-peer capacity for African National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations. It stems from recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulations in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.

Building on the success of the ICT Regulation Policy and Practice program run between 2016 and 2022 by SPIDER and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, iPRIS marks a strategic leap forward. It focuses on empowering telecom regulators across Sub-Saharan Africa, boosting their capacity to shape and implement regulatory frameworks in the telecommunications sector.

The iPRIS project is implemented by SPIDER (the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions ), The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR). SPIDER coordinates the project and offers its expertise in the digital international development sector and in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). PTS is regulation content and policy lead for the project. ILR brings its expertise in European regulation and policy for the French speaking countries.

iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001).

Over the five-year period, the project aims to enhance digital connectivity and drive social and economic prosperity using ICT across sub-Saharan Africa. The project provides a platform for inclusive peer-to-peer capacity-building for National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), recognising the significance of ICT policies and regulations in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.