We are pleased to announce that a new cohort, comprising seven ICT National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) from Gambia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa, will commence the iPRIS peer-to-peer learning session in Sweden from 12 to 29 May 2024.
The NRAs represented include The Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Mauritius’ Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA), Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), also called telecom regulators, are official bodies appointed by governments to represent and advocate for the interests and rights of consumers in the digital marketplace. In the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, NRAs develop and enforce policies and regulations that protect consumers, promote fair competition, and encourage innovation.
The project implementors, including SPIDER,PTS and ILR will meet on the 30th May. 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 in achieving their strategic change initiatives.
A peer to peer learning approach
iPRIS aims to bridge the digital divide by boosting the capacities of African telecommunications regulatory authorities through peer-to-peer learning.
“iPRIS provides peer-to-peer capacity-building for African National Regulatory Authorities and Regional Regulatory Organisations, said SPIDER Director, Dr Caroline Wamala. “It stems from the recognition of the significance of ICT policies and regulation in promoting digital inclusion, equitable access to the Internet, consumer rights protection, and personal data safeguarding.”
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.
The 2024 A cohort is the second group of NRAs taking part in the iPRIS training after the first cohort, 2023A, successfully completed the Sweden Phase in November 2023 and the Africa Phase in Zambia in March 2023. Currently, the 2023 A group is busy with their change initiatives, and they are set to complete the program in November 2023.
The 2023 A group comprises of regulators from 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).
Read the first edition of the iPRIS Newsletter here
The training approach
The two and a half week long peer to peer training programme in Sweden covers a wide range of topics on the Joint European Offer, Project management, gender, equality and incluson The topics covered in the Joint European offer include, institutional and legal framework, competition for a dynamic market, end user protection, spectrum management and secure communications.
During the training, the NRAs from Africa will have an opportunity to share insights and witness technical aspects/ regulatory approaches from their European counterparts. The training programme also includes a site visit to the VASA Museum, PTS, and Ericsson.
Change Initiatives
The comprehensive training is designed to equip participants with the skills and insights they need to develop change initiatives to drive meaningful change within their regulatory bodies. Change Initiatives” are strategic projects undertaken by NRAs during the iPRIS training to bridge the digital divide by addressing challenges and opportunities within the ICT sector. They are the cornerstone of iPRIS and are specifically designed to align with the strategic agendas of regulatory bodies. The change initiatives focus on policy development and implementation linked to key issues within the ICT sector, such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory inefficiencies, or digital inclusion barriers
After the Sweden training a regional support team, with representatives from African RROs, collaborates with the national regulators to support the implementation of their change initiatives, thus promoting regional harmonisation.
The 2024 A cohort will meet up for one week after four months in one of the African countries represented in their group for the Africa phase. This week-long meeting will provide a platform for participants to review progress, share results, and engage in discussions to enhance their change initiatives (CIs) further. One year after the round begins (June 2024), the efficacy and progress of the change initiatives implemented by the participating NRAs will be examined and evaluated.
For more information please contact,
Ms. Edna Soomre, Project Lead iPRIS
ipris@spidercenter.org
