The seventh iPRIS cohort concluded its first round in the project’s cycle, with three intensive weeks in Stockholm, bringing together African National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs), implementing partners (SPIDER and PTS), and European partners to advance the development of strategic, impactful Change Initiatives (CIs). The cycle combined institutional learning, practical regulatory insights and hands-on problem-solving to strengthen regulatory capacity and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. The NRAs included telecom and ICT experts from the National Communications Authority (NCA Ghana), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA The Gambia), Communications Authority (CA Kenya), and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). These professionals were joined by their respective RROs, who support them during the entire period of implementing their CIs, from  WATRA, EACO, and CRASA. This cohort’s successful first round marks a significant milestone, as iPRIS enters its second year, bringing together African and European telecom experts to advance the ICT landscape in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Across the sessions, various emerging issues were identified, including the fact that 93 million women in Sub-Saharan Africa did not use mobile phones, underscoring the significance of progress and the potential of telecom regulatory advancement for the African continent. According to GSMA, around 885 million women in low- and middle-income countries remain unconnected to mobile internet, many of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Connecting the women and other marginalised groups can bring significant social and economic benefits. Digital inclusion gives women access to various resources such as education, health information, financial services, and markets; it not only uplifts micro-enterprises but also enhances household income, provides financial independence to women, and supports community development. From a macro perspective, reducing the digital gap between males and females might have significant benefits, including higher GDP growth and larger digital-economy revenue.

These numbers indicate the need to prioritise the development of telecom regulation in sub-Saharan Africa. iPRIS is doing that by uniting regulators, regional bodies, and experts into a network that is making policies focused on inclusion, affordability, infrastructure, and equity. iPRIS, through its cohort-based workshops and Change Initiatives, is giving the institutional and regulatory basis needed to formulate strategies that will turn connectivity into real and meaningful access and will realise the potential social and economic impact across Africa.

Week 1: Laying a transformative foundation

This round started with a very strong focus on building a common understanding of regulatory shifts, institutional building, and the aim of the Change Initiatives. The regulators shared their national CIs, which included spectrum roadmaps, community networks, consumer protection, emerging technologies, and satellite licensing, among others. Through guided peer review and expert input, the participants refined their initial problem statements and specified the national problems their CIs plan to solve.  It was a pivotal first day, as CIs are the cornerstone of iPRIS, representing country-specific issues that enhance the telecom landscape in the participating sub-Saharan countries and regions. 

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) hosted sessions that extensively examined the issues of regulatory independence, market supervision, broadband planning and secure communications. Participants discussed the evolution of the market in Sweden from a less competitive, monopoly-type situation to a more consumer-focused market. The lessons they learned were important because they can be applied to certain African regulatory contexts. The discussions of the week also included topics such as user protection, accessibility, numbering systems, and inclusive digital policies; thus, the need for citizen-centric regulation was reiterated. The first week with the cohort strengthened their CIs with a strong analytical basis and gave them a clear picture of how regulatory frameworks can enable equitable digital markets.

Read more about the week 1 sessions here

Week 2: Deepening insights into meaningful access and future-ready regulation

In the second week, the spotlight shifted from basic concepts to the practical aspects of telecom regulation. The participants took part in expert discussions to further polish their CIs, stress-test their assumptions, and determine the data requirements. The week had one major theme: meaningful access. SPIDER led these discussions, and the participants took a step further and challenged the widespread assumption that if the network covers a location, it is connecting the users. They discussed affordability, device access, digital literacy, electricity supply, safety concerns, and cultural factors as barriers. The gender digital divide was a major issue, underscoring the critical importance of equity-driven policies for women and other marginalised groups.

The cohort also reviewed the role of sex-disaggregated data, human-centered design, and regulatory flexibility to support vulnerable populations. By the end of the second week, regulators had changed their perspective on inclusion - not just in terms of the infrastructure but also in terms of the entire ecosystem that has to be in place to allow real access to the digital world.

The discussions also revolved around the regulation of competition and the realities in African markets, the differences between European approaches and local market dynamics, the disadvantages of prepaid usage, and trends in smartphone adoption in African markets. Later in the week, participants' immersion in activities, such as a visit to Ericsson, exposed them to advanced technologies, including satellite connectivity, fixed-wireless access, network slicing, and enterprise-grade solutions. Lately, the other sessions tackled project management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL). This session featured the unpacking of future Change Initiatives that would have an impact and the engagement of stakeholders.

Read more about week 2 undertakings here

Week 3: Expert input and the ‘Way Forward’

The third week marked a significant milestone in this iPRIS round, focusing on consolidating CIs, conducting expert consultations, and planning for the future. On Monday, regulators worked with European experts and RROs to refine the goals, activities, and feasibility aspects which were to be presented in their final “Way Forward” presentation later in the week. These intensive sessions not only reinforced the technical and institutional foundation of each CI but also the alignment with national priorities and the iPRIS framework in a more extensive way. Tuesday started with a presentation by Forsway Scandinavia, given by Anders Brandter, which provided participants with information on satellite-based connectivity, hybrid access models, and innovations for underserved areas.

Anders highlighted that “Digital inclusion depends on technology, but also on policy leadership. Without regulatory support, innovative solutions cannot scale.”

 Later in the day, a panel discussion with WATRA, CRASA and EACO brought up the issue of regional cooperation being a very important factor for harmonised regulation and smooth cross-border exchanges. The final project management sessions provided intensive facilitation for the participants, who then translated their CIs into action plans using the tools applied. The regulators had their drafts of the ‘Way Forward’ session submitted and devoted the last part of the day to polishing the team presentations. The last day was solely focused on the ‘Way Forward’ CI presentations. The session underscored how far each CI had progressed, moving from conceptual framing in Week 1 to detailed, context-tailored plans ready for implementation. This concluded with certificate distribution, closing remarks from the organisers, and a final evaluation session that captured participant feedback and lessons learned.

Here are some snapshots from the final week sessions: 

A cohort ready for impact

Over the three weeks, the seventh iPRIS cohort made substantial progress, from foundational learning to practical strategy design and, finally, to clear national roadmaps for transformative Change Initiatives. This first round of the iPRIS cycle for the cohort strengthened regulatory dialogue among African NRAs, RROs, and European partners, reinforcing the shared mission of expanding meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready digital access across the continent.

With their Way Forward plans now in place, participants move confidently toward their second iPRIS round in Ghana in March 2026, prepared to drive regulatory reform, enhance institutional performance and contribute to Africa’s broader digital development agenda.

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA.

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 iPRIS 7th cohort's second week in Stockholm clearly showed the programme's transition from basic systems thinking to regulatory problem-solving in practice. During Week 1, the baseline concepts were established; meanwhile, regulators will continue engaging with the SPIDER, the PTS experts, and the Regional Regulatory Organizations (RROs) -  WATRA, EACO, and CRASA. Week 2 was mainly focused on participants' Change Initiatives (CIs), and the regulators were given the chance to take home practical tools and frameworks that could be adjusted to suit African contexts. The National Communications Authority (NCA Ghana), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA The Gambia), Communications Authority (CA Kenya), and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) are the Sub-Saharan African countries included in this seventh cohort. 

Day 1: Expert clinics and CI deep dives

On Monday, the teams worked exclusively with RROs, SPIDER, and PTS experts in closed sessions to better define their problems, verify their assumptions, and prepare their evidence needs for the technical sessions that would follow. These closed clinics were the foundation for the week’s technical exchanges and ensured that participants could apply the lessons directly to the CIs.

Below are some highlights from the sessions: 

Day 2: Beyond universal access: reframing inclusion

Moving from “universal” to “meaningful” access

At Stockholm University’s Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), the participants were given a warm welcome into Sweden’s academic and policy ecosystem. Caroline Wamala Larsson and Malena Liedholm-Ndounou from SPIDER transformed the concept of access by taking the discussion beyond infrastructure and connectivity. The presenters clarified the distinction between having coverage and having connectivity that was genuinely useful in people's lives. They pointed out that, although coverage had grown in many areas, truly meaningful access required a stable power supply, a budget mobile phone, technical literacy, personal safety, appropriate content, and cultural alignment, without which the connection remained low.

The hard numbers: Coverage vs. usage reality

The group examined recent GSMA statistics indicating that Sub-Saharan Africa had a usage gap of around 61%, equivalent to approximately 710 million people in the network coverage area who were not regularly accessing mobile internet. This gap was not due to the lack of towers but rather to a variety of factors, such as affordability, literacy, relevance, and safety.

The moderators also mentioned gender-related trends: the GSMA data referenced in the discussion showed that 93 million women in Sub-Saharan Africa did not use mobile phones. They also pointed out that the network covered 215 million women but did not have access to the internet through mobile phones, demonstrating the compounded effect of factors such as ownership, freedom, and social barriers on women’s digital engagement.

Not just equality but equity

The sessions used easy-to-understand analogies, the apple tree, and a “game of life” depiction to emphasize that giving equal inputs does not always result in equal outcomes. Regulators were prompted to consider equity from the standpoint not just of treating everyone equally, but of creating different interventions so that those starting from disadvantaged positions can reach the same outcomes as others. This perspective called for the active participation of the government, civil society, and private-sector partners to confront and eliminate structural barriers together.

What is the reason for the gap in usage? 

The participants grouped these barriers that were overlapping: 

• Affordability—the costs of both device and data-restricted usage, even when the coverage area was available, and women's purchasing or use of mobile phones were often the least-priority items affected by household budget trade-offs. 
• Digital and general literacy—having limited skills reduced people’s confidence and their ability to use online services. 
• Relevance of content and language—there was not much content online that was relevant to the locals; the session pointed out that Swahili made up only 0.07% of the online content, despite there being around 150 million speakers, which highlighted the issue of content relevance. 
• Safety and privacy—women were one of the groups that reported not using services due to safety fears, and the possibility of the photos or data being weaponised was one of the strong reasons for not using the services.

These findings shifted the discussion from a monolithic infrastructure concern to multidimensional policy responses that integrated USAF investments with social policy, education, language, and safety measures.

Competition regulation — practical frameworks and market realities

The session on the competition regulations with PTS specialists Alberto Naranjo and Björn Backgård quickly shifted from the theoretical to the practical in the African markets. The long formulas were no longer the subject of discussion but rather the main question for the consumer, the regulator, and the operator, facing completely different conditions from those in Europe. Participants compared two approaches to regulation: Europe's price-based and cost-based regulation, and the most powerful insights came from the audience itself.

The main factors that influenced the conversation:

Smartphone use is going to skyrocket.

Sub-Saharan Africa is going to move from 54% to more than 80% smartphone adoption among mobile subscribers. A young population, affordability programs, and the availability of digital services are the main reasons for this change. The competition and the market access will be totally different.

Mobile Number Portability is not a big deal when every user has at least two SIM cards.

Consumers have been switching operators by changing SIMs, as many regulators have reported. Nowadays, the interconnection rates are so low that the incentive to be “on-net” is no longer there, so there is not much urgency for MNP in a lot of markets. 

Prepaid is the king — and he changes the rules of the game.

In markets where prepaid is the leading payment method, customers are quick to reward excellent service and just as quick to punish poor quality. However, this also indicates underlying problems, such as the low number of credit users. 

Roaming is still a tricky situation.

Although there are regional regulations in SADC and ECOWAS, operators still resist lowering wholesale rates to a great extent. Wi-Fi and apps like WhatsApp are helping users avoid roaming charges, even though they still incur them. 

A common conclusion

The nature of the competition, in effect, is not determined by the number of operators but rather by the presence of genuine choice, fair prices, and incentives that align with the purchasing behavior of African consumers.

Day 3 – Inside Ericsson: Technology, policy and the future of connectivity

On the third day, the group moved to the heart of Sweden's innovation scene - the Kista headquarters of Ericsson. The day began with the welcome of Peter Olusoji Ogundele, who presented on market trends, regulatory priorities, and next-generation technologies. A Global Spectrum Update explained how the demand, licensing, and coordination in the spectrum are changing globally - a must-have background for Change Initiatives that require good spectrum planning. Afterwards, a survey of the satellite market revealed the emergence of LEO constellations and the impact of new players on rural areas' coverage, competition, and prices in Africa.

During one of the sessions, which were very forward-looking, EU AI policy and enterprise AI compliance were reviewed, and the interconnection among telecom infrastructure, data governance, and emerging AI-driven services was highlighted. After that, the Ericsson team introduced network security from a holistic perspective, highlighting the three aspects of resilience, threat detection, and the changing responsibilities of critical infrastructure operators.

In the afternoon, the group toured the Ericsson Imagine Studio, participating in hands-on demonstrations of Digital Twin technologies, XR applications, network slicing, enterprise solutions, FWA deployments, and advanced Quality of Service tools. They thus saw the abstract concepts transformed into tangible solutions.

The day concluded with a multistakeholder panel discussion among Ericsson, Telia and PTS, where the participants were allowed to query the industry experts about the factors that encourage investment, the competition so far in the market, and its future dynamics. Day 3 was an experience paralleled by none in the whole week - a hands-on, high-impact encounter with the technologies and the ruling industry perspectives molding the communication in Africa.

Day 4: Measuring impact, understanding people, and strengthening change initiatives

Day 4 merged the two most essential factors of this ipRIS cycle: efficient project management and the adoption of the deep, human-centric digital inclusion lesson. The morning session, entitled Beyond Universal Access Part 2, was conducted by Dr Caroline Wamala Larsson. The session challenged participants to investigate who still lacks connectivity and the reasons for this. In the afternoon MEAL session, guided by Malena Liedholm Ndounou, the focus was on assisting the teams in refining their Change Initiatives into structured, fundable, and measurable projects.

Building Stronger Projects Through MEAL

Malena took the NRAs through the result chain, impact, outcomes, outputs, and convinced the teams to start by thinking of the end. Impact statements like “improve digital inclusion” are driven by ambition, but still, change initiatives need to be expressed in terms of deliverable outputs and measurable indicators. The teams focused on refining their project plans, identifying internal and external stakeholders, and outlining where modifications will be necessary when actual implementation begins.

It was noted that organisations often overlook accountability and learning. Malena reminded the participants that assessing what didn’t work is a must: “If you had the opportunity to restart this project, what would you do differently?” This approach, she pointed out, is as much a part of national telecom regulation as it is of everyday organisational practice.

Beyond universal access: Understanding usage gaps and human realities

The group spent time discussing the week's main question again: Why does high infrastructure coverage not result in high usage? The discussions in the room highlighted that the coverage gap globally has now been reduced to about 4 per cent. In comparison, the usage gap has remained at about 39per cent and 60 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The talks brought out a number of reasons, such as: the cost of the service, the lack of smart mobile phones, which is often below 20%, the limited skills of the users, and the myths that still exist — ranging from EMF rumors to 5G conspiracies — that affect people's behavior as consumers.

Dr Wamala pointed out the need for sex-disaggregated data, equitable numbering, and addressing resource allocation and consumer awareness as regulatory levers that could help in closing the divide. Participants recounted their national experiences with Girls in ICT programs, children's online protection, regional consumer parliaments, and reforms in cybercrimes legislation.

Anticipating the final day of week 2

The second week of the iPRIS 7th cohort cycle in Stockholm has been very participatory and illuminating, from actual site visits to learning about DEI and project management principles. Today, the focus will be on MEAL in greater depth and on exploring practical applications of European regulatory practices. The first part of the day is devoted to hands-on sessions by Malena Liedholm Ndounou from SPIDER, who will introduce regulators to the tools and methodologies that they can use to plan, monitor, and evaluate their change initiatives effectively. 

The next step for the participants is a visit to Telia at the Mall of Scandinavia, where Egle Gudelyte-Harvey, Head of Legal, will speak to the group about Western European telecom operations, regulatory compliance, and innovative practices, including digital services, legal frameworks, and network management case studies. The incorporation of such experiences will enable attendees to link theory and practice; they will see how big players navigate difficult regulatory situations, keep their operations running, and even turn a profit. 

Each morning and afternoon session will be interactive, with peer learning and reflection, and will include time for participants to share their insights and plan their next steps. By blending classroom learning with on-the-ground exposure, week two has strengthened participants' capacity to lead change initiatives in their respective countries, thereby spreading practical understanding of how European regulatory policies can guide and inspire the digital transformation in Africa.

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA.

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 seventh iPRIS cohort began its journey in Stockholm with an intensive and collaborative first week designed to strengthen regulatory capacity, deepen understanding of the Joint European Offer (JEO), and consolidate the Change Initiatives (CIs) that will guide national institutional strengthening over the next year.

Across the week, African National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) engaged with African and European experts on spectrum, broadband deployment, regulatory independence, evidence-based decision-making, project management, and emerging policy issues, laying the groundwork for a cycle defined by learning, practical insights, and peer-to-peer collaboration. The NRAs include National Communications Authority (NCA Ghana), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA The Gambia), Communications Authority (CA Kenya), and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). They are joined by Regional Regulatory Organisations (RROs) - WATRA, EACO, and CRASA, who will guide them on their iPRIS journey to realise their change initiatives. 

Day 1: Change initiatives take centre stage

The week opened with a dynamic series of CI presentations from NRAs across Africa. The various countries presented their CIs relevant to nations, with discussions ranging from spectrum roadmaps to AI policy readiness, consumer protection, community networks, and satellite regulation. A complete spectrum roadmap for 2025-2035 that would bring together scattered policies and improve future-readiness was presented by Edem Debrah of Ghana. Kenya discussed its plan to help community networks reach marginalised areas, with Thomas Luti highlighting, “community networks… are for the people, run by the communities for their own benefit.” Lesotho highlighted the need to regulate AI and emerging technologies, with Alex Maama stating, “The LCA will… proactively work on the required policy to regulate emerging technologies for the good of the country effectively.”

Malawi, The Gambia, and Botswana regulators also shared CIs on spectrum initiatives related to quality of service enforcement, spectrum management, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and satellite services regulation. SPIDER’s Edna Soomre grounded the day’s work with a reminder of the programme’s purpose: “We want to drive you to the results of your change initiatives. You have the answers because you know the context.”

Day 2: Understanding regulatory evolution and the European model

Tuesday’s sessions provided a deep dive into regulatory models, project structures, and the legal foundations of independence and cooperation in Europe. Alexandra Högberg opened with a project management masterclass on intentional design, reminding participants: “Clarity of purpose is what keeps a project anchored when everything around it shifts.” Lars Gustafsson charted Sweden’s evolution from a monopoly environment to a competitive, high-performing telecom market. His session showed how regulatory frameworks must evolve in tandem with market dynamics, spectrum demands and technological change.

Per Andersson unpacked the legal foundations of the Joint European Offer, explaining Sweden’s constitutional separation between ministries and NRAs. His discussion illustrated why independence, transparency and legal certainty are necessary safeguards for credible regulatory practice. Building on this, Antonia Wopenka introduced the European Electronic Communications Code and emerging EU instruments, including the Gigabit Infrastructure Act and AI regulation. She highlighted how harmonised rules and regional cooperation equip regulators to navigate cross-border markets and fast-moving technologies.

These sessions clarified how legal certainty, transparency, resourcing, and institutional design underpin effective regulation, offering lessons for African NRAs working to strengthen their own frameworks.

Day 3: Broadband planning, data, and evidence-based regulation

Wednesday’s programme focused on the technical backbone of digital transformation: broadband deployment, mapping, and secure communications. Andreas Wigren opened with a look at Sweden’s broadband journey, demonstrating how clear targets and coordinated investment can drive long-term digital infrastructure. “State support works best when it complements the market, not replaces it,” he explained. Jens Ingman followed with a practical session on broadband mapping, stressing the centrality of reliable data: “Good mapping is the basis for good decisions. Without accurate data, you can neither plan nor regulate effectively.”

African regulators contributed national perspectives, from Ghana’s challenges with commercial viability to Malawi’s interest in demand-prediction tools, highlighting shared challenges and opportunities. An afternoon visit to the PTS headquarters introduced participants to Sweden’s secure communications frameworks, complemented by an evening reception that strengthened cross-continental professional bonds. The secure communications session was delivered by Per Erik Vitasp, Gustav Söderlind, and Joakim Aspengren, providing insight into Sweden’s approach to network resilience, emergency communications, and institutional coordination.

Day 4: End-User Protection, Digital Inclusion and Numbering Systems

Thursday brought the focus to the user-facing side of regulation,  ensuring that digital markets are fair, inclusive and accessible. The morning opened with Lisa Gurner, who introduced Europe’s regulatory approach to end-user protection. She explained how transparency rules, switching procedures and preventive supervision support markets where users can clearly understand their rights and make informed choices. Her session also highlighted PTS’ collaboration with the Swedish Consumer Agency and the mechanisms used to protect vulnerable groups. She was followed by Hans von Axelson, who explored digital inclusion and the practical ways accessibility is embedded into Sweden’s regulatory and service frameworks. By walking participants through procurement requirements, relay and interpretation services and real-time text systems, he demonstrated how inclusive design ensures that persons with disabilities can communicate on equal terms.

In the afternoon, Claes Hultholm and Jesper Simons provided a detailed look at Sweden’s numbering and addressing systems. They explained how national numbering plans are structured, how PTS allocates and supervises resources and why reclaiming unused numbers is essential for long-term sustainability. Their discussion also covered portability, emergency call obligations and the increasing need for expanded numbering ranges as digital services grow. Contributions from African NRAs highlighted parallels with challenges back home, including number shortages, fraud prevention and the need for more transparent allocation systems. The sessions demonstrated how user protections, digital accessibility and numbering frameworks collectively shape secure, inclusive and well-functioning communications markets.

Day 5: Future regulatory issues, spectrum, and project management

The week will conclude with a forward-looking agenda curated by PTS and SPIDER, focusing on future regulatory trends, spectrum management, and advanced project management. Bo Andersson will open the day by exploring how markets, technologies, and regulatory frameworks are evolving simultaneously. Amela Hatibovic, Gustav Lenninger, and Fredrik Johansson will lead Spectrum Management. This session aims to equip NRAs with practical insights into European spectrum allocation models. 

SPIDER’s Alexandra Högberg & Malena Liedholm Ndounou will also deliver a hands-on workshop to refine the cohort’s Change Initiatives, ensuring they are realistically scoped, linked to impact pathways, and supported by strong indicators. The day will close with a cohort evaluation and a cultural visit to Stockholm’s Royal Palace, an opportunity to reflect on learning, celebrate progress, and strengthen relationships before Week 2.

A strong start to a transformative cycle

Week 1 set a powerful foundation for the Seventh iPRIS Cohort, combining peer learning, European regulatory insights, and the practical shaping of Change Initiatives that respond directly to national needs. The balanced mix of technical sessions, legal frameworks, project management guidance, and cross-continental collaboration reflects iPRIS’s core mission: strengthening regulatory institutions and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation. As this cycle continues into Weeks 2 and 3, the cohort carries forward a shared commitment to building inclusive, secure, resilient digital ecosystems across the continent.

iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and Institut luxembourgeois de régulation (ILR), as well as ARTAC, CRASA, EACO, and WATRA.

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).