The wrap-up session of the fourth iPRIS cohort on the 16th of December 2025 marked the end of a one-year institutional-strengthening cycle for the participating National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs). The moment was very special: as the cohort finished its cycle, iPRIS itself celebrated two years of implementation, two years of assisting regulators to go from learning to delivery, and from ambition to institutional change.

The teams of regulators from Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Liberia, South Sudan, and Ghana were gathered together. It was a wrap-up session and a reflection point. The session revealed the capacity regulators achieved in very complex institutional settings, how they worked around constraints, and the iPRIS methodology's practical value in capacity building, translated into concrete regulatory outcomes. The team had initially met in Namibia in early 2025 to discuss progress on change initiatives (CIs), after their first round in the iPRIS cycle in Sweden in November 2024.

Read about the cohort’s discussions and activities in Namibia here

From peer-learning to achievement

CIs, the unique activities in the regulator’s scope that each country had decided to work on, were the point of discussion. The focus was on core regulatory functions that are central to resilient digital ecosystems: the management of numbering resources, the governance of spectrum, SIM registration and KYC enforcement, and the institutional processes for consultation and approval.

There was a difference in the country context, but a common pattern emerged. The teams were able to:

• Develop or modify regulatory guidance based on evidence and stakeholder input.
• Carry out analyses to identify where existing frameworks are weak and which reform areas should be prioritised.
• Create detailed project plans that involve timelines, risk identification, and mitigation strategies.
• Involve a lot more people within the organisation, as well as stakeholders outside the organisation, in a more systematic and transparent way.

In several cases, draft guidelines and frameworks were completed and internally reviewed, with final approvals and publication pending institutional processes beyond the teams’ direct control. Rather than signalling stalled progress, these realities underscored a critical insight of the cohort: sustainable regulatory reform is as much about navigating governance systems as it is about technical design.

Country reflections: progress shaped by context

Strengthening numbering governance and future service readiness (Kenya, Zimbabwe)

Kenya and Zimbabwe anchored their Change Initiatives in the reform of national numbering frameworks to ensure readiness for evolving technologies and services.

Kenya focused on enhancing the telecommunications numbering resource administration and management framework, aiming to improve efficiency, transparency, and long-term sustainability in numbering allocation. The initiative included revising regulatory frameworks, clarifying administrative procedures, and engaging stakeholders to ensure alignment with market needs and institutional approval processes.

Zimbabwe’s Change Initiative is centred on the revision of the national numbering plan to include IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) numbering. The team conducted a gap analysis and developed draft implementation guidance, informed by consultations with operators and regional peers. The work positioned the regulator to anticipate future services better while highlighting the importance of targeted, technically informed stakeholder engagement.

Strengthening national cybersecurity preparedness (Namibia)

Namibia’s Change Initiative focused on developing national cybersecurity incident management guidelines. The work addressed the need for clearer roles, coordination mechanisms, and response procedures in the event of cyber incidents. Through internal coordination and structured planning, the team advanced draft guidelines while navigating institutional approval processes, reinforcing the importance of preparedness as digital services expand.

Spectrum management reform amid institutional transition (Liberia)

Liberia’s team focused on FM spectrum management, responding to interference challenges, unauthorised broadcasters, and outdated regulatory provisions. Despite leadership changes within the NRA during the project period, the team completed a comprehensive regulatory review, internal validation workshops, and stakeholder engagement, including direct discussions with radio stations. While the final publication of the revised guidelines is pending formal approval, the initiative has already strengthened internal coordination and built a shared institutional understanding of spectrum governance challenges.

Enhancing SIM registration and KYC enforcement through inter-agency coordination (South Sudan)

South Sudan’s Change Initiative focused on enforcing guidelines on SIM card registration and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements to strengthen sector integrity and consumer protection. The team developed draft enforcement guidelines, conducted stakeholder consultations with mobile network operators and relevant institutions, and identified critical dependencies with civil registration authorities, security agencies, and law enforcement bodies. The initiative underscored the importance of inter-agency coordination, data protection considerations, and sustained leadership support. While final approvals and nationwide rollout are forthcoming, the regulatory foundations for more consistent SIM registration enforcement are now in place.

Promoting consumer protection and digital inclusion in border communities (Ghana)

Ghana’s Change Initiative addressed digital inclusion and consumer protection for residents of border towns, with a specific focus on educating users about preventing automatic roaming. The initiative responded to persistent challenges faced by border communities, including unexpected roaming charges and limited awareness of consumer rights. Through structured planning, internal coordination, and targeted stakeholder engagement, the team advanced education-focused interventions while applying iPRIS project management tools to strengthen delivery and sustainability beyond the cohort cycle.

Ghana’s contribution emphasised institutional strengthening rather than a single technical reform area. The team reflected on how the iPRIS project management tools, clear objectives, structured workplans, sequencing of approvals, and risk management, supported more disciplined internal coordination and delivery. The experience highlighted the value of change management, cross-departmental collaboration, and leadership engagement in sustaining reform momentum beyond the formal iPRIS cycle.

Shared lessons from a full iPRIS cycle

Across all presentations, several cross-cutting lessons stood out:

• Project discipline matters. Tools such as clear objectives, workplans, Gantt charts, and risk registers were repeatedly cited as new and valuable practices now embedded in day-to-day regulatory work.
• Stakeholder engagement must be deliberate. Direct dialogue consistently yielded better outcomes than purely written consultations, particularly on technical issues.
• Institutional processes shape timelines. Board calendars, procurement rules, and leadership transitions are not peripheral—they are central variables that must be planned for.
• Teamwork strengthens delivery. Cross-departmental collaboration improved ownership, continuity, and resilience when challenges arose.

These lessons reflect the core premise of iPRIS: that regulatory effectiveness depends as much on institutional capability and process as on technical expertise.

Sustaining momentum beyond the cohort

As the fourth cohort concludes its cycle, the focus shifts from completion to continuity. Several teams are advancing toward publication, validation workshops, and implementation phases, building on the structures established during iPRIS. For iPRIS, the wrap-up session also marked two years of supporting various regulators in strengthening institutions from within through practical learning, peer exchange, and structured change initiatives. The fourth cohort’s experience demonstrates that even within constrained environments, regulators can deliver meaningful reform when equipped with the right tools, support, and networks. As iPRIS enters its next phase with ongoing cohorts, the achievements and lessons of this cohort provide a strong foundation for deeper impact, regional learning, and sustained institutional change across the ICT regulatory landscape.

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).

 On November 28th, alongside the backdrop of the iPRIS round, a collaborative workshop in Stockholm brought together representatives from the Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), SPIDER, and Visionary Analytics. The workshop participants included Bengt G. Mölleryd and Ulf Larsson from SPIDER, Brian K. Mwansa, Acting Executive Secretary of CRASA, and Vaida Gineikytė-Kanclerė and Audronė Sadauskaitė from Visionary Analytics, with additional input from Jonas Antanavičius, who participated online. They intended to work together on a critical pre-study to help develop CRASA's regional data collection and analysis tool. The session indicated a major advancement in the direction of the regulation, based on evidence from the Southern Africa region. This area is increasingly important given the rapid changes in technology, markets, and cross-border digital services that regulators encounter. CRASA's goal is to provide its member National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) with the necessary insights to make better decisions, advance benchmarking, and increase cooperation across the region through the establishment of a unified data approach.

The workshop outlined the pre-study rationale, scope, and objectives, making it possible for all participants to understand the project's expected outcomes and planned activities. Participants reviewed the methodology and fact-finding approach, which included the main research questions and working assumptions that would guide the study. Additionally, more of the conversation concerned the creation of indicators and a harmonisation index, two major elements for building a strong regional dataset. The group went on to discuss the preliminary concept of a data collection and analysis tool and considered ensuring the tool's significance and future scalability for the member states of CRASA.

The gathering concluded with the articulation of specific next steps: ratifying key agreements, synchronising timelines, and gearing up for the next workshop, where the basic insights gained will be further processed into practical recommendations. These joint discussions underscore the power of actively involving multiple stakeholders by gathering and leveraging regional leadership, technical expertise, and institutional partners to create instruments that support an ecosystem of regulation that is effective, transparent, and ready for the future across sub-Saharan 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 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).