From March 17-20, iPRIS was in Swakopmund, Namibia, hosted by Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) where our fourth iPRIS cohort, comprising of ICT experts representing National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) from Namibia, Kenya, South Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, took part In the Africa Regional peer to peer knowledge building session. They were also joined by Mr. Anthony Omoshie from the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA | ARTAO) and Mr. Alexis Sinarinzi from the East African Communications Organization (EACO).
Ms Jeanine Du Toit (CRAN Board Member) welcomed the participants to the culturally rich coastal town on the first day of the sessions. Ms Jeanine had valuable insights to offer as she acknowledged the relevance of the iPRIS project.
She noted that “the iPRIS project was conceived as a response to the growing complexities and challenges within the ICT sector, an acknowledgment that the future of our digital economy depends on robust regulatory frameworks, effective policies, and the skilled personnel who will implement them.”
Additionally, the NRAs presented their progress and results regarding the change initiative. Change initiatives are the cornerstone of iPRIS and are specifically designed to align with the strategic agendas of the participating national telecom regulators. They are strategic projects chosen and undertaken by the national regulators to contribute to bridging the digital divide.
The week-long programme provided comprehensive sessions to enhance skills and knowledge across various ICT regulatory topics. Participants engaged in workshops on strategic foresight led by Lars Gustafsson, iPRIS Coordinator at Swedish National Telecom and Post Agency (PTS). Mr. Anthony Omoshie from the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and Mr. Alexis Sinarinzi from the East African Communications Organization (EACO) offered insights on regional harmonisation aimed at advancing economic and social development in the region.
Kerstin Borglin and Katja Sarajeva from SPIDER led an interactive project management essentials and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) frameworks session engaging participants in hands-on learning to boost program effectiveness and sharpen impact assessment skills. Jens Ingman (Swedish Post and Telecom Authority) also delivered an insightful session on Broadband Mapping, shedding light on critical strategies for improving connectivity. Hans Hedin, also from Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, facilitated a session on strategic foresight and intelligence. Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson (Director, SPIDER) facilitated a session on diversity and inclusion strategies, equipping participants with tools to foster inclusive and equitable environments within their telecom organisations. Ericsson representatives also provided valuable insights on 5 G.
Along the sidelines of the training, the telecom regulators enjoyed a cultural visit with an excursion to the Moonlandscape, experiencing the radiant heart of Namibia.
Here are some photo highlights from Namibia

Katarina Schyberg, iPRIS Project Lead with CRAN representatives in Swakopmund

Ms Jeanine Du Toit (CRAN Board Member) welcomes the participants to Swakopmund

Participants engaging in discussions during the knowledge-sharing sessions
iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with 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).