By CIPESA Writer |
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is participating in this year’s Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on April 14-16, 2026. Hosted by Paradigm Initiative under the theme, “Building Inclusive and Resilient Digital Futures”, the Forum focuses on strengthening technology to withstand crises and promoting digital rights across the Global South.
At DRIF, CIPESA is contributing to critical conversations that move beyond dialogue to impact. The organisation will host a session titled “Beyond the Microphone – Turning IGF Participation into Policy Influence in West Africa,” exploring how engagement in global internet governance spaces can translate into meaningful policy change at national and regional levels.
CIPESA will also feature in the exhibition space, presenting the African Digital Reality Walk, “Paths, Traps, and Safe Passage.” This immersive experience invites participants to navigate the complexities of Africa’s digital landscape as it highlights the opportunities and the risks that define digital rights and freedoms today while encouraging digital resilience.
Where to Find CIPESA at DRIF
April 14
· Image-based TFBGV in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
10:10 AM – 11:10 AM | Room 5
Hosted by Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA)
· Beyond the Microphone – Turning IGF Participation into Policy Influence in West Africa
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM | Room 6
Hosted by CIPESA
· Reviewing the ACHPR Resolution 631 Draft Guidelines for Universal Access to Public Service Content in Africa
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM | Room 4
Hosted by SOS Coalition / UNESCO
April 15
· Shrinking Civic Space and Funding Cuts: How Can We Ensure Digital Resilience? 10:10 AM – 11:10 AM | Room 4
Hosted by Oxfam
· Democracy Disconnected: Fighting Against Election Shutdowns in Africa
10:10 AM – 11:10 AM | Room 5
Hosted by Access Now
· Fighting Non-Consensual Intimate Image (NCII) Abuse in Africa & Beyond
1:50 PM – 2:50 PM | Auditorium
Hosted by Google
April 16
· From Data to Action: Responding to Digital Authoritarianism’s Threat to Civil Society
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM | Room 3
Hosted by EU-SEE
· Digital Sovereignty and Inclusive DPI in Africa: A Stakeholder Roundtable
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM | Room 4
Hosted by Digital Action