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18Oct

CIPESA At The 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

Author CIPESA Posted on

Event |

At the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), currently taking place in Banjul, The Gambia, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will participate in a series of sessions aimed at enhancing the digital rights ecosystem in Africa. CIPESA’s participation will entail contributions on countering internet shutdowns and devising measures aimed at safeguarding civic spaces in African countries.

Insights from recent reports, such as the 2024 State of Internet Freedom in Africa report and a baseline study of the State of Access to Digital Tools, Usage of ICT and Digital Threats to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda, will be shared at the convening.

Among the sessions CIPESA will participate in is one taking place on October 19, 2024, hosted by DefendDefenders, AfricanDefenders and the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-U) on “Safeguarding Uganda’s Civic Space”. The session will discuss strategies to counter the shrinking civic space in addition to providing a platform for various stakeholders to share their experiences, develop strategies to safeguard civic space, human rights, environmental justice, and the rights of marginalised groups.

As internet shutdowns and social media blocks increasingly become tools for suppressing dissent and undermining democracy, particularly during elections and protests, the urgency of addressing these measures grows. Numerous African governments invoke broad national security reasons to justify these actions, a trend documented across various countries. With 21 African nations and over 70 countries worldwide holding elections in 2024, the need for legal remedies to such disruptions is more critical than ever.

On October 22, 2024, CIPESA, in partnership with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), will host a side event session on “Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa.” Experts will explore how courts in different jurisdictions have tackled shutdowns, share litigation strategies, and discuss actions to safeguard digital rights at the national, regional, and continental levels.

Session details:

* Date: October 22, 2024

* Venue: Thematic Room 2

* Online meeting link

* Time: 13.00-14.30 GMT

* Speakers

Honourable Commissioner, Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (TBC).

Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager Partnerships and Engagements, Paradigm Initiative

Roselyn Hanzi, Executive Director, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

Martin Mavenjina, Senior Program Advisor, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)

Florence Nakazibwe, Senior Legal Advisor-Africa, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)

Grace Wangechi, Executive Director, Independent Medical Legal Unit.

Session Moderator: Patricia Ainembabazi, Project Officer, CIPESA

17Oct

Job Opportunities at CIPESA

Author CIPESA Posted on
Announcement |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is in a phase of dynamic growth and we are actively seeking exceptional individuals to join our team. We are excited to announce two job opportunities, and the application window remains open until October 31, 2024. To explore further, simply click on the role that resonates most with you:

17Oct

Job Opportunity: Programme Officer

Author CIPESA Posted on

Call for Applications |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is seeking a Programme Officer to Support the implementation of activities that advance respect for human rights by businesses in Uganda. 

Job Title: Programme Officer 

Location: Kampala, Uganda 

Duration: Two (2) Years

Reports to: Programme Manager

Deadline: October 31, 2024

About CIPESA

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) works to defend and expand the digital civic space to enable the protection and promotion of human rights and to enhance innovation and sustainable development. With a focus on disparate actors, including the private sector, civil society, media, policymakers, and multinational institutions, our work aims to engender a free, open, and secure internet that advances rights, livelihoods, and democratic governance. CIPESA’s work responds to a shortage of information, research, resources, and actors consistently working at the nexus of technology, human rights, and society. Indeed, CIPESA’s establishment in 2004 was in response to the findings of the Louder Voices Report for DFiD, which cited the lack of easy, affordable, and timely access to information about ICT-related issues and processes as key barriers to effective and inclusive ICT policy-making in Africa. 

Job Summary 

The Programme Officer will be responsible for planning, implementing, and reporting all project activities related to business and digital rights. Their duties will include organising and participating in training and mentoring partners, supervising research activities, and engaging with and maintaining relationships with various project stakeholders. 

Key areas of accountability include:
Partnership Building 
  • Identify project partners and develop sustained relationships with various stakeholders in the human rights, digital civic space and the private sector.
  • Build relationships with government actors, particularly those who work on human rights, labour, and digital policy. 
  • Support the capacity building of various stakeholders in advocacy for respect of digital rights by businesses.
  • Participate in events by organisational and project partners. 
Policy Engagement
  • Lead in the convening of digital rights and business policy dialogues. 
  • Coordinate CIPESA research in the area of business and digital rights. 
  • Support policy engagements with District Local Governments, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Training and Mentorship
  • Participate in the development of digital rights advocacy toolkits for businesses.
  • Participate in training civil society organisations and SMEs in advocacy for digital rights protection in the business context.
  • Mentor civil society, small business enterprise owners, and associations in implementing digital rights awareness campaigns.
  • Support the development and dissemination of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials.
Project Management and Reporting
  • Ensure that project outcomes are delivered on time, on budget and according to the quality of standards of CIPESA and funding partners.
  • Prepare project reports and briefs and ensure timely submission to the CIPESA Management and funding partners.
  • Monitor the progress of project milestones and activities against the scheduled work plans and objectives.
  • Support the wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements among partners and other stakeholders. 
Qualification and Experience 
  • An undergraduate degree in human rights, law, social or development studies, governance, or project planning and management. A Post-Graduate/ Masters qualification will be an advantage.
  • Four or more years of experience in human rights, governance or humanitarian programming with a reputable institution, preferably in the civil society/ non-government sector. 
  • An understanding of digital rights and human rights in the business context.
  • Effective communication, excellent written and presentation skills, and attention to detail.
  • Demonstrable experience in project management and implementation. 
  • Experience in effective teamwork, as well as interpersonal and liaison skills.
  • Experience in coalition building, advocacy and working with civil society actors to deliver effective policy change.
  • Training and mentoring experience, particularly for adults.
  • Donor funds management and reporting experience.
  • Ability to conduct research and write policy reports and briefs is desirable.
Standards of Professional Conduct:

CIPESA staff and partners must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct, and the Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) Policy. In accordance with these, CIPESA operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, and several others.

How to Apply:

Applications, including a cover letter outlining how you fit the job requirements, your areas of expertise, and salary expectations, a CV, samples of your work, and the names and contacts of two referees, should be submitted in one PDF file to [email protected] with Application for Programme Officer in the email subject line.

17Oct

Job Opportunity: Driver

Author CIPESA Posted on
Call for Applications |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is seeking a Driver to support the implementation of organisational activities. 

Job Title: Driver

Location: Kampala, Uganda 

Duration: Three (3) Years with possibility of renewal 

Reports to: Procurement and Logistics Officer 
Deadline: October 31, 2024

About CIPESA

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) works to defend and expand the digital civic space to enable the protection and promotion of human rights and to enhance innovation and sustainable development. With a focus on disparate actors, including the private sector, civil society, media, policymakers, and multinational institutions, our work aims to engender a free, open, and secure internet that advances rights, livelihoods, and democratic governance. CIPESA’s work responds to a shortage of information, research, resources, and actors consistently working at the nexus of technology, human rights, and society. Indeed, CIPESA’s establishment in 2004 was in response to the findings of the Louder Voices Report for DFiD, which cited the lack of easy, affordable, and timely access to information about ICT-related issues and processes as key barriers to effective and inclusive ICT policy-making in Africa. 

Job Summary

The Driver will be responsible for driving company vehicles to support the implementation of organisational operations. The Driver will also be responsible for maintenance of the organisation’s fleet of vehicles per CIPESA’s Travel and Fleet Management Policy. 

Key responsibilities: 

Vehicle maintenance

  • Ensure that all organisation vehicles are in sound mechanical condition and are serviced promptly. 
  • Ensure that all organisational cars are kept clean and well-maintained.
  • Report any mechanical faults or accidents to the Procurement Officer. 
  • Regularly check that the First Aid kits are complete and that every vehicle has the required spare parts and tools. 
  • Regularly check vehicles and submit a checklist report to the Procurement Officer.
  • Where possible, perform minor repairs as required but recommend significant cases to a garage/auto repair shop.

Record keeping

  • Maintain vehicle log sheets and ensure the accurate record of all vehicle trips, fuel fill-ups, time and mileage readings.
  • Ensure a timely and accurate fuel fill-up of vehicle log sheets.
  • Monitor and ensure that vehicle request forms are filled out and submitted to the Procurement Officer for travel allocation.
  • Ensure that all vehicle repair reports are forwarded to the Procurement Officer every time a repair is done.
  • Regularly check and ensure that vehicle comprehensive and third party insurance is valid before any trip and inform the Procurement Officer a month in advance for renewals. 

Qualifications and Experience 

  • Minimum of O’Level certificate or equivalent 
  • Valid driver’s licence of class ‘B’ and/ ‘D’
  • A Defensive driver’s certificate
  • Demonstrable experience of at least five years of class B and/or D driving 
  • Experience working with an NGO, with at least three years in the field. 
  • Excellent understanding of vehicle mechanics, maintenance and management 
  • Clean criminal record. 
  • Good command of the English language.
  • Good interpersonal skills.

Standards of Professional Conduct:

CIPESA staff and partners must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct and the Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) Policy. In accordance with these, CIPESA enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, and several others.

How to apply 
Applications, including a cover letter and CV with the contacts of two referees, should be submitted in one PDF file to [email protected] with “Application for Driver” in the email subject line.

11Oct

Can the AU Data Policy Framework (DPF) support Digital Trade in SACU?

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Shamira Ahmed |

As Africa navigates the complexities of digital transformation, the African Union’s Data Policy Framework (DPF) has been heralded as a key instrument for establishing coherent data governance across the continent. However, in the specific context of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), its digital trade ambitions, and the complexities of international rules governing cross-border data flows (CBDF) and digital trade the question arises:

Can the AU Data Policy Framework (DPF) support Digital Trade in SACU?
For SACU member states (MS)—comprising Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa—digital trade can be a key facilitator of economic development.

While the DPF offers important guiding principles, the Data Economy Policy Hub (DepHUB) supported by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) have published a paper and policy brief on “Assessing the Suitability of the African Union Data Policy Framework for Digital Trade in Africa: A South African Customs Union (SACU) Case Study” thatreveals shortcomings regarding the DPF according to three main categories, namely, approach, implementation, and scope that affect its suitability for SACU’s digital trade aspirations.
SACU has the potential to leverage digitalisation to enhance trade facilitation, revenue collection, and competitiveness. However, SACU’s digital landscape is still evolving, with varying levels of endowments, capabilities, and enablers such as digital infrastructure, robust data governance policies, and regulatory frameworks amongst the SACU member states, which pose a significant challenge to deepening SACU integration.

Furthermore, the successful integration of digital trade within the African context relies on the effectiveness and harmonization of various prerequisites and enablers, such as cross-border data policy frameworks and essential network infrastructure, among others, to support an inclusive digital single market.

The DPF offers an essential starting point for SACU’s engagement with digital trade, but it falls short in several key areas:

  1. Approach: The DPF’s overemphasis on legal frameworks such as FRAND , and regulatory sandboxes as only positive aspects needs to be recalibrated with a more balanced approach to better support digital trade in Africa. CBDF should be prioritized alongside data sovereignty and mutual recognition agreements— greater flexibility and policy space is needed to enable innovation in SACU’s nascent data ecosystem.
  • Implementation: Relying on national data protection authorities and the AUC’s limited capacity may hinder effective implementation across SACU. A more legally binding regionally coordinated approach such as the Digital Protocols of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) may be more appropriate as the Draft Protocol can create binding conditions necessary to ensure that all SACU members benefit from the DPF.

Scope: The DPF does not include data governance issues that impact digital trade such as all the dimensions of data interoperability, gender inequality, and environmental sustainability. Addressing these gaps is crucial for ensuring that SACU’s digital trade is not only economically inclusive but also socially and environmentally responsible.
To fully capitalize on the potential of digital technologies for economic growth, SACU countries need a more harmonized and collaborative approach to data governance.

A proactive sociotechnical approach, which better addresses the complexity of the data economy, must be adopted to balance the risks and benefits of digital transformation.

To overcome multidimensional barriers, SACU member states must adopt a transversal approach that aligns digital trade policies with broader economic, regulatory, and infrastructure goals. A transversal approach requires a much-needed focus on both supply-side policies, such as enhancing digital public infrastructure, and demand-side policies, such as promoting digital capabilities.

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