Promoting Effective and Inclusive ICT Policy in Africa

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  HomeCollaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)  /  Blog
29Dec

Samantha Sibanda

Author CIPESA Posted on

Who is Samantha Sibanda?

I am a human rights advocate and survivor of mental health issues who has dedicated the past decade of her life to championing the rights of persons with disabilities. In 2014, I founded the Signs of Hope Trust, an organisation for persons with disabilities, which focuses on access to information, digital rights, and inclusion, as well as inclusive civic engagement and public finance management.

I am also a trainer in the Freedom of Information Act, selected by the Zimbabwe Media Commission to support government entities and the public in understanding the Act and improving transparency and accessible information practices. My advocacy work is grounded in the principles of Ubuntu, which utilise community-driven and collaborative approaches to achieve change.

My motivation to work on disability and digital rights stems from a combination of personal experience and what I’ve observed in my own community. As a survivor of mental health challenges, I was drawn into advocacy through my own journey, and I continue to support community-based rehabilitation and mental health champions in my work.

As for digital rights, it grew naturally from my work at Signs of Hope Trust. For many years, we shared information via WhatsApp and other platforms to bridge information gaps for persons with disabilities. However, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2020 and 2021, the disability digital divide became more apparent. Everything shifted to online, including education, communication, and public services, and many individuals with disabilities were left behind due to inaccessible technologies, limited data, or a lack of access to devices.

That moment pushed me to focus intentionally on digital inclusion. We also added Digital Rights as a core programming area at Signs of Hope Trust, and I have continued to champion this work from the grassroots level, where our communities are most affected.

There have been tremendous efforts to expand digital rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities in Africa. The digital divide related to disabilities has become a key topic at most digital rights convenings that I have been privileged to attend. Regionally, the AfricanUnion (AU) Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa came into force in May 2024, reinforcing the legal basis for accessible ICT [Information and Communications Technology], barrier-free access to communication systems, and the right to information.

Alongside this, more organisations are adopting accessibility standards, governments are integrating disability inclusion into national digital strategies, and communities are increasingly vocal about the need for accessible online services. While gaps remain, the momentum is good, and the conversation is shifting from awareness to implementation.

I want to commend CIPESA for developing the Disability& ICT Accessibility Framework Indicators. I have personally used these in our research in Zimbabwe, and I have seen more studies that have used them.  This is a crucial tool for data-driven advocacy and enhancing access to ICT for persons with disabilities.

Additionally, Universal Service Funds are increasingly being used to finance assistive technologies and expand connectivity, while community-based efforts, such as community networks supported by the Internet Society, are bringing internet access to remote areas. In Zimbabwe, there are community information centres which provide shared devices, internet connectivity, and training spaces for persons with disabilities who may not have individual access. Lastly, emerging satellite internet solutions, such as Starlink, are bringing reliable internet access to remote areas.

These innovations, when combined with accessible design, digital literacy programmes, and advocacy for inclusive policy, are creating practical pathways for persons with disabilities to participate fully in the digital world.

There are several pressing challenges that threaten digital rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities in Africa. One emerging concern is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as generative AI chatbots and image generators, which can reproduce harmful biases and create misinformation that is difficult to fact-check. This disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, who often lack access to digital literacy and critical information verification skills. Information disorders, including deepfakes and manipulated content, further exacerbate these risks.

Ableism remains another persistent barrier, carried into online spaces and contributing to self-censorship or exclusion of persons with disabilities from digital participation. It also shapes whose voices are considered in policymaking, often leaving persons with disabilities sidelined in laws and digital governance.

I often reference the seven pillars of inclusion, and when contextualised to digital rights, several stand out. First, inclusive policy frameworks must provide tangible ways to embed the needs of these groups into national and regional digital strategies and practices. Communication should be accessible, transparent, timely, multilingual, and adaptable to diverse abilities, ensuring that information reaches everyone.

Offering choice in how people engage digitally allows communities to use tools and platforms that best suit their needs. Building strong partnerships across government, civil society, industry, and community networks amplifies impact and accountability. Accessibility must be prioritised in both digital content and devices, ensuring that platforms are usable by all. Web accessibility guidelines should be applied when developing websites to ensure they are accessible to all users.

29Dec

Mohamed Kimbugwe 

Author CIPESA Posted on

Who is Mohamed Kimbugwe?

My name is Mohamed Kimbugwe, an International Development Practitioner with over one and a half decades of experience and expertise in Human-centred Digital Transformation and Innovation. As a disability, digital rights, and inclusion expert and advocate, I believe in a world that works for all, including in the digital realm. I believe that digital technologies have the power to surpass traditional barriers and open a world of opportunities for persons with disabilities. Living with a hearing disability myself, I know more than anyone else the power of accessible technologies and how much they offer from education to work, communication, and all spheres of human endeavour. I also know how limiting it can be if digital technologies are not designed either to accommodate disability or accelerate the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

It all started with the onset of my hearing loss around 2007. That’s when it dawned on me that unless workplaces were inclusive, my work life and career growth would be an uphill task. Communication, as I knew it, became limited, and I was growing increasingly isolated from social activities. Around the same time, social media and digital messaging platforms were taking root. I was captivated by the opportunities they all offered. Being able to stay in touch with friends, build my own network, and even pursue remote employment opportunities online.

However, it quickly dawned on me that it wasn’t all glitter. I started bumping into videos without captions. I realised then that while digital spaces were opening immense opportunities, they had their limitations, and we had to work deliberately towards removing barriers and making digital spaces fully accessible. 

There has been significant progress over the years. The digital rights and inclusion movement has gained momentum, and there’s increased awareness. It is not uncommon to find accessibility as a core aspect of continental, regional, and national digital transformation policies, frameworks, and strategies. Digital Accessibility conversations are now an integral part of continental forums such as the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa. 

Countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda have strengthened their commitment to disability-inclusive technology policies, promoting accessible digital services, inclusive design, and equal access to public digital platforms. At the continental level, frameworks such as the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Agenda 2063 have reinforced these commitments. Alongside policy, the availability and use of assistive digital tools (screen readers, sign-language translation apps, hearing-assist technologies, e-learning accessibility features, and AI-powered communication support) have grown, with local innovators developing low-cost solutions tailored to African contexts.

Accessible e-government services are also expanding in countries like Rwanda, Namibia, Egypt, Mauritius, and South Africa, incorporating voice navigation, multilingual options, simplified interfaces, and accessible application systems for social services, education, and healthcare. National digital skills programs and innovation hubs are increasingly supporting young persons with disabilities, with initiatives from the Australian Government, GIZ, UNICEF, UNESCO, Microsoft, and local organisations enhancing training in coding, digital entrepreneurship, and online freelancing. Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) are gaining influence in digital policy, data protection, and AI governance, while inclusive tech communities are growing across Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana. Public and private institutions are beginning to adopt global accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), signalling a rising awareness and momentum for truly inclusive digital spaces.

Progress in digital inclusion in Africa remains limited, with connectivity expensive, interventions scattered, and stakeholders often working in silos, which restricts scaling and impact. Both public and private sector funding is minimal, enforcement of accessibility and inclusion policies is weak, the skills gap is widening, and interoperability between accessible platforms and widely used systems remains a challenge.

The cost of connectivity and assistive technologies, including data prices, smartphones, and devices, remains high, making them largely unaffordable for many. To address this, we must prioritise subsidised data bundles, tax exemptions for assistive technologies, zero-rating disability-related content, and supporting the local production of affordable assistive devices.

Emerging technologies are evolving faster than inclusion efforts. AI systems, digital IDs, e-learning tools, and mobile apps are often developed without considering accessibility, which can lead to algorithmic bias and exclusion. It is therefore crucial to entrench accessibility-by-design in all public digital services and extend disability inclusion from national AI and emerging tech policies into practice.

The scarcity of context-specific and inclusive data for AI systems threatens to deepen exclusion, making it essential to develop African disability-inclusive datasets and ensure representation of persons with disabilities in testing, training, and regulation.

Digital safety threats, online harassment, and cybercrime disproportionately affect persons with disabilities, especially women, yet digital safety tools are often inaccessible. Integrating accessible digital safety education into skills programs and ensuring platforms adopt WCAG-compliant safety features, such as accessible reporting tools, audio guidance, and captioning, is critical to protecting and empowering marginalised users in digital spaces.

Building trust and strengthening collaboration in Africa’s disability rights movement requires intentional structures, shared accountability, and clear mechanisms for co-creation across governments, intergovernmental bodies, civil society, industry, media, and academia.

Trust is earned not through statements but through consistent, transparent, and inclusive action. To achieve this, it is crucial to establish inclusive and permanent multi-stakeholder platforms that move beyond short-term, project-based collaborations to sustainable partnerships with formal structures and established processes. Equally important is building and sharing a common evidence base: harmonised data standards, a continental digital inclusion observatory, and unified research agendas ensure that decisions are informed by shared facts, strengthening credibility and trust.

Promoting genuine co-creation rather than tokenistic participation is essential, ensuring that persons with disabilities are involved throughout the design lifecycle of policies, technologies, and services, not just at the end. Strengthening accountability and transparency is also crucial, as trust erodes when commitments are not met.

This can be achieved through annual digital accessibility scorecards for governments and service providers, publishing commitments and progress as open data, and including independent monitoring mechanisms led by coalitions of Disabled Persons’ Organisations, human rights bodies, and academic institutions. Together, these pathways create a collaborative, credible, and sustainable approach to advancing disability rights and digital inclusion across Africa.

To ensure that persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, such as women, youth, and older persons, are included in digital rights and inclusion efforts in Africa, we must adopt a holistic, rights-based approach.

This includes creating and enforcing inclusive laws and policies, designing accessible technologies and platforms, and promoting affordable assistive tools. Targeted digital literacy programs, community hubs, and mentorship initiatives can build skills and confidence, while awareness campaigns and success stories help shift social norms. Affordable internet, devices, and support for digital entrepreneurship remove economic barriers, and disaggregated data, inclusive governance, and cross-sector collaboration ensure accountability and sustained impact. Inclusion is achieved when policy, technology, education, and advocacy work together to remove barriers and empower all members of society.

29Dec

 Dr. Abdul Busuulwa

Author CIPESA Posted on

Who is Dr. Abdul Busuulwa?

I am a Ugandan male with a visual impairment. I come from a humble family where resources were severely limited. Nevertheless, I managed to jump all the hurdles of growing up, and now I have a wife and four children.

With over 25 years of working experience, my career has been shaped around social development, training NGOs, conducting research, engaging in human rights advocacy, and promoting accessible ICTs for persons with disabilities. My career started with a short stint in journalism (freelance reporting) in the late 1990s. I transitioned to disability inclusion and capacity building, holding two positions at the Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB) and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) between 2000 and 2008. Currently, I am a lecturer at Kyambogo University in the Department of Community and Disability Studies, where I teach several courses, supervise and coordinate research, and train future professionals in Community Development and Social Justice, Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), disability studies, and inclusive development. Before my current role, I served as the Executive Director of CBR Africa Network (CAN), a regional organisation dedicated to networking and sharing information on community-based rehabilitation, disability inclusion, and advocacy across the African continent, from 2017 to 2020.

My motivation to become a disability, digital rights, and inclusion advocate in Africa stemmed from the challenges of accessing written information. As a Braille user from primary to tertiary education, I always got limited support in reading printed materials, although resilience and determination enabled me to succeed academically. Very often, I was unable to do class assignments satisfactorily just because of not reading as widely as my educational contemporaries who were endowed with sight. Even when I tried, sighted readers were often less than willing to provide me with adequate support.

The realisation that others were also struggling with the same challenge motivated me to take a six-week certificate course in computer literacy for the blind in 2001, after which I sought to train many of my kind in the use of computers and the Internet so they could easily obtain as much information in digital form as they wished. On a personal note, starting to access documents in soft copy was the real game-changer in my pursuit of a Master’s in Management Studies at Uganda Management Institute and a PhD in Accessible ICTs for People with Visual Disabilities from the University of Twente in the Netherlands. As I mentioned earlier, I struggled with large volumes of notes in Braille notes while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Makerere University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Community-Based Rehabilitation from the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (now part of Kyambogo University). This was no longer the case after accessing online repositories of articles and so on!

When the government enacted the Access to Information Act of 2005, I ensured that I participated in the process. I submitted my views on access to information for persons with disabilities to the parliamentary committee that was collecting public views.

Two developments have been crucial in the progress toward expanding digital rights and including persons with disabilities in Africa. First was the adoption of the MarrakeshTreaty in 2013, an international agreement on the rights of persons who are blind, have low vision, or have a print disability to access published works. The second was the enactment of the Protocolto the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018 by the African Union Assembly, which has several articles (especially Article 2 and Article 19) that recognise digital rights for persons with disabilities in Africa.

One initiative I would like to mention is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This initiative addresses at least five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have direct and/or implicit references to disability inclusion. Furthermore, many African countries have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a commendable step towards the realisation and protection of various rights of persons with disabilities. Articles 9 and 21 are specifically related to digital rights; however, Articles 2, 5, 26, and 32 are also highly relevant in this context.

The ever-changing technology landscape is a direct threat to the realisation of digital rights and disability inclusion in Africa. It is worth noting that Africa is not a major manufacturer of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products, such as computers, smartphones, and other Internet accessories; therefore, enabling their accessibility for persons with disabilities will always remain a retrospective rather than a proactive approach.

Additionally, the two other major challenges to digital rights for persons with disabilities include the high cost of obtaining Assistive Technology (such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, captioning software, alternative keyboards, and automatic speech-to-text translation software) and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. Very often, persons with disabilities are unemployed and therefore lack the means to procure expensive Assistive Technology they need for effective use of mainstream ICTs. On the side of Artificial Intelligence, although this may increase the precision of Assistive Technology in task completion, some systems where this is embedded may run the risk of perpetuating and replicating discrimination that persons with disabilities are already experiencing in education, employment, and healthcare. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) models that cannot take into account the slowness associated with some disabilities in the completion of an input task may fail a person with that disability to ever fill an online form fully and correctly; hence putting them at a disadvantage when trying to apply for a job, medical insurance, or anything else important in their life.

We can build trust, promote partnerships, and enhance regional collaboration among different African stakeholders in the disability rights movement (including governments, inter-governmental bodies, civil society, industry, media, and academia) by simply creating awareness about disability and persons with disabilities. There are several myths and misconceptions about disability and persons with disabilities that require deconstructing and dispelling. For example, some people still believe that disability is a burden to society; hence, persons with disabilities should be isolated and made to live in their own designated parts and should allow the community to get on without them. While others think that persons with disabilities are less intelligent, less able, or less competent in their work. You cannot, therefore, expect such individuals to give jobs to qualified persons with disabilities, either in the public or private sectors of the economy. Many others believe that disability is contagious. These kinds of myths and attitudes hinder disability inclusion efforts, and they have had far-reaching consequences for the realisation of disability rights in Africa. Negative attitudes have always stood in the way of the financial contributions that African governments can make towards dismantling barriers to disability inclusion, such as the provision of Reasonable Accommodations and ensuring accessibility in public transport, education, information, and the physical environment for all, including persons with disabilities.

Disability is a cross-cutting issue. Therefore, the only way to ensure that persons with disabilities and other marginalised communities (women, youth, and older persons) are included in efforts to promote digital rights and inclusion in Africa is to take deliberate efforts to include persons with disabilities in the structures, systems, and processes of other marginalised communities. That way, all efforts to promote digital rights will automatically include issues related to disability. As an academic, I would like to humbly appeal to academic institutions to introduce disability studies course units across all their educational programs to raise awareness about disabilities.

29Dec

Berhanu Belay Wondimagegne

Author CIPESA Posted on

Who is Berhanu Belay Wondimagegne?

My name is Berhanu Belay Wondimagegne, born in Harer, Ethiopia, in 1948. I lost my vision at the age of seven, but that did not stop me from pursuing education and service. I identify myself as a teacher, a disability rights advocate, and a community servant. For over five decades, I have worked to empower persons with disabilities, particularly those who are blind, through education, training, advocacy, and access to technology. My life has been dedicated to ensuring that disability is never a barrier to dignity, opportunity, or participation in our society. I’m currently serving as Executive Director at TOGETHER, an Ethiopian civil society organisation working to empower persons with disabilities through access to information, technology, education, and integrated community development measures.

My motivation came from my own lived experience. Losing my sight as a child taught me the struggles of exclusion firsthand. When I joined the special school for the blind and later graduated from Addis Ababa University, I realised education was the key to independence. I began teaching history in Harer, but soon expanded my mission, organising Braille literacy, distributing white canes, and mobilising food and clothing for blind communities. These early efforts showed me that advocacy, combined with practical support, could transform lives.

Over the years, I have witnessed encouraging progress. Assistive technologies such as screen readers, Braille transcription, and audio devices have opened doors for blind students and professionals. Governments and civil society organisations are increasingly recognising digital inclusion as a human right. Today, more persons with disabilities in Africa are accessing education, training, employment, and information through digital platforms than ever before.

Some of the most promising initiatives include:

  • Braille transcription centers and adaptive technology hubs that make learning materials accessible.
  • Audio book distribution and digital literacy programs that empower visually impaired communities in the social, economic, and technology sectors.
  • Collaborations with NGOs and ministries to import white canes, Braille magazines, and assistive devices are progressing, allowing us to be a witness.
  • Inclusive technical and vocational training centers which provide skills training and contribute to independence.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Digital poverty, lack of accessible, affordable, and usable assistive devices, and limited internet access exclude many. Cybersecurity threats and misinformation also disproportionately affect marginalised groups. To stay ahead, Africa must invest in inclusive infrastructure, strengthen its policies, and ensure that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into decision-making processes.

Trust grows when all stakeholders, governments, civil society, academia, industry, and media, work together transparently. Regional collaboration can be enhanced through the use of shared platforms, cross-border initiatives, and inclusive policies. Partnerships must be rooted in respect, accountability, and the recognition that disability rights are human rights.

Digital inclusion must go beyond disability. Women, youth, and older persons also face barriers. We must design policies and technologies that are intersectional, ensuring that no one is left behind. Community-based organisations and grassroots leaders play a vital role in amplifying these voices. My journey has taught me that one person cannot solve all the challenges, but collective effort can. Disability inclusion is not a matter of charity; it is a matter of justice. Africa’s future depends on embracing diversity and ensuring that digital transformation benefits everyone. My hope is that the next generation of advocates will continue this mission with courage and compassion.

29Dec

Dianah Msipa

Author CIPESA Posted on

Who is Dianah Msipa?

I am an International Human Rights Lawyer specialising in Disability Rights Law and Policy in Africa. I am currently the Programme Manager of the Disability Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria, where I contribute to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa through human rights education, advocacy, capacity strengthening, and research. I am also a postdoctoral fellow at the same institution, conducting research on the sexual and reproductive rights of women with disabilities in Africa. I am an author with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, and I serve as an Assistant Editor for the academic journal, the African Disability Rights Yearbook. I am also an educator teaching African disability rights protection at the post-graduate level at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.

I first became interested in disability rights while working as a Criminal Prosecutor. One of the cases I was prosecuting involved a young woman with intellectual disability who had been raped. I found it difficult to lead evidence from this complainant because I had no knowledge about how to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities in the criminal justice system. That is what motivated me to learn more about the rights of persons with disabilities. I then pursued a Master’s degree at McGill University in Canada, where I conducted research on the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing justice on an equal basis with others and the various accommodations that can be provided to enable their effective participation. After completing my Master’s degree, I left prosecution and began working in the disability rights sector, first as a human rights researcher with Inclusion International, and then as a programme officer and subsequently a programme manager in the Disability Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights. I further specialised in Disability Rights in Africa through my Doctor of Laws degree, which I completed at the Centre for Human Rights. Although access to justice was my entry point into disability rights, I later became interested in other areas of disability rights, including digital rights. Digital inclusion is not simply a right in and of itself, but it is also necessary for the enjoyment of numerous other rights, including education and access to justice. It is therefore integral for the societal inclusion of persons with disabilities and an important aspect of the work that I do.

A sign of progress in the recognition of digital rights for persons with disabilities is the increased attention being paid to inclusive digital technologies in recent years, particularly at the regional level in law and policy. The inclusion of digital rights in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol) is indicative of progress towards the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities on the continent. Article 15 on accessibility and Article 24 on access to information are examples of rights that require the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities. By incorporating digital rights into the African Disability Protocol, the African Union has effectively established an enabling legal framework for promoting the digital rights of persons with disabilities. In conjunction with policy frameworks such as the Economic Commission for West Africa (ECOWAS) ICT Accessibility Policy, the African Disability Protocol emphasises the importance of digital inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Poverty remains a pressing challenge to the realisation of digital rights by persons with disabilities in Africa. Research indicates that persons with disabilities are disproportionately represented amongst the poor due to a lack of opportunities to access education and employment. Financial barriers make it difficult for persons with disabilities to have access to smart devices, internet connectivity and digital skills training. This is a significant barrier to their digital inclusion on the continent. Moreover, the rapid pace at which technology, including Artificial Intelligence, is developing without much attention being paid to its impact on the rights of persons with disabilities, creates an additional threat that needs to be addressed.

To address some of these challenges, States and other relevant stakeholders need to ensure that persons with disabilities receive digital skills training and are provided with accessible devices to participate in the digital world. Accessibility assessments and audits of new software and AI need to be conducted to determine the level to which they are inclusive and to interrogate how they can be made more accessible. Crucially, persons with disabilities need to be meaningfully involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes seeking to achieve digital inclusion.

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