Promoting Effective and Inclusive ICT Policy in Africa

Category Archives: ABHR

  HomeCollaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)  /  Blog  /  Our work  /  ABHR
19Nov

CIPESA Participates in the 4th African Business and Human Rights Forum in Zambia

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Nadhifah Muhamad |

The fourth edition of the African Business and Human Rights (ABHR) Forum was held from October 7-9, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia, under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Remedy, Reparations and Responsible Business Conduct in Africa.”

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) participated in a session titled “Leveraging National Action Plans and Voluntary Disclosure to Foster a Responsible Tech Ecosystem,” convened by the B-Tech Africa Project under the United Nations Human Rights Office and the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF). The session discussed the integration of digital governance and voluntary initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Company Disclosure Initiative (AICDI) into National Action Plans (NAPs) on business and human rights. That integration would encourage companies to uphold their responsibility to respect human rights through ensuring transparency and internal accountability mechanisms.

According to Nadhifah Muhammad, Programme Officer at CIPESA, Africa’s participation in global AI research and development is estimated only at  1%. This is deepening inequalities and resulting in a proliferation of AI systems that barely suit the African context. In law enforcement, AI-powered facial recognition for crime prevention was leading to arbitrary arrests and unchecked surveillance during periods of unrest. Meanwhile, employment conditions for platform workers on the continent, such as OpenAI ChatGPT workers in Kenya, were characterised by low pay and absence of social welfare protections.

To address these emerging human rights risks, Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, encouraged African states to integrate ethical AI governance frameworks in NAPs. He cited Chile, Costa Rica and South Korea’s frameworks as examples in striking a balance between rapid innovation and robust guardrails that prioritise human dignity, oversight, transparency and equity in the regulation of high-risk AI systems.

For instance, Chile’s AI policy principles call for AI centred on people’s well-being, respect for human rights, and security, anchored on inclusivity of perspectives for minority and marginalised groups including women, youth, children, indigenous communities and persons with disabilities. Furthermore,  it states that the policy “aims for its own path, constantly reviewed and adapted to Chile’s unique characteristics, rather than simply following the Northern Hemisphere.”

Relatedly, Dr. Akinwumi Ogunranti from the University of Manitoba commended the Ghana NAP for being alive to emerging digital technology trends. The plan identifies several human rights abuses and growing concerns related to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and online security, although it has no dedicated section on AI.

NAPs establish measures to promote respect for human rights by businesses, including conducting due diligence and being transparent in their operations. In this regard, the AI Company Disclosure Initiative (AICDI) supported by TRF and UNESCO aims to build a dataset on corporate AI adoption so as to drive transparency and promote responsible business practices. According to Elizabeth Onyango from TRF,  AICDI helps businesses to map their AI use, harness opportunities and mitigate operational risk. These efforts would complement states’ efforts by encouraging companies to uphold their responsibility to respect human rights through voluntary disclosure. The Initiative has attracted about 1,000 companies, with 80% of them publicly disclosing information about their work. Despite the progress, Onyango added that the initiative still grapples with convincing some companies to embrace support in mitigating the risks of AI.

To ensure NAPs contribute to responsible technology use by businesses, states and civil society organisations were advised to consider developing an African Working Group on AI, collaboration and sharing of resources to support local digital startups for sustainable solutions, investment in digital infrastructure, and undertaking robust literacy and capacity building campaigns of both duty holders and right bearers. Other recommendations were the development of evidence-based research to shape the deployment of new technologies and supporting underfunded state agencies that are responsible for regulating data protection.

The Forum was organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Other organisers included the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Global Compact. It brought together more than 500 individuals from over 75 countries –  32 of them African. The event was a buildup on the achievements of the previous Africa ABHR Forums in Ghana (2022), Ethiopia (2023) and Kenya (2024).

28May

The Future of Work in Uganda: Challenges and Prospects in the Context of the Digital Economy

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Nadhifah Muhammad |

The digital economy has re-shaped labour across the globe. Disruptive digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and robotics have become a big influence on various sectors including business, media, health, education, transportation and agriculture. These technologies have significantly impacted the world of work, upending many long-standing employment norms and practices.

Uganda is no exception to this shift, as many sectors embrace and navigate the digital tide. The thirst for more profits and the competition to dominate markets has led many businesses to innovate and craft more online services. The country’s vision to embrace technology is anchored in the Digital Transformation Roadmap which seeks to attain 90% household connectivity, 90% broadband coverage by geography, and 90% citizens accessing e-services online, by 2040. 

As of 2024, approximately 18 digital labour and hybrid platforms were operating in Uganda, with a relatively even distribution of international and local operators. They included FLIP Africa, Market Garden App, SafeBoda, Uber, Bolt, Speshotaxi, Diva Taxi, Faras, Jumia, Glovo, Fiverr, Upwork, Le Gourmet Delicatessen, Uncle Bob, Kikuubo Online, Jiji and Whatsapp business. These platforms operate in sectors such as ride-hailing, delivery, freelance work, medical consultations, and e-commerce. 

Workplace culture has also undergone a groundbreaking shift in recent years, from a temporary response during the Covid-19 pandemic to reshaping the corporate sector, organisational structures and employee interactions. 

Similarly, the agricultural sector has adopted digital technologies such as the use of mobile applications to access information on crop management and market prices, and the use of digital financial services.

Despite this progress, there are persistent gaps in the digital revolution, including the digital divide laced with digital inequalities, gaps in labour regulatory frameworks, high internet costs, and low digital uptake among the public.

In this May 2025 brief, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) explores emerging digital trends and their influence on the future of work in Uganda. The brief offers recommendations for harnessing the digital dividend for both formal and informal businesses, including: 

  • Investing in digital literacy
  • Upskilling the workforce across all sectors
  • Advocacy for affordable internet connectivity
  • Bridging the digital divide
  • Enforcement of laws that support digitisation and recognition of the gig economy.

Access the full brief here.

07Apr

Human Rights Implications of Health Care Digitalisation in Kenya

Author CIPESA Posted on

Policy brief |

This policy brief draws on the key findings of a human rights impact assessment of Digital Health Services to make concrete recommendations for a human rights-based digitalisation of health care services in Kenya.

Drawing on a human rights impact assessment conducted in October-November 2024, the brief shows how the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has faced significant challenges that impact the right to health, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups and addresses broader concerns as to the role of digitalisation in health care management and its implications for service delivery. 

Notably, Kenya’s journey towards a rights-based digital health system requires a coordinated approach that addresses infrastructure, regulatory enforcement, gender equality, and resource allocation and management. By adopting the recommendations found in this brief, Kenya can create a digital health environment that not only advances healthcare service delivery but also protects, promotes and respects the rights of all its citizens, particularly those most at risk of exclusion.

Recommendations on the NHIF-SHIF Transition

1. Enhance digital infrastructure: Fully operationalize the SHA platform and integrate it with existing systems like Kenya Health Information System and Kenya Electronic Medical Records.

2. Conduct public awareness campaigns: Educate citizens on SHA benefits and processes to dispel misinformation and encourage enrolment.

3. Expedite empanelment of facilities: Increase the accreditation of healthcare providers to ensure uninterrupted access to services.

4. Strengthen National-County coordination: Align roles, resources, and responsibilities to streamline service delivery under the devolved healthcare framework as stipulated under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

5. Review contribution models: Adjust means-testing mechanisms to ensure affordability, especially for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

6. Prioritize capacity building: Train healthcare workers and Community Health Promoters to effectively navigate the transition and support beneficiaries.

7. Incorporate stakeholder feedback: Deliberately establish clear communication channels and include healthcare workers, vulnerable and marginalized groups in the design and implementation of SHA systems to promote inclusivity.

8. Clarify referral pathways: Define roles for various healthcare levels under the Primary Health Care Act to simplify patient navigation.

9. Ensure accountability and transparency: Regularly audit the transition to address and mitigate inefficiencies and restore public trust.

Read the full policy brief here.

Research Partners

The research into the human rights impacts of digital health services in Kenya was conducted in partnership between the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights – Kenya’s National Human Rights Institution, CIPESA – The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa which works to promote effective and inclusive ICT policy, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights – Denmark’s national human rights institution which works internationally to address the human rights implications of technology use.

24Mar

Advancing Advocacy and Awareness on Digital Rights for Businesses in Uganda

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Nadhifah Muhammad and Tendo Racheal |

Imagine running a business in today’s fast-paced digital world, where almost everything from customer data, marketing to financial transactions happening online. Now, imagine having little or no knowledge on how to protect that data, relevant laws and regulations or worse, unknowingly violating digital rights. That is the reality for many businesses in Uganda today. 

Data protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and surveillance are not just techy buzzwords, they’re essential to building a safe and inclusive digital economy. Yet, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 90% of Uganda’s private sector, either do not fully understand responsible digital practices or lack the tools to do so.

That’s where the Advancing Respect for Human Rights by Businesses in Uganda (ARBHR) project comes in. With support from Enabel and the European Union, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is co-implementing this project which seeks to reduce human rights abuses connected to business activities in Uganda, particularly those impacting women and children. 

Among others, CIPESA is working to raise awareness on digital rights in the business context. As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies to operate and innovate, their role in upholding digital rights becomes paramount. Yet many Ugandan businesses, particularly SMEs, lack a comprehensive understanding of digital rights principles and their obligations in upholding them. 

Early this year, CIPESA published a call for applications to the Civil Society (CSO) Fund for entities interested in championing digital rights in the business sector. Six CSOs were selected under the competitive process and, together with four innovation hubs, SME, employer and employee associations, will be supported to implement awareness-raising activities. These include Evidence and Methods Lab, Boundless Minds, Wakiso District Human Rights Committee, Media Focus on Africa Uganda, Girls for Climate Action, Recreation for Development and Peace Uganda, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Federation of Uganda Employers and The Innovation Village.

To ensure that the partners effectively undertake their interventions, CIPESA convened a three-day bootcamp on March 4–8, 2025 aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in implementing awareness raising and advocacy campaigns as part of advancing the business and human rights agenda. The bootcamp brought together 35 participants. 

Key topics of discussion included Trends in Business and Digital Rights in Uganda, such as Privacy and Data Protection, Cybersecurity, Inclusion and Labour Rights; Impact Communications and Storytelling for Awareness and Advocacy; as well as Digital Content Creation.

The discussions were framed under the Uganda National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR), which seeks to protect human rights, enhance corporate digital responsibility to respect human rights, and ensure access to remedy for victims of human rights violations and abuses resulting from non-compliance by business entities in the country.

The project is very timely to create more awareness on business and human rights issues especially in regards to labour rights, effective redress mechanisms for BHR [Business and Human Rights] violations and engendering of digital rights. –  Training Participant

Uganda’s ARBHR aligns with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which outline the corporate responsibility to respect, protect, and remedy human rights abuses in business operations. By equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools to integrate digital rights into their policies and practices, the ARBHR project is contributing to a global movement that ensures businesses operate ethically, respect fundamental freedoms, and uphold human dignity in the digital space. 

For Uganda’s business sector to thrive in a digitally connected world, businesses must align with these principles, creating a culture where human rights are not an afterthought but a core business responsibility. 

Therefore, as partners roll out their awareness raising action plans over the next eight months, it is envisaged that over 200,000 individuals will be reached in the regions of Albertine, Busoga and Kampala Metropolitan. Through radio talk shows, skits, social media campaigns, community meetings, capacity building trainings, visualised Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) products, and digital clinics, these stakeholders will have enhanced appreciation of digital rights protection to foster a more informed and active community of advocates for rights-respecting practices among businesses in Uganda. 

So, if you’re a business owner, a CSO representative, or just someone passionate about digital rights, this is your chance to be part of something bigger. Join the conversation, and let’s build a digital future we can all trust.

18Jan

Join CIPESA’s Critical Research on Biometric Data Privacy in Uganda

Author CIPESA Writer Posted on

In an era where biometric data collection is rapidly expanding across Uganda’s public and private sectors, the need for expert oversight has never been more critical. From national ID systems to voter registration and SIM card verification, these digital transformations are reshaping privacy rights and surveillance capabilities in ways that demand careful scrutiny.

CIPESA is seeking a qualified consultant to peer review groundbreaking research on biometric data collection and its implications for digital rights in Uganda.

This consultancy offers a unique opportunity to:

  • Shape policy recommendations on digital rights and data protection in Uganda
  • Contribute to protecting citizens’ privacy rights in an increasingly digital ecosystem
  • Work with a leading organization at the intersection of technology and human rights
  • Deliver meaningful impact in just 15 days of focused work

The ideal candidate will bring:

  • An advanced degree in Law, international human rights law, or related field
  • Deep understanding of digital rights and data protection frameworks
  • Proven research and analytical capabilities
  • Strong track record in producing clear, actionable reports

Ready to contribute to this vital work? Submit your application by January 27, 2025 (18:00 EAT), including:

  • Cover letter
  • CV
  • Two samples of research work
  • Financial proposal

Download Research Consultant ToRs here.

Send your application to [email protected] with cc to [email protected].

This project is supported by Enabel and the European Union.

1 2