Promoting Effective and Inclusive ICT Policy in Africa

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02Jun

NOW OPEN! Call for Session Proposals and Travel Support Applications

Author CIPESA Posted on

FIFAfrica |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) invites interested parties to submit session proposals to the 2025 edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25). Successful submissions will help to shape the agenda of the event, which is set to gather policymakers, regulators, human rights defenders, journalists, academics, private sector players, global information intermediaries, bloggers, and developers.

FIFAfrica25 is a leading platform for shaping digital rights, inclusion, and governance conversations. This year, the Forum is headed to Windhoek, Namibia, a beacon of press freedom, gender equity, and progressive jurisprudence, and will take place on September 24–26, 2025.

As part of the registration, we invite session proposals, including panel discussions, lightning talks, exhibitions, and skills workshops, to shape the FIFAfrica25 agenda.

CIPESA is committed to ensuring a diversity of voices, backgrounds, and viewpoints in attendance and as organisers and speakers at panels at FIFAfrica. In line with this, there is limited funding to support travel for participation at FIFAfrica25. Preference will be given to applicants who can partially support their attendance and those who organise sessions.

We encourage proposals that are in line with the following tracks (with some overlap of topics between tracks):

Digital Inclusion: (Topics can include – Minority communities, language, persons with disabilities, women, children, gig workers, etc.)

Digital Resilience and Safety: (Topics can include – Security tools upskilling, practical skills sessions, open source software, localisation, etc.) 

Freedom of Expression & Access to Information: (Topics can include – online rights and freedoms, public accountability.)

Platform Accountability (Tech governance concerns and content moderation)

Implications of AI: (Topics can include – Regulatory gaps, policy readiness, usage, localisation, content regulation.)

Digital Economy: (Topics can include – digital transformation, digital trade, data sovereignty, cross-border data flows, policy alignment, data privacy)

Digital Democracy: (Topics can include – Internet shutdowns, data privacy, digital surveillance, civic tech, digital public infrastructure)

Who Can Apply

  • Civil society organisations
  • Independent researchers and academics
  • Journalists and media practitioners
  • Policy-makers and government actors
  • Regional and international organisations
  • Private sector actors

Types of Sessions

Session formats include:

  • Panel discussions
  • Lightning talks
  • Workshops 
  • Interactive roundtables
  • Exhibitions 

Event Support

Limited funding is available to support attendance (travel and/or accommodation) for successful applications.

How to Submit a Proposal

To submit your session proposal or request event support, please complete the FIFAfrica25 Proposal Submission Form by June 20, 2025.

Key Dates

MilestoneDate
Submissions closeJune 20, 2025
Notification of Selected ProposalsJuly 04, 2025

For questions or additional information, please contact: [email protected]

06May

Press Freedom at the Crossroads of AI and Democracy

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Juliet Nanfuka |

World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) traces its origins to the landmark Windhoek Declaration in 1991, which called for a free, independent, and pluralistic press as essential to democracy and development and was adopted by UNESCO in 1993. Since then, the media landscape has evolved drastically, shifting from print and broadcast to include various digital media platforms. This new age of journalism has come with complex challenges including privacy violations, disinformation, and algorithmic control.

The theme of this year’s WPFD “Reporting in the brave new world – The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on press freedom and the media” – is a fitting one especially as across the world,  developments in technology are having an impact not only in how users engage online but also how journalists navigate news production (See example of Nigeria station launching AI news anchors) and distribution. According to UNESCO, “AI is transforming journalism, providing tools that enhance investigative reporting, content creation, and fact-checking. It allows for greater efficiency, multilingual accessibility, and improved data analysis. However, these advancements also bring risks: AI-generated misinformation and disinformation, deepfake technology, biased content moderation, and surveillance threats to journalists.”

Indeed, these risks are contributing to a downward trend in press freedom. For the first time since its inception in 2002, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index has ranked the global state of press freedom as a “difficult situation”. According to RSF, in over half of the world’s population, press freedom is entirely absent and practicing journalism is particularly dangerous. In many African countries, these challenges are compounded by internet disruptions, low literacy levels, and a persisting digital divide – one likely to be widened by AI.

An inaugural study into journalists safety in Africa by the Collaboration in International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) noted an increase in attacks against journalists, digital media and independent content creators by state and non-state actors through legal and extra-legal measures. With the popularity of and reliance on digital media, governments have been keen on monitoring and regulating online spaces and surveilling journalists thus undermining their privacy and safety.

See: The State of Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists in Africa Report

CIPESA has worked to address the challenges of journalist safety including through research into the pathways and effects of disinformation, campaigns such as  #WeekOfSafety which complemented multi-stakeholder dialogues promoting journalist safety and digital resilience in an age of disinformation and AI. With support from the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF), CIPESA has also bridged funding gaps for media safety and integrity initiatives and supported research and training aimed at countering digital threats. At the Uganda national commemoration of WPFD hosted by the Uganda Media Sector Working Group (UMSWG) this year,  CIPESA will host a digital security clinic and workshop on misinformation and disinformation.

At the recently concluded Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) hosted by Paradigm Initiative, CIPESA participated in a high-level panel hosted by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and UNESCO which served as the launch of consultations on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)  Resolution on developing Guidelines to assist States monitor technology companies in respect of their duty to maintain information integrity through independent fact checking – ACHPR/Res.630 (LXXXII) 2025. Adopted by the ACHPR meeting at its 82nd Ordinary Session in March 2025, the resolution notes the “regress by technology companies with regard to information integrity and online protection of expression and access to information”. The Commission calls upon the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa to develop guidelines that can enable States Parties to effectively monitor platforms’ performance in order to inform efforts to advance information integrity online, including the role of independent fact-checking in the African context.

Indeed, at a time when civic space is shrinking while press freedom and access to information are facing even greater challenges, it is only fitting that that the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) hosted by CIPESA heads to Windhoek, Namibia to provide a platform to take stock of the various shifts in the technology landscape that have come to inform the media landscape and to tap into the opportunities that can help shape the internet we want such as through contributing to the development of the afore mentioned guidelines.  

See: Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2025 

The legacy of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration will carry into FIFAfrica25 as the role of technology in enabling the realisation of democracy and development will be the cornerstone of many discussions especially the role it plays in building inclusive, participatory, and democratic societies in the face of AI.

15Apr

Why It’s Not Yet Uhuru for Artificial Intelligence in Africa and What To Do About It

Author CIPESA Posted on

By CIPESA Writer |

At the first Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa in Kigali, Rwanda earlier this month, it was evident that African countries are hugely lagging behind the rest of the world in developing and utilising AI. Also clear was that if the continent makes the right investments today, it stands to reap considerable benefits.

The challenges Africa faces were well-articulated at the summit that brought together 2,000 participants from 97 countries, as were the solutions. Some important steps were taken, such as issuance of the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence that aims to mobilise USD 60 billion for the prospective Africa AI Fund, the unveiling of the Gates Foundation investment in AI Scaling Labs in four African countries, announcement of the Cassava AI Factory that is said to be Africa’s first AI-enabled data centre, and endorsement of the Africa Artificial Intelligence Council.

Just Where Does Africa Lie?

Crystal Rugege, Managing Director of the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which hosted the summit, noted that AI could unlock USD 2.9 trillion for Africa’s economy by 2030, thereby lifting 11 million Africans out of poverty and creating 500,000 jobs annually. However, Rugege added, “this will not happen by chance. It requires bold, decisive leadership and collective action.”

Some independent researchers and scholars feel most African countries are not doing enough to stimulate AI innovation and uptake. Indeed, speakers at an independent webinar held on the eve of the Kigali summit criticised the “ambitious prediction” of the USD 2.9 trillion AI dividend for Africa, citing the lack of inclusive AI policy-making, and African countries’ failure to invest in a workforce that is fit for the AI age.

A handful of countries (including Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Mauritius, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Rwanda and Zambia) have developed AI Strategies and at least eight others are in the process of doing so, but there is minimal government-funded AI innovation and deployment. Africa receives only a pittance of the global AI funding.

Key Hindrances

The summit was not blind to the key hindrances to AI development and deployment. Africa’s limited computational power (or compute) including a shortage of locally-based data centres was severally cited. Africa holds less than 1% of global data centre capacity, which is insufficient to train and run AI models. Also, while the continent has the world’s youngest population, it is lowly skilled. Moreover, only 5% of the region’s AI talent has access to the computational power and resources needed to carry out complex tasks. Many countries also lack the requisite energy supplies to power sustained AI development. Also, Africa’s 60% mobile internet usage gap is slowing AI adoption and economic growth.

Accordingly, the summit – and the declaration it issued – focussed on how to address these bottlenecks. Recommendations include to focus education systems on Fourth Industrial Revolution skills including to build for and adapt to AI; developing AI infrastructure (innovation labs, data centres, sustainable energy); scaling African AI businesses (including enabling them to access affordable funding); and enhancing AI research.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, stressed the need to create a harmonised regulatory environment to enable cross-border AI trade and investment; and to leverage Africa’s rich and diverse datasets to fuel AI innovation and power global AI models.

Important Steps in Kigali
  • The Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence builds on the foundational strategies, policies and commitments of the AU (such as its AI Strategy and the Data Policy Framework) and the United Nations. It seeks to develop a comprehensive talent pipeline through AI education and research; establishes frameworks for open, secure and inclusive data governance; provides for deployments of affordable and sustainable computing infrastructure accessible to researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs across Africa; and aims to create supportive ecosystems with regional AI incubation hubs driving innovation and scaling African AI enterprises domestically and globally.

    The Declaration envisages the establishment of a USD 60 billion Africa AI Fund, leveraging public, private, and philanthropic capital. The Fund would invest in developing and expanding AI infrastructure, scaling African AI enterprises, building a robust pipeline of AI practitioners, and strengthening domestic AI research capabilities, while upholding principles of equity and inclusion.
  • The AI Scaling Labs: The Gates Foundation and Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub, in which the foundation will invest USD 7.5 million. It will initially focus on healthcare, agriculture, and education. Over the next 12 months, the foundation plans to establish similar centres in Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal “to break down barriers to scale and help move promising AI innovations to impact.”
  • The Cassava AI Factory: Cassava Technologies announced the Cassava AI Factory, reportedly Africa’s first AI-enabled data centre, powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing. “Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution,” said Cassava Founder and Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa. “Our AI Factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs – and now, they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.”

    By keeping AI infrastructure and data within Africa, Cassava Technologies says it is strengthening the continent’s digital independence, driving local innovation and supporting African AI talent and businesses. Its first deployment in South Africa (in June 2025) will be followed by expansion to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria.
  • The Africa Artificial Intelligence Council: The Smart Africa Alliance Steering Committee Meeting co-chaired by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary and the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, endorsed the creation of the Council to drive continental coordination on critical AI pillars, including AI computing infrastructure, data sets and data infrastructure development, skills development, market use cases, and governance/policy.
  • Use Cases and Sandboxes: Documentation of tangible use cases and sandboxes that support innovation and regulation is vital in AI development on the continent. On the sidelines of the summit, CIPESA contributed to two co-creation initiatives. The Datasphere Initiative held a Co-creation Lab on the role of AI sandboxes in supporting regulatory innovation and ethical AI governance in Africa. Meanwhile, Qhala hosted a Digital Trade and Regulatory Sandbox session focused on digital health, smartphones, and cross-border trade. Separately, the Rwanda Health Intelligence Centre was unveiled, which enables AI-driven emergency medical services delivery and real-time collection of data on healthcare outcomes in hospitals, thus strengthening evidence-based decision-making.

Ultimately, the AI promise remains high but for it to be realised, the ideas from the Kigali summit must be translated into actions. Countries must stump up funds for research and scaling innovations, support their citizens in acquiring AI-relevant skills, expand internet access and affordability, provide supportive infrastructure, and incentivise foreign investment and technology transfer. Moreover, they should ensure that national laws and regulations promote fair, safe, secure, inclusive and responsible AI, and conform to continental aspirations such as the African Union AI Strategy.

21Mar

NEW BRIEF: Policy Considerations for Enhancing Digital Trade in East Africa

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Lillian Nalwoga |

The East African region is on the cusp of a digital revolution, with significant strides being made in digital trade and payments. This is driven by remarkable growth in internet penetration, mobile money services, and the adoption of emerging technologies like 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Further, initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community (EAC) e-Commerce Strategy are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital economy. The World Bank projects digital services exports from Africa to reach USD 74 billion by 2040, highlighting the immense opportunity at hand. Despite these strides, there are several key challenges that need to be addressed to fully unlock the region’s digital potential.

In this brief, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) outlines barriers to digital trade and presents key policy recommendations for promoting a human rights-based digital economy in the region.

According to the brief, the key barriers hindering the advancement of digital trade in East Africa include:

  • Limited Digital Infrastructure and Internet Access: While mobile internet penetration is growing, issues like internet subsea cable cuts, network disruptions, low digital literacy, and low affordability persist. Uneven distribution of infrastructure, high deployment costs, and slow adoption of new technologies further exacerbate the digital divide.
  • Fragmented Approaches to Digital Economy Taxation: Differing digital service taxes (DST) across countries create complexities and may impede innovation and cross-border trade. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all levy DST, with Kenya’s rate being the highest in the region.
  • Data Governance and Privacy Concerns: While some countries have adopted data protection laws, harmonise action is lacking. Issues like data localisation requirements and the need for a comprehensive regional approach to data privacy and management remain.
  • Limited Local Data Centres: The region has a limited number of data centres, which hinders data localisation efforts and the advancement of AI and other data-intensive technologies. Restrictive regulatory frameworks in some countries further complicate the use of cloud solutions.
  • Rising Cybersecurity Threats: Cyber risks are a major concern, with increasing cyber attacks targeting various sectors. Cybercrime laws, while necessary, sometimes contain vague provisions that can be used to curtail online freedoms.

To overcome these challenges and fully leverage the digital economy, the policy brief offers several key recommendations:

  • Embrace Digital Transformation and Connectivity: Invest in robust networks, backup systems, and address single points of failure in internet connectivity.
  • Implement Robust Cybersecurity Frameworks: Prioritise investments in cyber infrastructure, skilling, and awareness.
  • Recognise Data as a Trade Enabler: Ensure trade agreements prevent unnecessary restrictions on data flows and adopt balanced data localisation policies.
  • Harmonise Data Protection Standards: Reduce compliance costs and build trust by harmonising data protection standards across the region.
  • Build Robust Digital Infrastructure: Focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), data policy, privacy, and protection.
  • Speed up the Adoption of the EAC Data Governance Policy Framework: Secure resources for its implementation.
  • Assess and Address the Impact of Emerging Technologies: Ensure policies foster innovation while addressing ethical and legal challenges.

The East African region has the potential to become a major player in the global digital economy. By addressing the existing barriers and implementing these recommendations, the region can create a thriving digital ecosystem that benefits all its residents.

Read the full brief here.

25Feb

CIPESA and Partners Advocate for Inclusion of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Uganda’s Sexual Offences Bill

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Ainembabazi Patricia |

On February 18, 2025, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) alongside Pollicy and the Gender Tech Initiative appeared before Members of Uganda’s Parliament to advocate for the inclusion of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in the Sexual Offences Bill 2024.

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has reshaped societal interactions, leading to increased perpetration of online violence. In Uganda, online users increasingly face digital forms of abuse that often mirror or escalate offline sexual offences, yet efforts to combat gender-based violence are met with both legal and practical challenges.

The Sexual Offences Bill aims to address sexual offences by providing for the effectual prevention of sexual violence, enhancement of the punishment of sexual offenders, providing for the protection of victims during trial of sexual offences, and providing for extra-territorial application of the law.

In the presentation to Committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Committee on Gender, Labour, and Social Development, CIPESA and partners emphasised the necessity of closing the policy gap between digital and physical sexual offenses in the Bill, to ensure that Uganda’s legal system is responsive to the realities of technology advancements and related violence. We argued that while the Bill is timely and presents real issues of sexual violence especially against women, there are some pertinent aspects that have been left out and should be included.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), TFGBV is “an act of violence perpetrated by one or more individuals that is committed, assisted, aggravated, and amplified in part or fully by the use of information and communication technologies or digital media, against a person on the basis of their gender.” It includes cyberstalking, doxing, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberbullying, and other forms of online harassment.

In Uganda, TFGBV is not addressed by the existing laws including the Penal Code Act and the Computer Misuse Act. Adding TFGBV to the bill will provide an opportunity to bridge this legal gap by explicitly incorporating TFGBV as a prosecutable offence.

CIPESA and partners’ recommendations to the Committees were to:

1. Include and Explicitly Define TFGBV

Under Part I (Preliminary), the Bill provides definitions for various terms related to sexual offences, including references to digital and online platforms. However, it does not explicitly define TFGBV or recognise its various manifestations. This omission limits the Bill’s effectiveness in addressing emerging forms of online sexual offences.

We propose an introduction of a new clause under Part I defining TFGBV, to ensure the Bill adequately addresses offences committed via digital means. The definition should align with international standards, such as the UNFPA’s definition of TFGBV, and should ensure consistency with Uganda’s digital policy frameworks, including the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995, the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act 2022, Penal Code Act Cap 120, and the Uganda Communications Act 2013.

2. Recognising Various Forms of TFGBV

Clause 7 of the Bill provides for the penalisation of Indecent Communication or transmission of sexual content without consent. It criminalises the sharing of unsolicited material of a sexual nature, including the unauthorised distribution of nude images or videos. However, the provision does not explicitly mention cyber harassment, online grooming, sextortion, or non-consensual intimate image sharing (commonly known as “revenge porn”).  As such, we recommended the expansion of Clause 7 to explicitly recognise and define offences such as Cyber harassment, Non-consensual intimate image sharing, Online grooming, and Sextortion. This addition will clarify legal pathways for victims and broaden the scope of protection against digital sexual exploitation. 

3. Replacing “Online Platform” with “Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence”

In clause 1 the Bill defines “on-line platform” as any computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of information, ideas, or other forms of expression. This encompasses social media sites, websites, and other digital communication tools. Clause 6 addresses the offense of indecent exposure, criminalising the intentional display of one’s sexual organs in public or through electronic means, including online platforms and clause 7 pertains to the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. However, these provisions do not comprehensively categorise TFGBV as a distinct form of sexual offences. Accordingly, “Online Platform” should be replaced with “Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence” to ensure the Bill adequately captures all digital gender-based offences, including deepfake pornography, cyberstalking, and sexual exploitation through content generated by artificial intelligence.

4. Criminalising Voyeurism

The Bill does not explicitly criminalise voyeurism, which refers to the act of secretly observing, recording, or distributing images or videos of individuals in private settings without their consent, often for sexual gratification. Thee is increasing prevalence of voyeurism through hidden cameras, non-consensual recordings, and live-streamed sexual abuse.  Voyeurism should be criminalised with a clear definition provided under clause 1 and the scope and penalty defined under Part II of the Bill.

5. Strengthening Accountability for Technology Platforms

The Bill does not impose specific responsibilities on digital platforms and service providers in cases of TFGBV. We argued for the addition of a new clause under Part III (Procedures and Evidential Provisions) mandating digital platforms and service providers to cooperate in investigations related to TFGBV, and provide relevant data and evidence upon request by law enforcement. Similarly,  the provision should expand into the obligation to ensure data protection compliance and  implementation of proactive measures to detect, remove, and report sexual exploitation content.  This provision will enhance accountability and facilitate the prosecution of perpetrators. 

6. Aligning Uganda’s Legislation with Regional and International Frameworks

The Bill does not explicitly state its alignment with regional and international human rights instruments addressing sexual violence and digital rights.  We recommend an addition of a new clause under Part I (Preliminaries) stating that the Bill shall be interpreted in a manner that aligns with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution 522 (2022) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This will reinforce Uganda’s commitment to and application of international best practices in combating sexual offences. 

7. Enhancing Legal Remedies for Survivors

Clause 42 (Settlement in Capital Sexual Offences) prohibits compromise settlements in cases of rape, aggravated rape, and defilement, prescribing a 10-year prison sentence for offenders who attempt to settle such cases outside court. However, the Bill does not provide civil remedies for victims of TFGBV-related crimes, nor does it ensure access to psycho-social support.  We recommend an expansion of Clause 42 to include  civil remedies, including compensation for victims of TFGBV, psychosocial and legal support, ensuring survivors receive necessary rehabilitation, and mandatory reporting obligations for online platforms hosting TFGBV-related content. 

The inclusion of TFGBV in the Sexual Offences Bill 2024 will not only strengthen the fight against gender-based violence but also ensure that survivors access justice. The proposed legislative changes will reinforce Uganda’s commitment to upholding digital rights and gender equality in the digital age. The country will also join the ranks of pioneers such as South Africa who have taken legislative steps to criminalise online gender-based violence.

By incorporating the proposed provisions and amendments, the Sexual Offences Bill, 2024 will clearly define online-based sexual offenses, bring perpetrators of online violence to book and provide protection for survivors of digital sexual offences. It will also contribute to the building and strengthening of accountability for technology platforms. Once enacted, the law will also go strides in ensuring that Uganda’s legal framework aligns with regional and international human rights standards on protection of survivors while guaranteeing effective prosecution of offenders of technology-facilitated sexual offences.

Download the Full report here

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