Promoting Effective and Inclusive ICT Policy in Africa

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  HomeCollaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)  /  Internet Freedom
23Sep

UNESCO Supports Collaborative Consultation on African Languages and Knowledge Systems at FIFAfrica25

Author CIPESA Posted on

FIFAfrica25 |

At the upcoming 12th edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) set to take place on September 24-26, UNESCO in partnership with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will host an expert consultation on addressing harmful content, disinformation and hate speech, by promoting digital inclusion through leveraging Africa’s indigenous languages.

The multi-stakeholder consultation aims to develop practical recommendations and foster collaborations to integrate African indigenous languages into digital safety, content moderation, and inclusion strategies.

The consultation seeks to recognising the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, and the UN Global Principles on Information Integrity. These frameworks all call for multi-stakeholder actions to ensure technology serves all communities equitably. As such, this multi-stakeholder consultation at FIFAfrica aims to bridge global principles with African realities. Discussions will explore how to shift the paradigm from viewing local and indigenous languages as a challenge for platforms to recognising them as a critical asset for building a safer and more inclusive internet for all.

The discussions will unpack the significant moderation gap facing local and Indigenous African languages by mapping the technical, resource, and data deficits in line with UNESCO’s work on fostering freedom of expression (online and offline), the participants will also provide expert inputs in strategic consultative sessions on Resolutions 620 (data), 630 (information integrity), and 631 (Public service content) by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which will take place at the Forum. that undermine effective content moderation and the development of AI tools for low-resource languages. Participants will also explore how Indigenous knowledge systems—particularly traditional methods of verification, dialogue, and conflict resolution—can strengthen community-level responses to disinformation when integrated into modern media and information literacy (MIL) programmes.

Complementing this, the conversations will focus on what it takes to build a sustainable linguistic ecosystem, including the policy interventions, funding models, and multi-stakeholder partnerships required to support the creation of digital tools and content, such as keyboards and NLP models in Indigenous languages like those supported by Masakhane. Finally, the discussions will consider how global frameworks can be adapted to Africa’s contexts to create practical, actionable pathways for technology companies and policymakers across Eastern Africa.

The consultation will comprise academics, technologists, civil society actors, and the media. CIPESA is pleased to receive the support of UNESCO at FIFAfrica, including enabling experts from Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa to also contribute to consultations on Resolutions 620 (data), 630 (information integrity), and 631 (Public service content) by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). These efforts are in line with UNESCO’s work on fostering freedom of expression, including through the. Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) global initiative.

22Sep

FIFAfrica25 Invites YOU to “Be The Experience”!

Author CIPESA Posted on

FIFAfrica25 |

This year, we invite participants of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25) to “Be the experience!” The Forum will encourage attendees, onsite or participating remotely to engage in various interactions that bring digital rights issues to life.  These experiences aim to break down barriers between complex digital rights policy concepts and real-world lived experiences. Ultimately, whether you are a policymaker, activist, journalist, academic, technologist, or artist, FIFAfrica25 will have a space for you to contribute.

Here is what we have lined up: 

  • An online community of attendees already meeting and engaging with each other on various topics. Be sure to be registered on the event platform to join in. 
  • An immersive exhibition where various organisations and individuals will share their work and artworks.
  • A biker doing a round trip across 10 countries (more details below) to advance the call for the #RoadToDigitalSafety 

A Run for #InternetFreedomAfrica that aims to bring together participants to jog, or walk in solidarity with the call for a free, fair and open internet. More details below.

“Be The Experience” and Win!

We have some goodies lined up to reward those who have lived up to the FIFAfrica’s Be The Experience experience, this could be through vibrant engagement that gets you high scores on the event leader board, sharing compelling post online – and tagging us, through to active engagement in sessions and with the different exhibitors at the Forum.  Use the hashtags #InternetFreedomAfrica and #FIFAfrica25 to join a vibrant community working to shape a more open, inclusive, and rights-respecting digital future for the continent. Be sure to also follow CIPESA (@cipesaug) on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Journey To FIFAfrica25 Already Begun

A week ago, Andrew Gole set off on an extraordinary solo motorbike journey that will span over 13,000 km across 10 African countries. His mission is to ride from Uganda all the way to Windhoek, Namibia – arriving just in time for the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25) where he will also be part of the Digital Security Hub. Here are some pictures of Gole at the Kenya – Uganda border alongside members of the bikers club the accompanied him from Kampala to the border.

Andrew Gole set off from Kampala, Uganda on September 12, 2025 and as of today, has traversed five of the ten countries he is expected to journey through on hos #RoadToDigitalSafey.

Join the Run for #InternetFreedomAfrica Is Heading to Windhoek


We are taking the movement for digital rights beyond the conference halls and onto the streets. On September 24, 2025, join a community of attendees and everyday internet users for a run and walk that celebrates our collective call for a free, open and secure internet across Africa.

The run is set to coincide with the arrival of Andrew Gole who is riding from Uganda to Namibia. By being a part of the run – and several other morning runs that will be part of the Forum (look out for updates in the event platform).  Whether you’re jogging, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, the Run for Internet Freedom is a moment to be part of a movement that builds digital resilience. digital inclusion and pushes back against digital repression.

More details will be shared about the run soon.

10Sep

Here are The Pre-Events Warming Up for #FIFAfrica25

Author CIPESA Posted on

FIFAfrica |

In the lead-up to the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25), a series of pre-events will set the stage for engaging discussions and actions. These sessions set to be held between September 22-24, 2025, serve as a build-up to the Forum by creating avenues for deeper engagement with critical themes that resonate with the content of the Forum. This year, a diverse range of partners have established a series of pre-event sessions focused on various aspects of digital rights, governance, and advocacy across Africa with the goal of addressing the evolving digital landscape. Several common themes emerge from the upcoming pre-event sessions, which are by invitation or by registration.

Find the full list of Pre-events below (Some limited slots are open for registration) | Find the full FIFAfrica Agenda here

Various pre-event sessions include inter-organisational collaboration and capacity building within African networks. These include meetings to be hosted by the African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA), Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA), and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

Some sessions place a significant focus on understanding and influencing digital rights and data governance. This includes training National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human rights, preparing them for regional consultations on protecting digital civic space from human rights harms. Meanwhile, a session on the “United Voices: Media & Civil Society for African Data Governance” will address how the pervasive nature of datafication has fractured the symbiotic relationship between media and civil society. A session on “Gender Transformative Data Governance in Africa” will highlight the need for a gender-responsive approach to data governance, built upon addressing the minimal representation of diverse gender perspectives and the dominance of private sector interests.

A series of litigation surgeries hosted by Media Defense will be dedicated towards building expertise and capacity among lawyers across Sub-Saharan Africa to protect and advance freedom of expression. Participants will receive expert-led training on international and regional legal frameworks, engage in collaborative case analysis, and strengthen their ability to litigate before national courts and international human rights bodies.

Some pre-events are dedicated towards amplifying the achievements of leveraging advocacy and international mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to advance digital rights. These sessions hosted by the Civil Alliance for Digital Empowerment (CADE), Small Media, and CIPESA, aim to build the digital advocacy capacities of civil society and policymakers in Africa. These efforts are also extended to the youth and will see the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) host an advocacy training for young activists on the African Union system.

An Africa Regional Consultation on Global Policy and Legal Action, collaboratively hosted by the Danish Human Rights Institute, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and CIPESA, aims to provide clarity on state obligations and company responsibilities regarding digitally mediated human rights harms, supporting civil society advocacy against disinformation and the shrinking of democratic/civic space. The “Spaces of Solidarity (SoS) Forum”, hosted by DW Akademie, also focuses on compiling and updating advocacy positions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including the impact of shrinking international funding. The “African MILE Production” workshop, also hosted by DW Akademie further promotes open exchange on media production, digital campaigning, and cross-border collaboration to strengthen regional media impact.

FIFAfrica25 will also be the home for a “Digital Rights Academy” hosted by NamTushwe and Paradigm Initiative (PIN). The Academy aims to raise awareness and knowledge of digital rights and inclusion, enhancing stakeholders’ capacity to foster inclusive and rights-respecting legislation in their countries.

Digital resilience is a key component of the Forum and also features as a key component of several pre-event sessions including the “Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy Workshop” hosted by the Internet Society (ISOC) a “Digital Security and Localization Workshop” hosted by the Localization Lab. Both sessions are aimed at enhancing digital skills and practices amongst various stakeholders. There is also a led session on “From Harm to Justice: Reimagining Digital Safety for Women and Girls in Africa,” which explores the increasing incidence of online gender-based violence (TFGBV), including image-based abuse and algorithmic amplification of harmful content, and how systemic inequality and weak legal enforcement contribute to these harms.

Line-up of Pre-Events at FIFAfrica25 (Full details can be found in the Agenda)
September 22, 2025 
Pre-Event NameHost/s
Litigation SurgeryMedia Defense
Safety of Voices Meeting Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
United Voices: Media & Civil Society for African Data GovernanceData Governance in Africa Research Fund, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Namibia Media Foundation and DW Akademie.
September 23, 2025
NHRI Training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human RightsDanish Human Rights Institute and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available)
Litigation SurgeryMedia Defense
Digitalise Youth Project: Advocacy TrainingEuropean Partnership for Democracy (EPD)
Annual Convening and Capacity BuildingAfrican Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA)
Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy WorkshopInternet Society (ISOC)
Spaces of Solidarity Forum: Strategic Dialogue on the Policy Agenda in Southern AfricaDW Akademie
From Harm to Justice: Reimagining Digital Safety for Women and Girls in AfricaEquality Now  (Register – limited slots available)
Africa Members MeetingAssociation for Progressive Communications (APC)
Amplifying Achievements of Digital Rights Advocacy through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Testimonies from our PartnersCADE, Small Media and CIPESA  (Register – limited slots available)
Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA) Member MeetingInternational Centre for Non-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and CIPESA
Digital Security and Localization WorkshopLocalization Lab, the Digital Society of Africa and NamTushwe
September 24, 2025
Africa Regional Consultation on Global Policy and Legal ActionDanish Human Rights Institute, International Commission of Jurists
 (ICJ) and CIPESA  (Register – limited slots available)
Litigation SurgeryMedia Defense
Digitalise Youth Project: Consortium MeetingEuropean Partnership for Democracy (EPD)
Annual Convening and Capacity BuildingAfrican Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA)
Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy WorkshopInternet Society (ISOC)
Digital Rights AcademyNamTushwe and Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
Gender Transformative Data Governance in AfricaPollicy
African MILE Production: Putting the Advocacy Message into Practice!DW Akademie
AFEX Member MeetingMedia Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Amplifying Achievements of Digital Rights Advocacy through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Testimonies from our Partners CADE, Small Media and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available)
Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA) Member MeetingInternational Centre for Non-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and CIPESA

06Aug

Making AI More Participatory and Inclusive for the Benefit of All Africans

Author CIPESA Posted on

Joint Statement |

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping our societies; we must ensure ethical, inclusive, and rights-based approaches rooted in the lived realities of our communities, guide its development and application in Africa. 

The Global AI Summit on Africa 2025 held in April in Kigali is one of the important movements and platforms, bringing together civil society organizations, african leaders, parliamentarians, youth actors, researchers, and private sector leaders, to champion principles that uphold human dignity, safeguard marginalized voices, and foster responsible innovation. We applaud the inspiring conversations around AI’s transformative potential for the continent, driven at the Summit. However, such a conversation should not end there. To move from inspiration to impact, we must recognize that some critical voices need to be involved in decision-making spaces.

In collaboration with Niyel, Mozilla, Pollicy, ACM Nigeria, Innovation for Policy Foundation, MISA, and the Namibia University, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) contributed to the development of this call, addressed to african leaders, organisers, and co-chairs of the Global AI Summit 2025 to emphasise the need for more inclusive and participatory approaches.

Through this statement, we are calling for clear commitments and tangible actions around three priorities:

  • Decent AI Jobs for Africa’s people
  • Meaningful public participation in AI governance
  • Resources and support for inclusive, participatory AI development

We invite you to join the call for action and become a signatory to a collective statement that pushes for global collaboration, transparency, and oversight in AI governance. Your voice matters in shaping a future where AI serves humanity, not the other way around. 25 signatories are on board. Whether you’re advocating for gender justice, digital inclusion, or ethical tech, this is your moment to co-create solutions that reflect shared values and lived realities.

Sign the call. Share it widely. Mobilize your networks. Together, we can build an AI ecosystem rooted in equity, accountability, and collective knowledge.

To sign the statement, fill out this form and click here to download the statement.

23Jul

CIPESA Welcomes Namibia Ministry of ICT and the Namibia IGF as Co-Hosts of FIFAFrica25

Author CIPESA Posted on

By FIFAfrica |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25) will be co-hosted in partnership with the Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) and the Namibia Internet Governance Forum (NamIGF).

Set to take place in Windhoek, Namibia, from September 25–27, 2025, this year’s Forum will serve as yet another notch in FIFAfrica’s 12-year history of assembling digital rights defenders, policymakers, technologists, academics, regulators, journalists, and the donor community, who all have the shared vision of advancing internet freedom in Africa.

With its strong commitments to democratic governance, press freedom, and inclusive digital development, Namibia offers fertile ground for rich dialogues on the future of internet freedom in Africa. The country holds a powerful legacy in the global media and information landscape, being the birthplace of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration on promoting independent and pluralistic media. In a digital age where new challenges are emerging – from information integrity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance to connectivity gaps and platform accountability – hosting FIFAfrica in Namibia marks a key moment for the movement toward trusted information as a public good, including in the digital age.

“Through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Namibia is proud to co-host FIFAfrica25 as a demonstration of our commitment to advancing technology for inclusive social and economic development. This Forum comes at a critical moment for Africa’s digital future, and we welcome the opportunity to engage with diverse voices from across the continent and beyond in shaping a rights-respecting, secure, and innovative digital landscape,” Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Emma Inamutila Theofelus

This sentiment is shared by the NamIGF Chairperson, Albertine Shipena. “We are honoured to co-host the FIFAfrica25 here in Namibia. This partnership with MICT and CIPESA marks a significant step in advancing digital rights, open governance, and meaningful multistakeholder engagement across the continent. As the NamIGF, we are proud to contribute to shaping a more inclusive and secure internet ecosystem, while spotlighting Namibia’s growing role in regional and global digital conversations.”

The NamIGF was established in September 2017, through a Cabinet decision, as a multistakeholder platform that facilitates public policy discussion on issues pertaining to the internet in Namibia.

Dr. Wairagala Wakabi, the CIPESA Executive Director, noted that FIFAfrica25 presents a timely opportunity to advance progressive digital policy agendas that uphold fundamental rights and promote digital democracy in Africa. “As global debates on internet governance, data sovereignty, and platform accountability intensify, it is essential that Africans inform and shape the frameworks that govern our digital spaces. We are honoured to partner with the Namibian government and NamIGF to convene this critical conversation on the continent,” he said.

Since its inception in 2014, FIFAfrica has grown to become the continent’s leading assembly of actors instrumental in shaping conversations and actions at the intersection of technology with democracy, society and the economy. It has become the stage for concerted efforts to advance digital rights and digital inclusion. These issues, and new emerging themes such as mental health, climate and the environment, and the content economy, will take centre stage at FIFAfrica25, which will feature a mix of plenaries, workshops, exhibitions, and a series of pre-events.

Meanwhile, FIFAfrica will also recognise the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), celebrated annually on September 28. The commemoration serves to underscore the fundamental role of access to information in empowering individuals, supporting informed decision-making, fostering innovation, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development – tenets which resonate with the Forum. This year’s celebration is themed, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age”.

At the heart of the Forum is a Community of Allies that have, over the years, stood alongside CIPESA in its pursuit of effective and inclusive digital governance in Africa.

Feedback on Session Proposals and Travel Support Applications

All successful session proposals and travel support applicants have been contacted directly. See the list of successful sessions here. Thank you for your patience and for contributing to what promises to be an exciting FIFAfrica25.  

Prepare for FIFAfrica25: Travel and Logistics

Everything you need to plan your attendance at the Forum can be found here – visit this page for key logistical details and tips to help you make the most of your experience!

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