Africa

Regional ICT advocacy in Africa: Key lessons from the CICEWA project
Regional ICT advocacy in Africa: Key lessons from the CICEWA project 04 January 2011 Natasha Primo

More than a decade after the telecommunications policy reform in many African countries, there continues to be a deficit in universal affordable access to fixed telecom infrastructure. This deficit severely limits the possibility of information and communication technologies (ICTs) being used to foster social and economic development, yet, the problem persists despite the phenomenal increase in access to mobile telecom networks, and greatly inhibits access to information and knowledge through...

A national cyber-strategy for Congo, which integrates women
A national cyber-strategy for Congo, which integrates women 04 January 2011 LC

Azur Développement, a small NGO that works in the area of gender and ICTs in the Congo and member of APC, participated in the Communicating for Influence in Central East and West Africa project, which involved research and advocacy on national ICT policies and the telecommunications reform in various African countries. Sylvie Niombo, Executive Director, talks about the various challenges and opportunities the CICEWA project brought, and how they were able to put gender on Congo’s ICT map.

Opening up spectrum can prevent Kenya from running out
Opening up spectrum can prevent Kenya from running out 22 December 2010 LC

Currently, about 20 million Kenyans own mobile phones. Mobile phones receive their signals over electromagnetic waves that are also used for everything from home appliances like microwave ovens and remote controls, to the radio and internet. These waves are assigned different frequencies or spectrum so that they don’t interfere with each other. However Kenya is at risk of running out of spect...

Policy change in Africa: Networks are key to communicating for influence
Policy change in Africa: Networks are key to communicating for influence 22 December 2010 LC

Two years ago, APC’s policy team led a project that would help strengthen African civil society to advocate for affordable broadband, adequate infrastructure, and in some cases, universal access funds which help put in place the necessary systems to achieve universal access to the internet. The Communication for Influence in Central, East and West Africa, or CICEWA, initiative was about i...

Open spectrum for development: Nigeria case study
Open spectrum for development: Nigeria case study 16 December 2010 Fola Odufuwa

With hundreds of telecommunications and broadcasting licenses granted since 1992, Nigeria is arguably the leading country in Africa with respect to spectrum deregulation and licensing. There are over currently 350 licensed broadcast stations in operation in the country. With the global trend that will see two regulatory bodies merge, this report questions which regulatory body’s practice of a...

Occupying Streets to Reclaim Online Spaces
Occupying Streets to Reclaim Online Spaces 08 December 2010 Kat

Women’sNet invites you to a day filled with activities to reclaim Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) back by occupying Miriam Makeba Street and setting up an outdoor internet cafe.

Occupying Streets to Reclaim Online Spaces - Zimbabwe
Occupying Streets to Reclaim Online Spaces - Zimbabwe 08 December 2010

Women’sNet invites you to a day filled with activities to reclaim Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) back by occupying Miriam Makeba Street in Newton, Zimbabwe to demonstrate that online spaces need to be transformed, too. This is to demonstrate that in as much as we are reclaiming other spaces, online spaces need to be transformed too. The day’s actions include blogging, SMS...

Marching towards a positive future
Marching towards a positive future 02 December 2010 Françoise Mukuku

Hi comrade. Hope this letter will find you a good health. Just wanted to tell you that on December 1, in Kinshasa, we will be marching from Maison communal de Kimbanseke towards… a positive future. Five organizations representing those who have suffered the most from HIV join forces to speak out, celebrate and inform.

Challenging pornophobia and moral beliefs of Congolese media practitioners
Challenging pornophobia and moral beliefs of Congolese media practitioners 30 November 2010 Françoise Mukuku

Today I challenged ideas around pornophobia and morality among Congolese media practitioners I’m just back from a cyberdialogue organized in my country around ICT and violence against women. As my organization Si Jeunesse Savait is implementing a 2-year project on the topic, I felt like it was really the place to be today. I put aside planning for next year. That could wait.

Take Back the Tech! fund winner trains women in ICT skills in Uganda
Take Back the Tech! fund winner trains women in ICT skills in Uganda 29 November 2010 Loyce Kyogabirwe

“I used to think that computers are only for those people who are educated and are in big offices in Kampala but today I have realized that I can also use a computer,” said Kintu Solome, who received training in ICT skills at a workshop led by APC partner Isis WICCE in Uganda 15-19 November. Isis-WICCE was awarded a small grant from APC Women’s Networking Support Programme’s (...

« Go back