Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Sida is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government, with the mission to reduce poverty in the world. Through their work and in cooperation with others, they contribute to implementing Sweden’s Policy for Global Development (PGU). They carry out enhanced development cooperation with a total of 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The selection of cooperation countries are based on political decisions made by the Swedish government.

Work supported:

  • Core funding for APC Strategic Plan (2020-2023)

  • Connecting the unconnected: Supporting community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives

  • Core funding for APC Strategic Plan (2016-2019)

  • Core funding for APC Strategic Plan (2013-2016)

  • Global Information Society Watch (2008-2011)

  • Internet Rights Are Human Rights (2010-2012)

  • Placement of trainee staff through Bilateral Associate Expert Training Programme (2010-2011)

  • Study of Effects and Possibilities of ICT for Enhancement of Democracy with a Focus on Empowerment in East Africa (2008-2009)

Link: https://www.sida.se/Svenska/

Community networks newsletter: Women weaving more inclusive spaces and networks around the world
Community networks newsletter: Women weaving more inclusive spaces and networks around the world 28 September 2023 APCNews

In this issue, we celebrate and share the experiences of women who are overcoming challenges and stereotypes of gender, class and race to build more inclusive spaces and experiences to foster community-centred connectivity around the world.

Community networks newsletter: Can connectivity enable a worthwhile digital future leaving no one behind?
Community networks newsletter: Can connectivity enable a worthwhile digital future leaving no one behind? 31 August 2023 APCNews

In this edition we can see many examples of community-centred initiatives flourishing in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Welcome to the 61th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.

Assessing the level of respect of the Internet rights and freedoms in Africa: Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Chad study cases
Assessing the level of respect of the Internet rights and freedoms in Africa: Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Chad study cases 09 August 2023 PROTEGE QV

Organisations and independent experts from six Sub-Saharan African countries that share French as one of their national languages have developed an approach for assessing the level of respect for human rights online by their governments: the African Index of Internet Rights and Freedoms.

Including community networks in Universal Service Fund strategies: A step to overcome the digital divide
Including community networks in Universal Service Fund strategies: A step to overcome the digital divide 27 July 2023 Débora Prado

The Universal Service Fund – created precisely to subsidise the promotion of universal access to telecommunications services – should include community-led models, as recommended by ITU on several occasions, and advancing in countries such as Argentina, Malawi and Kenya. 

Community networks newsletter: Challenging the digital divide around the world
Community networks newsletter: Challenging the digital divide around the world 27 July 2023 APCNews

Welcome to the 60th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives. In this edition, we celebrate these networks’ multiple achievements, discuss the challenges they face, and moot the kind of support they need.

Regulators from Southern African countries take a deep dive into community networks alternatives for digital inclusion
Regulators from Southern African countries take a deep dive into community networks alternatives for digital inclusion 26 July 2023 Débora Prado

A forum organised by the Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa brought together its member states to discuss the importance of community networks in providing universal services, and the policy and regulation measures needed to support them.

Scorecard: Accessibility of government websites to persons with disabilities
Scorecard: Accessibility of government websites to persons with disabilities 29 June 2023 Florence Awino Ouma, Nicodemus Nyakundi and Judy Okite

This research aimed to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities when accessing government websites and digital services in Kenya.

Community networks newsletter: Women connecting a village
Community networks newsletter: Women connecting a village 29 June 2023 APCNews

In this issue, we are inspired by women who are cultivating community networks in their regions. Welcome to the 59th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.

Community networks newsletter: New podcast traces community connectivity around the world
Community networks newsletter: New podcast traces community connectivity around the world 24 May 2023 APCNews

We are happy to announce the launch of the Routing for Communities podcast on 1 June. With 12 episodes, this podcast will be a journey to listen to the life stories of those connecting themselves while defending the fundamental rights and well-being of their communities.

Failure and Promise: Anecdotes from the field on updating Universal Service Funds policies
Failure and Promise: Anecdotes from the field on updating Universal Service Funds policies 23 May 2023 Senka Hadzic and Jane Coffin

Many governments have established funds dedicated to expanding connectivity to underserved communities, so-called Universal Service Funds (USFs) or Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs).  The purpose of the paper is to examine advocacy efforts led by civil society in selected countries that have led to systemic changes in local policies and regulations, with a specific focus on the us...

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