The first ever Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue was successfully held from 8-9 May in Kigali, Rwanda, in partnership with UNESCO and Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Youth and ICT. The event gathered 161 high level local and foreign experts from various organizations including AFRINIC, WACREN, UBUNTUNET, ASREN, ECOWAS, UNECA, AUC, African Universities etc.
Background
Africa is one of the largest continents of the world with abundant resources that are key to its economic growth. However, despite of its natural and human resources, the continent remains to be faced with considerable development challenges. Today, Africa stands at a crossroad. New opportunities are rising ahead. Through creating an enabling environment, Africa can bring a much-needed economic transformation and development if it uses these opportunities.
The Internet brings new development opportunities for Africa. The opportunities for an African economic breakthrough through the Internet are real and within reach. The democratization of entrepreneurship and innovation can open tremendous opportunities to African countries. But is Africa using these Internet of opportunities? Recently, there have been some encouraging signs of some African countries building their Internet infrastructure and creating a real economy around the Internet. Some of these countries are already reaping the benefits of the Internet economy. They are also using the Internet to transform all aspects of their economic, social and political lives but a lot still remains to be done.
Objective
The main objective of the 2017 Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue was to create a forum for all stakeholders to discuss the various opportunities and requirements for entrepreneurship and innovation as well as for education for this new age of the Internet. The conference is part of the global series of Internet Development conferences organized by the Internet Society with the aim of supporting the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, the conference offered open high-level discussions addressing the following dimensions:
- Internet and SDGs
- Connecting the Next Billion
- African Internet Economy
- Opportunities for Africa’s education
Themes
The meeting will bring together stakeholders interested in using the Internet for the development of Africa to discuss about their different initiatives and create synergy amongst them for better impact. It will be a two-day program focusing on two major themes:
- The African Internet Economy
- The Use of Internet to Transform the African Education
The Africa Regional Internet and Development Dialogue will be hosted by Internet Society (ISOC) and the Ministry of Youth and ICT of the Republic of Rwanda. UNESCO is also a partner of the meeting. The event will also be held few days before Transform Africa Summit 2017. This is expected to elevate its overall value, ensuring high level participation from the region and beyond.
Study Papers
The internet Society launched two study papers at this event:
- Internet for Education in Africa: Helping Policy Makers to Meet the Global Education Agenda Sustainable Development Goal 4
- A Case Study in Local Content Hosting: Speed, Visits, and Cost of Access
Day 1 Presentations
- Achievements and opportunities for the use of the Internet in education in West Africa (PPP / PDF)
- Connecting West and Central Africa to the Global Research and Education Network (PPP / PDF)
- Connecting the Next Billion: Why we must REACT to the Growing Digital Gender Gap (PPP / PDF)
- Can MOOCs solve Africa’s educational challenges (PPP / PDF)
- MIT Digital Learning Providing Quality Education at Scale (PPP / PDF)
- Research and Education networks: Responding to the challenges of African Research (PPP / PDF)
- The Digital Literacy – Kenya Case – True Story (PPP / PDF)
- Providing local content for Africa’s schools using Wikipedia (PFD)
- Internet for Education: Helping Policy Makers to Meet the Global Education Agenda (SDG4) (PPP / PDF)
Day 2 Presentations
- Innovative ICT startups in Kenya (PDF)
- Hubs: Catalyst for Innovation in Africa (PDF)
- The creation of the Kenyan Internet Economy (PDF)
- Promoting the African Internet Economy (PDF)
- Use of technologies in the future of work : opportunity or social challenge? (PPT)
Find the event’s agenda, recording of the event livestream and event photos here.
