Call for applications for the Sixth African School on Internet Governance now open!

Are you a current or potential leader in internet governance forums and debates in Africa?

Do you want to deepen your understanding of the “multistakeholder” approach to internet-related policy making?

Whether you are a policy maker, a researcher, a regulator, an engineer, a journalist, an entrepreneur or a gender equality and human rights defender – if you care about internet policy in Africa, AfriSIG is for you!

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the African Union Commission are pleased to announce the call for applications for the sixth African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG). The 2018 School will coincide with the sixth African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) which will take place in October 2018 in Sudan. Exact dates are still to be confirmed.

AfriSIG’s primary goal is to give Africans from multiple sectors and stakeholder groups the opportunity to gain knowledge that will enable them to participate confidently and effectively in national, regional and global internet governance processes and debates.

Curriculum

The School is structured as a five-day intensive learning and knowledge-sharing event which covers:

An overview of internet governance concepts, issues and institutions
Internet architecture, infrastructure, standards and protocols and management of internet names and numbers
Internet governance and social issues: gender, human rights and development
Cybersecurity, multistakeholder approaches and emerging issues in internet governance such as algorithms and the internet of things.

The highlight of the school is a practicum in which participants have to tackle an actual internet-related policy challenge and come up with an agreed solution or statement.

Who can apply?

Applicants who have relevant work experience and/or involvement in internet governance or ICT policy and regulation and who are positioned to make meaningful contributions to strengthening internet governance in Africa, and African voices in internet governance globally.

The School will accept applications from current or emerging leaders and professionals from:

Government ministries and departments, national and regional communications regulatory authorities, and public sector information and communications services such as public libraries.
Members of parliament, particularly if they are involved in parliamentary portfolio committees that deal with media, communications and information technology issues.
Service providers and other businesses who form part of the internet industry.
Civil society and non-governmental organisations who interact with or operate in the internet-related information and communications sector.
Human rights institutions dealing with internet issues, such as national or regional human rights commissions.
Community-based information and communications services and the broader community informatics sector.
The judiciary and other members of the legal community working with internet and communications law.
Members of law enforcement agencies who deal with internet issues.
The internet technical community.
Academic and research institutions that deal with internet issues.
Media organisations and outlets that focus on the internet. Individual bloggers and journalists who focus on the internet are also encouraged to apply.

Funding opportunities

The AfriSIG organisers have a limited number of scholarships available for successful applicants. These will cover air travel, shared accommodation and meal costs for the duration of the School. Successful applicants have the option of staying in a single room, but they would need to cover the additional cost themselves. Self-funded and sponsored participants are encouraged to apply. All participants, even those who are awarded scholarships, will be expected to pay their own local transport expenses and visa fees.

To apply please complete the form here by Friday 16 June 2018. Please note that as part of the application, you will be required to upload a recent CV, two reference letters and a letter of financial commitment should you be self-funded For more information, visit the AfriSIG website or contact the AfriSIG organiser, Koliwe Majama at afrisig@apc.org.

AfriSIG footprints/More about AfriSIG

AfriSIG is part of the growing global community of practice for promoting and strengthening active multistakeholder participation in internet governance spaces. Similar internet governance schools are held in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The first AfriSIG took place in 2013 in Durban, South Africa, followed by Mauritius in 2014, Ethiopia in 2015, South Africa in 2016 and Egypt in 2017.

Over the years, AfriSIG has built a multidisciplinary cadre of expertise in internet governance on the continent through the participation of current and emerging leaders drawn from government, business, academia and civil society. The diversity of participants emphasises the school’s objective of enhancing multistakeholder cooperation in national to global internet policy and development. A tracer study that examines the impact on individual participants over the first four rounds of the school reflects what a huge positive difference it has made in their perceptions and careers.

In 2017 the School was awarded with a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize for international and regional cooperation.