I have always been of the opinion that POLICY IS BORING, I say this every time I have the opportunity to be at gatherings where policy discussions, especially tech/internet policies are held and I also ask myself all of these times, what can I do to make these conversations more interesting to the people who the outcomes of these conversations will benefit the most?
From all the topics taught at the school, I was particularly fascinated by the topic “Internet governance and sustainable development, climate and the impact of the environment of digitalisation”. I was interested in understanding how internet governance should address sustainable development and a sustainable environment.
It is my hope that deliberations and inputs gathered during the panel discussion would form part of the continent’s report, especially notably the time paid in detailing Africa’s position in the digital economy.
How can accessibility in rural areas of Africa be improved? What are the challenges for women and girls in terms of internet access? How are internet shutdowns affecting African users? These are some of the issues that Josephine Militza, Sophie Ngassa and Amanda Manyame focus on, as African experts on internet access with a strong gender perspective.
As a technical person, I found the week-long school essential to having a good understanding of the governance side of the internet, which is different from running networks or conducting research on them. Topics related to digital rights, affordable internet access, internet history in Africa, sustainability, internet-related human rights, women and minorities’ participation, etc., were all covered, in addition to a number of other panel discussions and lectures.
Africa this year commemorated “Women’s Month”, as March is known in a number of countries, faced with the reality of a highly gendered digital divide. That such a situation seems set to persist serves as a reminder of the need