In a recent presentation on ICTs and ICT for Development (ICT4D) for inclusive socio-economic development at the 17th Session of the United Nations Commission for Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), the Chair of Africa Information and Communication Technologies Alliance (AfICTA), Dr Jimson Olufuye, underscored the significant role ICTs have played since the outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) 2005 to enable a more inclusive social, economic and even political development of all people. In this wise, he said “the much trumped Digital Divide may have given way to Digital Spread where existing ICTs know-how, innovation and methodologies are enabling digital advantage to those that embrace those technologies” thereby projecting a digital spread. He further said “where a nation is low in any particular development indices is not because the solution is not available but their unwillingness to embrace such solutions might be as a result of a Digital Peace of Mind”.

He cited the example of the success of mobile money in Kenya (m-pesa) which drew global acclaim but yet see slow adoption elsewhere probably due to a digital peace of mind with payment solution. Similar mobile based solutions are emerging in developing countries. He indicated that the concept of a digital peace of mind is not unconnected with a user’s choice of technology to enable his/her sufficient inclusion in the information society but “more still need to be done to connect the next 3 billion people to the Internet” he said. He also cited the on-going National Broadband Plan implementation in Nigeria and the Rwanda nationwide 4G infrastructural roll-out as examples of what is possible.

While the CSTD charged by the United Nations to report on the implementation of the WSIS Outcomes prepares its report for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2015, he recommended that ICTs should be recognised in their report as the key enabler of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda.

He congratulated the CSTD for the excellent WSIS follow-up works they have been doing which inspired the establishment in 2012 of AfICTA as the voice of ICT private sector in Africa.

Presented papers by Dr. Olufuye:

1.  Main Presentation on ICTs for inclusive social and economic development (May 13)

2. Presentation at the 10-year Review of WSIS May 14 - updated version

Sao Paulo, April 24th, 2014 – NETmundial – Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the Future of Internet Governance celebrates a milestone, with consistent definitions for principles of Internet governance and roadmap for future development of Internet governance, after the two-day meeting in Sao Paulo.  Organized in partnership with the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) and /1Net, the meeting congregated 1,480 stakeholders with active voices, including remote participation, from a diversity of 97 nations.

The “NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement”, kept its final format after a process that started with 188 content contributions submitted by volunteer representatives of 46 countries. During the two-day event, the participants from 97 countries had the opportunity to contribute to the revision of the documentr through the discussion sessions. The sessions still consider the 1,370 comments made by the public on the outcome document, published on the official website of NETmundial, as well as comments submitted by more than 200 daily viewers who follow the event in real time through the more than 30 remote hubs around the world.

Virgilio Almeida, Chairman of NETmundial, has stated in the closing ceremony of the event: “This meeting is an undeniable proof that inclusiveness has its rewards, resulting in transparent and a democratic spirit towards a common goal. This is a milestone in Internet governance.

Governments came together with all sectors to take this first step. The outcome should be seen as a contribution from a wide range of representatives that will meet in other processes dealing with Internet governance”.NETmundial stands out for its multistakeholder and collaborative purpose, in which different sectors – such as governments, civil society, private sector, academia and global technical community – gathered to discuss the future of Internet governance, valuing the maintenance of a democratic environment.

NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement of Sao Paulo is available here.

AfICTA Statement on the Proposed Transfer of the IANA function by NTIA

20.03.2014

AfICTA - the Africa Information and Communication Technology Alliance, notes the announcement by the United States’ National Telecommunication and Information Agency (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce regarding its role related to the Internet IANA function and calling for a process of engagement by the global multi-stakeholder community by 2015.

AfICTA is a private sector member of the global multistakeholder community, representing the interests of the ICT sector in Africa; our members will actively participate in the processes leading to a responsible, accountable transition toward actualization of the NTIA announcement.

Africa is the world's second largest continent, and the Internet and online services are vitally important to the socio-economic development of Africa.  With African businesses and socio-economic development being increasingly tied to the Internet, the need for a single, robust, stable, secure and trusted internet cannot be over-emphasized.

As the dialogue among stakeholders therefore intensifies in the coming months, great effort on the replacement of the NTIA role should be focused on an Internet that remains accessible, unified, stable, secure and trust-worthy. Whatever solution that will evolve should be balanced and unamenable to takeover by any political or economic interest. It should also be such that it operates under the highest environment of respect for the rule of law.

Finally, the potential new oversight regime should have inherent features that would enable it to surpass the stewardship of the regime it is to replace.  AfICTA’s members look forward to continuing our contribution to a transition that reflects bottom up, multi-stakeholder participation and full engagement.