The 2016 African Chapters Meeting held in Yaoundé – Cameroon aimed to bring together African Chapters representatives to learn about advocacy techniques and discuss important policy topics related to the open development of the Internet in Africa. In attendance were 25 participants and representatives from 11 African Chapters.
Carl Gahnberg, a Policy Advisor at the Internet Society (ISOC) gave highlights on the explicit rules that affect how we use internet. He also shared Internet policy advocacy techniques to influence Internet public policy development at the national level.
ISOC has developed several policy briefs and advocacy resources around key internet issues such as privacy, local content development, IXPs and interconnection that are available for Chapters to use in their advocacy efforts.
In regard to Internet regulation, participants were taken through discussion on; “What are the greatest challenges, and what can we do to promote Access?” On the cost side, challenges such as unfavorable taxation, lack of IXPs, poor Internet regulation, heavy capital costs, lack of local content among others were identified. To address these, having favorable tax regime, investor incentives, establishment of IXPs and heavy investment in local content were identified.
On the infrastructure side; poor regulation, lack of technical know-how; low political will to invest in infrastructure, among others were also discussed.
To address these, participants called for the establishment of a common investment fund administered by a multi-stakeholder independent national body; promoting programs Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs and creation of favorable business and political environment.
Overall, the meeting provided insight into Internet policy advocacy and equipped Chapter representatives with knowledge on how to advocate for a better.
A detailed report can be accessed here.