The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), based in Kampala, Uganda has announced a partnership with the Dakar-based AfricTivistes to host the upcoming Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2024 (FIFAfrica24), scheduled to take place from September 25 to 27, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal.
This year’s FIFAfrica, the first edition to be hosted in Francophone Africa, will be a key platform for shaping the future of digital rights in Africa and the role various stakeholders must play to realize the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa and Declaration 15 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Declaration highlights the potential of information and communications technology and global interconnectedness to accelerate human progress, bridge the digital divide, and develop knowledge societies.
The forum provides a platform for assembling African thought leaders and networks working on internet freedom from diverse stakeholder groups.
From its inception, FIFAfrica has commemorated September 28, the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), raising awareness about access to information both offline and online and its connection to broader freedoms and democratic participation.
The Forum features pre-event practical training workshops for various stakeholders on a range of internet freedom issues, including technical aspects of internet access, policy developments, digital resilience, and advocacy strategies.
Established in 2015, AfricTivistes – the African League of Cyber-Activists and Bloggers for Democracy – is a pan-African organization that promotes and defends democracy, good governance, and human rights through digital means. AfricTivistes’ programs focus on fostering digital transformation and enhanced citizenship in Africa, driven by change agents.
AfricTivistes’ mission aligns closely with the goals of CIPESA and, consequently, FIFAfrica, forming the foundation for an inclusive, informative, and responsive conference. Through its extensive network of actors, AfricTivistes brings regional expertise and a deep understanding of advocacy and engagement for civic, social, and political transformation to the Forum.
Cheikh Fall, President of AfricTivistes said: “This partnership with CIPESA to organize a successful FIFAfrica is essential, as it will enable highlighting the state of participatory democracy in this region of Africa where it faces numerous challenges, and ultimately advance digital democracy by all stakeholders.”
The CIPESA-AfricTivistes partnership continues FIFAfrica’s tradition of galvanizing multi-stakeholder efforts for shared strategies in advancing rights, participation, and innovation online.
Registration is required and can be completed at https://bit.ly/4fdRBUy.
For more information and updates, please visit www.internetfreedom.africa, and for inquiries, please contact internetfreedom@cipesa.org.
