Connecting the world and beyond

ITU-UK Kenya Digital Access Programme Partners’ Open Day

ITU-UK Kenya Digital Access Programme Partners’ Open Day:
Partnering for Effective Connectivity and Broader Digital Inclusion

Date: Wednesday, 4 May 2022
Time: 9:00-17:00 EAT
Place: Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) and United Kingdom's Digital Access Programme (DAP) partners in Kenya, hosted a UK-DAP partners’ open day on Partnering for Effective Connectivity and Broader Digital Inclusion. The event, which aimed to strengthen partnerships around the Digital Access Programme among existing DAP partners and beyond, was held at Strathmore University.

With the common goal of supporting the connectivity of those who are still unconnected and contributing to the meaningful connectivity of those who have yet to benefit from the digital economy, the United Kingdom's Digital Access Programme collaborates with ITU and regional and local partners in Kenya to catalyze affordable inclusive safe secure digital access for excluded populations by supporting systemic enhancements and testing sustainable models. Mainstreamed into the above domains is the sensitization and capacity building involving responsible digital access through practicing cyber hygiene and cybersecurity behaviors change, especially considering the vulnerability of the targeted marginalized populations.

Objectives

The DAP partners’ open day on partnering for effective connectivity and broader digital Inclusion served to present the work that has been conducted in Phase 1 of the partnership, to reflect upon the impact that the partnership has had in Kenya and discuss how to scale this impact with a joint effort.

The roundtable was structured around the following themes:

Sustainable business and financing models for connectivity;
Systemic enhancement and enabling environment for last mile internet connectivity;
Supply and demand: Digital government services, local relevant digital content, digital literacy and skills.

Participation

The roundtable brought together 100 stakeholders, including, ITU, KICTANet, UK DAP partners in Kenya, representatives from the Ministry of ICT and Youth Affairs, representatives from the Communications Authority of Kenya, ICT Authority, and the national communications secretariat, development partners, private sector stakeholders in the Kenya digital economy ecosystem such as licensed service provider representatives, technical community, professional associations, civil society, and representatives from academia to enhance partnerships, sharing of knowledge and emerging good practices.

Agenda

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Agenda with speakers

08:00 –08:45	VIP’s visit to Kenya Society for Blind Training to learn about digital skilling initiatives from persons with disabililties (PwDs)
08:45	Arrival at Strathmore University
09:00 – 09:10	Welcome note
09:10 – 09:40	Opening remarks and UK-DAP partnership overview
09:40 – 10.00	Keynote address
10:00 – 11:00	Sustainable business and financing models for connectivity Discussion on models for school and community connectivity (current approaches, successes and challenges), and exchange thoughts around how to sustainably finance school and community connectivity so that such projects go beyond seed funding.
Tea break (11:00 – 11:30)
11:30 – 13:00	Systemic enhancement and enabling environment for last mile internet connectivity An exchange on the Kenya regulatory landscape, including a focus on Universal Service Fund Strategy, Universal service financing efficiency experiences and best practices (local and global perspectives). Explore Last mile connectivity (gaps and efforts to fill those gaps) with focus on sharing approaches and experiences to date and challenges to adequately identifying infrastructure/connectivity gaps.
Lunch break (13:00 – 14:00)
14:00 – 15:20	Supply and demand: Digital government services, relevant local digital content and digital literacy and skills An exchange on the enabling role of connectivity, digital technologies in meeting business challenges, examining government services and other digital services in the country (supply versus demand), exploring the state of digital skilling to promote innovation and better maximization of those services.
15:20 – 16:00	Plenary session Open discussion
16:00 – 16:30	Wrap up and next steps

Documents and References

Registration

This was a face-to-face discussion at Strathmore University in Nairobi.
The roundtable also enabled remote participation to accommodate participants.

Organizing Committee

Kagwiria Regina Nkonge
ITU FCDO National Project Consultant
regina.nkonge@itu.int

Mwendwa Kivuva
Kenya ICT Action Network
kivuva@kictanet.or.ke

Charles Juma
Digital Access Programme Manager and Adviser, FCDO
charles.juma@fcdo.gov.uk

Christine Sund
Senior Advisor, ITU Regional Office for Africa
christine.sund@itu.int