Enabling Inclusive Digital Development: Regulatory Capacity-Building through Multilingual Peer-to-Peer Learning between EU and Sub-Saharan Africa
Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER), Stockholm University
Сессия 158
Bridging the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa depends on strong regulatory institutions that shape how digital networks are built, accessed, and governed in the public interest. Telecommunications regulation plays a key role in setting the rules for connectivity markets, ensuring fair competition, affordable services, consumer protection, and the safe and reliable operation of digital infrastructure. This session will discuss how capacity building can reinforce regulatory institutions to foster inclusive and sustainable digital development, while promoting cross-regional and international collaboration.
Since 2023, the ICT Policy & Regulation – Institutional Strengthening (iPRIS) project has supported capacity development among African telecom regulators through peer-to-peer learning, engaging both national and regional regulatory authorities across the region. By connecting European and African regulatory authorities, the project fosters knowledge exchange and supports the implementation of national regulatory strategic projects, while mainstreaming diversity, equity, and inclusion. To ensure meaningful and effective participation, iPRIS has progressively offered capacity-building cycles in English and French, and is now about to offer a cycle in Portuguese. The project illustrates how regulation can become more inclusive by integrating a gender-balanced perspective and the needs of diverse communities. Moreover, it demonstrates that cross-regional collaboration among national and regional regulatory authorities strengthens institutions while promoting harmonisation of regulations.
Bringing together iPRIS partners, this panel will discuss how capacity building, international cooperation, and multilingual peer-to-peer learning can strengthen institutions and support inclusive digital development. The discussion will focus on how collaboration between African and European regulators and international digital development actors promotes knowledge exchange, builds institutional capacity, and strengthens cross-regional partnerships, ultimately contributing to meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, and sustainable digital transformation.
-
C1. роль правительств и всех заинтересованных сторон в содействии использованию ИКТ в целях развития
-
С2 Информационная и коммуникационная инфраструктура
-
C4. Наращивание потенциала
-
C5. укрепление доверия и безопасности при использовании ИКТ
-
C6. Разрешающая среда
-
С10. Этические аспекты информационного общества
-
С11. Международное и региональное сотрудничество
This session is linked to several WSIS Action Lines:
C1 – The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development:
The session highlights collaboration between national regulatory authorities, regional regulatory organisations, and international partners across Africa and Europe as a key enabler of effective ICT governance.
C2 – Information and communication infrastructure:
The capacity-building project showcased in the session strengthens regulatory capacity and regional convergence to support affordable, secure, reliable, and high-speed connectivity, including through infrastructure investment and cross-border connectivity.
C4 – Capacity building:
The session showcases a capacity building initiative that strengthens national regulatory authorities and regional regulatory organisations through peer learning for regulatory development and implementation.
C5 – Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs:
The discussion emphasises the importance of regulatory frameworks that promote cybersecurity, data protection, consumer protection, and resilience of digital infrastructure. It reflects the role of regulators in building trust in digital markets through effective oversight, coordination mechanisms, and harmonised approaches to security challenges.
C6 – Enabling environment:
The session emphasises coherent regulatory frameworks that support competition, innovation, and reduced fragmentation in digital governance across regions.
C10 – Ethical dimensions of the Information Society:
The session reinforces the importance of human-centric, inclusive, and rights-aware regulatory approaches. It reflects the need to ensure that digital transformation processes are guided by principles of transparency, accountability, equity, and non-discrimination, particularly in the development and implementation of ICT policy and regulation.
C11 – International and regional cooperation:
The project presented in the session promotes international and regional cooperation through peer learning, regulatory harmonisation, and collaboration between national and regional regulatory authorities and organisations across Africa and Europe, supporting coordinated approaches to ICT development and addressing the digital divide.
-
Цель 5: Достижение гендерного равенства и расширение прав и возможностей всех женщин и девочек
-
Цель 8: Содействие всеохватному и устойчивому экономическому росту, занятости и достойной работе для всех
-
Цель 9: Создание устойчивой инфраструктуры, содействие устойчивой индустриализации и стимулирование инноваций
-
Цель 10: Сокращение неравенства внутри стран и между ними
-
Цель 16: Поощрение справедливых, мирных и инклюзивных обществ
-
Цель 17: Активизация глобального партнерства в интересах устойчивого развития
This session directly supports the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by advancing inclusive and effective digital regulation for sustainable development in the telecommunications sector. Through strengthening regulatory capacity, fostering regional cooperation, and promoting equitable access to digital connectivity, the session contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls:
The project showcased promotes inclusive regulatory environments where women meaningfully participate in digital governance and decision-making within national regulatory authorities and regional regulatory organisations, supporting a more balanced integration of gender perspectives in regulatory development and implementation.
SDG 8 – Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all:
The session supports inclusive economic growth and digital transformation by highlighting the role of strengthened regulatory frameworks that enable competitive, innovative, and investment-friendly digital markets.
SDG 9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation:
The capacity-building initiative in digital regulation promotes resilient and future-oriented digital infrastructure through improved regulations and regional convergence for affordable, secure, reliable, and high-speed connectivity, supporting broadband expansion, spectrum management, and cross-border connectivity.
SDG 10 – Reduce inequality within and among countries:
The session addresses persistent digital inequalities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where gaps in connectivity, affordability, and regulatory capacity remain significant.
SDG 16 – Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies:
The session promotes effective, accountable, and resilient regulatory institutions. It emphasizes more transparent, predictable, and evidence-based regulatory frameworks that enhance trust, consumer protection, and cybersecurity resilience.
SDG 17 – Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development:
The session reinforces Africa–Europe and multi-stakeholder partnerships for digital transformation.
- Задача 1: Ликвидировать все цифровые барьеры и ускорить прогресс в достижении Целей устойчивого развития
- Цель 2: Расширить доступность цифровой экономики и выгоды от нее для всех
- Цель 3: Содействовать созданию инклюзивного, открытого, безопасного и защищенного цифрового пространства, которое уважает, защищает и поощряет права человека.
- Цель 4: Развивать ответственные, справедливые и совместимые подходы к управлению данными
- Цель 5: Улучшение международного управления искусственным интеллектом на благо человечества.
https://spidercenter.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/spidercenter/
https://ipris.digital/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipris-digital/