By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Smart Africa has held
discussions with the AFRINIC Board to strengthen cooperation on Africa’s
digital transformation and explore areas for closer collaboration on internet
governance and digital policy.
The meeting was led by Smart
Africa’s Director of Digital Infrastructure, Skills and Empowerment, Thelma
Quaye, who represented the organisation during the courtesy engagement with the
AFRINIC Board.
The discussions reaffirmed
the two institutions’ shared commitment to advancing Africa’s digital
transformation and building stronger coordination among key digital and
internet governance stakeholders across the continent.
A key focus of the meeting
was the role of the Council of African Internet Governance Agencies (CAIGA) as
a platform for coordination and collaboration, with the potential to strengthen
Africa’s collective voice in internet governance and digital policy discussions.
The two institutions also
identified areas for future cooperation, including the One Africa Network
initiative, which seeks to advance free roaming across the continent.
Capacity building for
policymakers was another area highlighted during the discussions, with both
organisations recognising the need to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities
of policymakers responsible for shaping Africa’s digital future.
Smart Africa and AFRINIC
said continued institutional collaboration will be important in supporting
coordinated approaches to digital transformation and ensuring that African
countries can advance shared priorities in internet governance and digital development.
