The 11th East Africa IGF 2024 theme, Building our multistakeholder digital future in East Africa, came to live in Kampala Uganda from 11th to 12th September 2024. With it, a revived spirit of the East Africa Community, One People, One Destiny filled the air.
Having graciously accepted to host the East African event, the Republic of Uganda, demonstrated its commitment to the region’s integration. The event’s success and impact were made possible by the contributions of all members and partners, highlighting the importance of development partners in achieving the East African Community (EAC) goals and emphasising their ongoing support.
The rotational nature of EAIGF host countries among different partner states, since its inception in 2008 in Nairobi Kenya hosted by KICTANet, and the anticipation for future forums in Somalia, Djibouti, South and Sudan, purposefully serves to bring the conversation to individual countries, as well as venture into Internet governance initiatives that solidifies the regional integration efforts.
A look into the history and according to Brandie M. Nonnecke, on The transformative effects of multistakeholderism in Internet governance: A case study of the East Africa Internet Governance Forum, the EAIGF was among the first regional IGF to be established in 2008 and convened by KICTANet, an ICT policy think tank based in Kenya. It has since then continued to influence the IGF model within national and regional contexts, impacting policy-making and implementation in the East Africa Community.
The 2024 East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) continued to highlight the forum’s vital role in promoting multistakeholderism and enhancing the understanding of local Internet issues that would be brought to the attention of the African Internet Governance Forum, and the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). This identification and addressing of key issues affecting the region and local representatives underscores the forum’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and driving positive change within the region’s internet governance landscape.
Furthermore, the commitment and active participation of various stakeholders in the EAIGF exemplify the collaborative spirit necessary for addressing internet governance challenges and harnessing the potential of the digital sphere for the broader African community. This recognition serves as a testament to the impact of collective efforts in shaping a more inclusive and effective Internet governance framework for the region.
Key takeaways from the EAIGF 2024
- A call to embrace a collaborative approach to drive digital transformation in the East African region. An urge emphasised by the Ugandan Minister of State and for National Guidance under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Kabbyanga Godfrey Baluku. This is due to the rising potential of increased internet accessibility and adoption of innovative approaches like mobile money financial services that are revolunizing financial inclusion.
- Similarly, there is importance of collaboration among government, citizens, private sectors, academia, and civil society to ensure digital transformation. This particularly is due to the reality that most of internet and digital infrastrure have been layed the private sector. Hence, joining hands will synergize digital growth accross EAC and steer the region into the envisioned future amid cultural differences. A perfect fit of multistakehilderism in ensuring collaborations and preserving our core values.
- A look into the digital transformation roadmap and its five pillars ( infrastructure and connectivity, digital services, cybersecurity, data protection and privacy, and digital skills and ownership), openned a conversation about the effectiveness of the polices and legal frameworks governing the member states’ development visions and roadmaps.
- This emphasized the significance of addressing challenges related to internet access with a classical case of the rising digital activism in Kenya, data privacy concerns and Rwanda’s secret recipe to effective data privacy polices, and ensuring collaboration for innovation and opportunities.
As we focus on the future, it is crucial for all stakeholders to actively participate in carrying out the recommendations and commitments made at the forum, ultimately working together towards a more inclusive, secure, and prosperous digital future for the East African community.
Nicodemus Nyakundi is a Digital Accessibility for PWDs Program Officer at KICTANet. He has a background in IT and advocates for the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities.
