UK Digital Access Programme, Strengthening Digital Communities Project: Dissemination of Achievements and Sustainability Planning Workshop for Mandera and Busia Counties
Date: Thursday, 10 April, 2025
Time: 08:00 AM – 5:00 PM EAT
Venue: The Edge Convention Centre, Red cross road, South C, Nairobi
1. Introduction
KICTANet in collaboration with the British High Commission is hosting a one-day workshop to discuss the achievements, lessons learnt, challenges, areas improvement and other opportunities of the Strengthening Digital Communities (SDC) project. This workshop will aim to bring together at least 150 diverse stakeholders and shall be held in Nairobi, Kenya.
2. Background
Kenya’s digital divide remains a major barrier to socio-economic development, particularly in marginalized and food-insecure counties such as Mandera and Busia. Limited access to digital infrastructure, low levels of digital literacy, and a lack of relevant digital content and services have hindered the ability of communities to participate in the digital economy, digital government, digital societies and communities and digital development.
The Strengthening Digital Communities (SDC) project was developed as a multi-pronged intervention to address some of these barriers/challenges especially digital illiteracy and lack of access to local relevant content among youths and citizens including women and Persons with Disabilities. The project was implemented collaboratively by KICTANet and downstream partners with funding from the UK government, through the British High Commission in Nairobi targeting largely in Mandera and Busia Counties. It aimed to bridge the digital divide by equipping marginalized communities with digital skills, improving access to digital services, and fostering socio-economic empowerment.
The SDC project comprised eight components addressing demand creation, supply-side interventions, and systemic improvements to foster digital inclusion with a special focus on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI). It has achieved significant milestones, including training over 8,000 Community Digital Champions (CDCs), reaching more than 400,000 citizens with foundational digital skills, showcasing access to relevant digital services to citizens and commenced interventions around supporting Artificial Intelligence ecosystem and institutional strengthening in Kenya.
As the first phase of the SDC project was concluded on 31 March 2025, this dissemination of findings/achievements workshop presents an opportunity to explore sustainability plans by all stakeholders, especially the County Governments of Busia and Mandera. This workshop serves as a key moment for reflection, learning, and knowledge-sharing among all stakeholders. It will showcase the achievements, discuss the challenges faced, and highlight lessons that can inform future digital inclusion initiatives in the two Counties. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to explore strategies for sustaining the impact of the project and explore opportunities for scaling up initiatives beyond its implementation period.
3. Objectives
The dissemination and sustainability workshop aims to:
- Highlight achievements, showcase products and impact of the SDC project with partners and stakeholders.
- Reflect on the challenges faced and lessons learnt during implementation and how they were addressed to inform future scaling up initiatives.
- Explore, discuss and initiative sustainability strategies and recommendations.
4. Target Audience
The meeting will bring together a diverse set of 150 stakeholders to ensure holistic discussions and strategic planning for the future. These include Government officials, Development partners, private sector, civil society organisations, consultants, experts, media and representatives of the programme beneficiaries.
- Expected Outcomes
- Increased visibility of the project’s achievements and impact among stakeholders.
- Documented challenges and lessons learned for future reference.
- Strengthened partnerships for scaling up digital inclusion efforts.
- Recommendations for sustaining project outcomes beyond its lifecycle.
6. Methodology
The workshop will feature:
- Partner presentations on project achievements and impact across all components.
- Panel discussions on challenges faced and lessons learned.
- Interactive Q&A sessions with stakeholders.
- Exhibitions or presentations showcasing knowledge products and tools.
Programme
Time | Activity | Moderator / Presenter |
8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Networking & Climate Setting. | Mr. Victor Kapiyo,
Event Secretariat, KICTANet |
8:30 – 9:45 AM | Panel Discussants – Foundational and Basic Levels: Beneficiaries (Community Member, Community Digital Champions, and Master Trainers)
Discussion Focus: Achievements and Impact on Learning and Awareness (Story of CDC, Training Areas, Skills Gained, Certification, Giving Back to Community) Challenges & Lessons Learned, and Recommendations. |
Moderated by Ms. Lynette Ringeera, Deputy Director, Capacity Development, ICT Authority |
9:45 – 10:45 AM | Host Welcoming, Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
Mr. Ali Hussein, Chair, KICTANet – Welcoming remarks Dr. Ed Barnett, MBE, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the UN, British High Commission (BHC) H.E. Abdi Dagane, Deputy Governor of Garissa County H.E. Dr. Ali M. Mohamud, Deputy Governor of Mandera County H.E. Hon. Wisley K. Rotich, Governor of Elgeyo Marakwet County and Chairperson of the ICT Committee, Council of Governors H.E. (FCPA) Hon. Ahmed A. Mohamed, Governor of Wajir County and Chairman of the Council of Governors H.E. Dr. Paul N. Otuoma, Governor of Busia County Eng. John Tanui, MBS, Principal Secretary, State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy H.E. Hon. William G. Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy – Keynote Address |
Mr. Stanley Kamanguya, OGW, Chief Executive Officer,
ICT Authority |
10:45 – 11:15 AM | Overview of the UK Digital Access Programme and Strengthening Digital Communities Project | Dr. Grace Githaiga,
CEO, KICTANet Mr. Charles Juma, UK DAP Country Lead & Adviser, BHC Nairobi |
11:15 – 11:20 AM | Group Photo Session | David Indeje,
Event Secretariat, KICTANet |
11:20 – 11:45 AM | Tea/Coffee Break | All Participants |
11:45 – 1:00 PM | Panel Discussants – Intermediate Levels: Beneficiaries Engagement (Expert Trainer, Trainer of Trainer, Beneficiary, Employer or Consumer of the Service rendered)
Discussion Focus: Achievements and Impact around Job Creation and Income Opportunities, Challenges & Lessons Learned, and Recommendations. |
Moderated by
Harriet Ratemo, Researcher & Training Coordinator, KICTANet |
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break | All Participants |
2:00 – 3:00 PM | Lightning Speed Presentations: UK Kenya AI Challenge Fund
Presenters: ACTS and 11 UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund Beneficiaries + TFGBV Discussion Focus: Achievements and Impact, Challenges & Lessons Learned, Sustainability and Policy Recommendations |
Moderated by
Mr. Sam Wanjau, Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology (ACTS) |
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Four Breakout sessions: Sustainability Plans – County governments
|
Moderated by
Dr. George Musumba, Component Lead, KICTANet Mr. Wilfred Oluoch, AI/Emerging Tech Adviser, BHC Nairobi Ms. Harriet Ratemo, Researcher & Training Coordinator, KICTANet Ms. Lynette Ringeera, Deputy Director, Capacity Development, ICT Authority |
3:30 – 4:00 PM | Plenary Presentations by each of the four groups: Sustainability Plans – County governments
|
Moderated by
Victor Kapiyo, Event Secretariat, KICTANet |
4:00 – 4:15 PM | Tea Break | |
4:15 – 4:45 PM | Declarations and Resolutions and Key Takeaways | Prof. Jimmy Macharia, Consultant, KICTANet |
4:45 – 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks | Mr. Charles Juma, UK DAP Country Lead and Adviser, BHC Nairobi and
Dr. Grace Githaiga, CEO, KICTANet |