[governance] the IGF : what does it mean for Africa?

[Nyangkwe Agien Aaron]

Hi All

Thanks Ken for the research

However:

The involvement of the academia is laking, as well that of regional economic
organizations (ECOWAS, SADC, etc.), maybe because governments seems less
interested in the process.

This is due to the fact nearly all the governments of the regions are
illigitimate and have less concern for issues that concern those governed

The mandate of the Forum (which is not seen as a space for solutions that
Africa is urgently longing for), due to the basic access to ICT needs and to
the crucial need to strengthen internet governance on the continent,

You hit the nail square Ken.
Capacity building is what is mostly needed here. Internet access dispite the
availability of a down stream optical fibre that is not optimally exploited
(nobody know why, may be reason is due my remarks above)
May I say that after a Marshall plan to rebuild Europe after the second
world war, we need an ICT plan for Africa that includes AN EFFECTIVE ROUTING
OUT OF ILLIGIMATE GOVERNMENTS SUPPORTED BY THE WEST.

Best regards

Aaron

On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 2:01 AM, Lohento Ken <lohento at oridev.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> One the eve of Egypt 2009, for your info, this article I wrote on the IGF
> and Africa - in French however, but please find a summary in English below -
> our list/caucus is somehow concerned - comments welcome - Regards KL
>
> The Internet Governance Forum: what does it mean for Africa? - Octobre 2009
> - working document in French - Download here
> http://www.iafric.net/benin/gouvernanceinternet.html
>
> SUMMARY
>
> This article seeks to understand the representation and interest of the IGF
> process within the African ICT community, and to give illustrations of its
> eventual impact. To do this, we, primarily, have analyzed exchanges on two
> key discussion lists on which African views on Internet governance are
> conveyed. To complement and validate if necessary observations, we have
> consulted some documents produced by some players and have questioned
> others. We have also based conclusions on our observation of the process
> since its launch in 2006.
>
> The two lists analyzed are a panAfrican list (the AfrICANN list, created by
> the AfriNIC, the body responsible for managing IP and ASN addresses for the
> continent) and an international list (the Governance list, a discussion
> space for the international civil society Internet Governance Caucus). The
> first space was analyzed during six months (November 2008 - April 2009) and
> the second during a year (May 2008 - April 2009). These lists are two public
> lists, the most relevant for our analysis. It has been observed only 7% of
> contributions dealt with IGF on the AfrICANN in the period; this figure
> shows an interest in the international process, but it is minimal, on a
> space that gathered key African ICT governance players. However, as
> contributions on other subjects discussed on the list illustrates, Internet
> Governance as an issue is of a strong concern, specifically when it relates
> to its consolidation in Africa. “Localising IGF” has then become a common
> leitmotiv on the continent. From another point of view, 5.43% of the
> Internet Governance Caucus list came from African subscribers during the
> twelve months analyzed. This figure is at least below the continent's
> presence on this space (about 10%). However, it has to be stressed that
> Africa do contributes to life in this group at all levels, including during
> development of contributions submitted to IGF. On both lists, the feeble
> African participation that may be understood by several factors is
> regretted, by African stakeholders themselves first of all, and calls for
> reversing this trend are often made. All these conclusions are validated by
> the observation of the whole process, the analysis of some written
> productions and discussions with some key actors.
>
> A main conclusion after this research is that, although Africa contributes
> and participates in IGF in different manners and for various reasons, its
> interest in the international process is minimal; this is due to the mandate
> of the Forum (which is not seen as a space for solutions that Africa is
> urgently longing for), due to the basic access to ICT needs and to the
> crucial need to strengthen internet governance on the continent, which is
> seen as a greater priority. In addition, the involvement of the academia is
> laking, as well that of regional economic organizations (ECOWAS, SADC,
> etc.), maybe because governments seems less interested in the process. The
> other main conclusion is that, capacity building for some African ICT
> actors, and the increased awareness on the importance of the
> multi-stakeholder approach in policy making the sector, are seen as the key
> advantages gained from the international process.
>
> It is therefore crucial, in this period of mid-term “evaluation” of IGF,
> and some days before its fourth annual meeting organized in Africa, that
> mechanisms that support capacity building are strengthened and made more
> visible, if further enhancing the importance of the international process in
> the eyes of actors of the continent is an aim.
>
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-- 
Aaron Agien Nyangkwe
Journalist-OutCome Mapper
Special Assistant The President
ASAFE
P.O.Box 5213
Douala-Cameroon

Tel. 237 3337 55 31, 3337 50 22
Fax. 237 3342 29 70
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