[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] CIPESA LAUNCHES COMMENTARY AND DISCUSSION SERIES ON INTERNATIONAL ICT POLICY FOR EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

[Rachel Engel]

Good morning - I hope this is something which you find of interest. If 
so please pass on to relevant contacts and newslists.
Many thanks
Rachel

CIPESA and bridges.org, 11 February 2005

CIPESA LAUNCHES COMMENTARY AND DISCUSSION SERIES ON INTERNATIONAL ICT 
POLICY FOR EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern 
Africa (CIPESA) is launching a commentary and discussion series to spark 
thinking and dialogue on important issues in the field.

These short informative pieces will give an overview of an international 
ICT policy issue relevant to African stakeholders, and stir discussion 
by presenting strong views and provocative questions. Readers will be 
encouraged to respond to the points raised, via email or in the 
"comments" box under each commentary on the CIPESA website 
(www.cipesa.org). Special guest contributors will also be invited to 
share views in their area of expertise.

Watch out for upcoming commentaries on institutions and issues including 
WSIS, ICANN, WIPO, WTO, intellectual property rights, ICT indicators, 
spam, cybercrime, and e-waste. Here are a few of the questions to be 
posed in the coming weeks:

* Who are Africa's ICT stakeholders and why should they care about 
international policy?

* The World Summit on Information Society: who should represent Africa 
and is it worth going?

* ITU or ICANN: Who should represent Africa's interests in Internet 
governance?

* Is open knowledge sharing good or bad for Africa?

* Will environmental regulations in Europe lead to dumped computers in 
Africa?

* International ICT indicators and the Millennium Development Goals in 
Africa: e-ready for what?

With wide readership and media exposure, this is the place to speak your 
mind, share ideas and promote change!  Please email cipesa at bridges.org 
if you are interested in collaborating with us on a commentary.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Contacts:

Joy Olivier
+27 21 465 9313
joy at bridges.org

Anthony Mugeere
+256 77 506015
anthony at bridges.org

CIPESA is a programme of bridges.org. It is dedicated to increasing the 
capacity of East and Southern African stakeholders to participate in 
international ICT policy-making. It is one of two programmes established 
under the Catalysing Access to Information and Communications 
Technologies in Africa (CATIA) initiative, funded by the UK Department 
for International Development. Its sister programme, CIPACO (serving 
West and Central Africa) has been launched by Panos West Africa. Working 
together, the programmes will stimulate discussion, undertake research 
and policy analysis, and disseminate findings concerning international 
ICT issues. The aim is to enable African interests to be more 
effectively represented in international policy fora, and international 
policy decisions to be more effectively translated into positive 
outcomes in Africa. For more information see www.cipesa.org and 
www.cipaco.org.

Bridges.org is an international non-profit organisation based in South 
Africa with a mission to promote the effective use of ICT in developing 
countries to improve people's lives. One area of focus is informing 
policy decisions that affect people's access to and use of ICT. 
Bridges.org also conducts technology research and provides social 
consulting services to ground level projects using ICT, helping with 
project planning and evaluation and relaying lessons learned.  It brings 
an entrepreneurial attitude to its social mission, and is committed to 
working with, instead of against, government agencies and the business 
community.  For more information please see www.bridges.org.

CIPESA and bridges.org:
South Africa: P.O.Box 715, Cape Town 8000 South Africa
Uganda: Makerere University, Department of Sociology,P.O.Box 7062, Kampala


	

-- 
Rachel Engel
International Media and Relations Manager

South Africa: PO Box 715, Cape Town 8000
Tel: +27 21 465 9313 -- Fax +27 21 465 5917
United States: 1887 Newton Street NW, Washington DC 20010
US Contact: Ed Cavazos, +1 202 234 4492 -- Fax +1 202 318 7792

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