This month we kicked off our collaboration with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), a Uganda based organisation working on inclusive and effective use of information and communications technologies across Africa. Through our Matchbox Programme, we will provide intensive support to CIPESA’s team for a period of six to eight months.
Get to know CIPESA: defending digital rights in East and Southern Africa
CIPESA was founded in 2004, in response to the findings of the Louder Voices Report for DFiD, which cited the lack of easy, affordable and timely access to information about ICT-related issues and processes as key barriers to effective and inclusive ICT policy making in Africa. Since then, the organisation has been working to defend and expand the digital civic space to enable the protection and promotion of human rights.
Among other initiatives, CIPESA has tracked the impact of Covid-19 on digital rights in Africa, contributed towards the development of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms, initiated the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF), documented digital rights trends, and created the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica).
Learn more about their work on their website and social media channels (they’re on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook).
Robust digital infrastructures and responsible data
Our work with CIPESA will be focused on strengthening their internal digital infrastructure and communications systems, which will include exploring self-hosted tools and adopting new strategies to mitigate potential security risks.
We will also support CIPESA in implementing responsible data practices in their work, to support their organisational data management.
If your organisation is interested in getting support from The Engine Room, please schedule a Light Touch Support call with us! Visit our blog to learn more about ways we can support your work.
Image by Moren Hsu via Unsplash.