West Africa and the Internet Governance Forum

During the regional meeting organized by the Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA), on “Legal and policy frameworks for the information society in West Africa” from 11 to 13 March 2009, in Saly, Senegal, with the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), a one day consultative forum was held to discuss West African participation in the Internet governance Forum (IGF) on 13 March 2009.

The aim was to inform stakeholders on the IGF processes, its implementation, the current on-going review, and to further discuss its interests and impacts for West Africa, on the road to the fourth annual meeting of the Forum in Egypt.

While the fourth annual meeting of the Forum is being prepared in Africa in 2009, and the review of the international process has been launched by the United Nations, it is important that West Africa also launch its assessment and devise strategies that can help the region maximize interests from it.

As a result of the one day consultative forum, some recommendations have been adopted, targeting West African and African stakeholders, as well as the international community. Other recommendations adopted addresses regional legal ICT frameworks in West Africa, which were discussed prior to consultations on IGF. (See all recommendations attached).

About 45 people from about 15 countries (mainly West African), representing governments, civil society, private sector, regional public institutions and international organisations attend the meeting.

For further information, see http://blogs.haayo.org/westafict or please contact Ken Lohento (klohento@panos-ao.org) or Vladimir Radunovic (vladar@diplomacy.edu).

Recommendations:
Setting up and improving legal frameworks governing ICT/Telecoms in...
Strengthening Regional Internet Governance in West Africa