Regional ICT Regulators Convene in Nairobi for Policy and Regulation Capacity-Building Forum
Regional ICT regulators have convened in Nairobi for a five-day Policy and Regulation Institutional Strengthening Programme (iPRIS) forum aimed at enhancing regulatory capacity, strengthening institutional resilience and promoting greater collaboration in addressing emerging challenges in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The forum brings together ICT regulators and regional regulatory bodies to facilitate knowledge exchange, share best practices and strengthen institutional approaches to policy and regulation in the digital era.
Opening the forum, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General, Mr. David Mugonyi, noted that rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital platforms and next-generation networks are creating significant opportunities for innovation, economic growth and improved public services, while simultaneously presenting increasingly complex regulatory challenges.
He identified consumer protection, competition, cybersecurity, online safety, digital trust and inclusion as some of the critical areas requiring regulatory attention, noting that the interconnected nature of the digital ecosystem means that many of these challenges now transcend national borders.
“Regulators must therefore remain agile, evidence-driven and collaborative, while continuously adapting their approaches to keep pace with technological developments and the changing needs of citizens and businesses,” Mr. Mugonyi said.
He highlighted Kenya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s regulatory framework, including the review of the telecommunications and postal markets, as well as ongoing reviews of relevant sector laws and regulations.
“Our responsibility goes beyond writing rules and enforcing compliance. We must enable innovation, protect consumers, promote fair competition and build an inclusive digital society in which no one is left behind. This is why programmes such as iPRIS matter, because they connect technical learning to institution-led change that delivers tangible public value,” Mr. Mugonyi said.
The forum is hosting the 8th Cohort of the ICT Policy and Regulation Institutional Strengthening Programme (iPRIS), bringing together representatives from national ICT regulatory authorities in Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Liberia.
The programme has also brought together participants and partners from the European Union, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, Stockholm University through SPIDER and iPRIS partners, as well as regional regulatory organisations including the East African Communications Organisation (EACO), the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) and the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).
The five-day engagement provides a platform for participants to examine emerging regulatory trends, exchange practical experiences and explore coordinated approaches to some of the most pressing issues shaping Africa’s digital future.