News

Diplo ups number of APCDIG groups

Thanks to the huge volume of very good applications, Diplo has saw the need to offer more places and create more groups for participants from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The seven groups, forming part of the APC Capacity Development programme in IG and ICT Policy, gather 127 participants from 48 APC countries. Diplo has also offered fellowships to every participant admitted to the programme.

In two weeks since the start of the programme, the classrooms have been totally transformed from empty spaces to classrooms brimming with hypertext entries and Forum posts. Trainees are busy sharing knowledge, expertise and experience, in both the classrooms and through online sessions.

IG trainees praise Nairobi workshop

Last week, 27 participants from 15 ACP countries took part in Diplo’s Internet Governance Diplomacy workshop, held within the ICANN meeting in Nairobi.

The workshop, held on March 11-12, 2010, attracted a good number of representatives from government, regulators, civil society, business, academia and the media, who welcomed the hands-on approach.

The trainees learnt about the multifaceted aspects of IG, the complex negotiations which often challenge traditional methods, the pressing IG issues for their regions, and the challenges their regions needed to overcome. They also took part in exercises through which they simulated meetings with stakeholders from different sectors. This enabled them to learn about new perspectives other stakeholders may have.

The trainees praised the opportunities of interaction the workshop created, and called for more training events to take place in their region.

Record number of applications for IGCBP 2010

Almost 600  people, from every region in the world , have applied to the DiploFoundation 2010 Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme in the four weeks since the call opened in January.
The resounding success of the programme has made this year’s number of applications an absolute record. As a result, this year, additional classes will be opened to accommodate a bigger group, with as widespread a geographical representation as possible.
The high quality of applications has made Diplo’s selection task very difficult; yet is also promising a great start to the programme – on March 1 – leading up to the fifth Internet Governance Forum in September.
 

About the Programme

The focus of this programme is on building capacity and community development in Internet Governance (IG) and Information and Communication Policy (ICT). It is designed for regional and sub-regional Institutions in the ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific).

With the collaboration of seven ACP partner institutions, the project will train key beneficiaries and institutions who are dealing with Internet Governance and ICT policy issues at the national, regional and global levels. Over 300 ACP officials and other specialists will enrol in capacity development programmes. The programme is financed by the EU @CP-ICT Programme, 9th European Development Fund (EDF).

The project will take place from 2009 to 2011 and is made up of the following activities:

  • Online training courses, each 12 weeks long, in Internet Governance and ICT strategy;
  • A ‘train the trainers'  programme for 15 trainers from ACP countries;
  • A research phase to promote intra-ACP knowledge sharing and an active learning network;
  • 10 face-to-face workshops for decision makers and ICT officials from ACP countries;
  • Awareness building and knowledge sharing on IG and ICT policy, using a range of media including posters, comic books and multimedia; particular focus will be on awareness building among youth, women, people with disabilities and others who are not sufficiently represented in IG/ICT policy fora;
  • Policy immersion fellowships aimed at providing practical experience in policy shaping and policy making. A number of participants will be selected for short-term internships at international organisations and for participation in international ICT/IG meetings.

  
Key outcomes of the project include:

  • a community of IG and ICT policy makers throughout all ACP countries, working together to develop good practice in ICT policy regulations and promote greater stakeholder awareness of IG and ICT issues;
  • a group of next generation IG/ICT policy makers who have built their skills and confidence through the training of trainers component and ready to facilitate the continued development of this area.


The project builds on DiploFoundation's expertise in the field of Internet Governance capacity building, and over ten years working in online learning and community building. Coupled with the national and regional ICT policy expertise of the ACP project partners and relevant experts, the project will bring together a wealth of IG and ICT knowledge. Participants will be active contributors in this project through their research work and the sharing of experiences and expertise through online and face-to-face discussions.

This programme is part of a family of IG programmes developed and implemented by DiploFoundation.