Regional ICT Associations Gather in Kigali to Validate Training Modules and Business Models for Sector Advancement

Elias Hakizimana Jul 17, 2024Jul 17, 2024 0 Comments

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Members of the Regional ICT Associations (RICTAs) convened in Kigali to validate draft training modules and business models, while proposing changes and enhancements to these documents, which will be used in training by Regional ICT Associations.

The three-day validation workshop, running from July 17-19, 2024, was organized by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) under the Enhancement of Governance and Enabling Environment in the ICT sector (EGEE-ICT) Programme in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean Regions.

The workshop gathered delegates from Regional Economic Communities—COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC, and SADC—Secretariats of the Regional ICT Associations, and members of the Regional ICT Associations (RICTAs).

**RICTAs during the first day of the workshop.**

Leonard Chitundu, in charge of Telecommunications at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka, emphasized the importance of the developed business and training modules in enhancing the capacity of the Regional ICT Associations (RICTAs) to operate efficiently.

“We are developing business and training modules in consultation with the RICTAs. We want to enhance institutional capacity so they can manage their operations sustainably, ensuring they finance their technical and human capabilities in the region,” Chitundu said.

It is expected that the RICTAs will adopt the business and training modules validated during the workshop, which will become critical documents for enhancing their operations and sustainability.

*Leonard Chitundu, in charge of Telecommunications at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka, addressing local media at the event*.

“We aim to impart knowledge in terms of human capacity by merging technologies and regulatory issues,” Chitundu added.

The RICTAs workshop is part of a broader project addressing various programs, including data roaming and roaming charges, harmonizing e-commerce, and fiber optic equipment.

It is implemented by COMESA in partnership with EAC and other stakeholders, funded by an 8 million Euro donation from the European Union (E.U.).

The project aims to improve ICT access, affordability, and security in the region.

“Our goal is to create an enabling environment where the ICT sector can grow. We believe that when the RICTAs are capacitated, they will create an environment that attracts investment, improves ICT access at affordable rates, and effectively regulates issues such as privacy, data protection, and cyber security.

Trained RICTAs will help us regulate the sector efficiently,” Chitundu added.

**Leonard Chitundu, in charge of Telecommunications at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka, addressing the media at the workshop**.

Rwanda Welcomes the Initiative

Yves Iradukunda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MYICT), highlighted the workshop’s expected outcomes, including the harmonization and regulation of ICT infrastructures and services, ensuring proper use of ICT in the region based on International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulatory frameworks.

“We believe this workshop will help each country and the region in general streamline ICT infrastructures and services while refining their daily activities. As the Government of Rwanda, we have prioritized ICT and affordable digital services. Such a workshop enables us to exchange knowledge with other countries and Regional ICT Associations on improving ICT services. We also share information about ICT potential projects, such as innovation in optic fiber. The harmonized information benefits both the public and private sectors, and we expect good collaboration with regional partners to achieve our goals in digital transformation,” Iradukunda said.

Yves Iradukunda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT (MYICT) speaking during the workshop in Kigali on July 17, 2024.

He added that Rwanda is currently collaborating with RICTA to develop (.RW) to ensure proper updating of website information.

“The purpose of this workshop is to validate business models that enable ICT associations to operate and support different governments and member states in conducting business and harmonizing regulations within their country and across the region. They will validate the business models and provide training to the regional ICT Associations to continue implementing their programs harmoniously across the region,” he added.