UK Government’s Digital Access Programme (former Department for International Development-DFID)

The Prosperity Fund cross-HMG 'Digital Access Programme' is a DFID-led partnership with FCO and DCMS. It aims to catalyse more inclusive, affordable, safe and secure digital access for excluded and underserved communities in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia. Increased digital inclusion in the programme countries will form the basis for more thriving digital ecosystems that generate high-skilled jobs, opportunities for local digital entrepreneurship focused on country-specific development challenges, as well as potential partnerships with international and UK business aimed at mutual prosperity. The Digital Access programme will also focus on learning about sustainable models and enablers for digital inclusion. The learnings will be shared with key stakeholders and other partner countries, thereby amplifying the impact of the programme.

Work supported:

Link: https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-204963

Financing mechanisms for locally owned internet infrastructure
Financing mechanisms for locally owned internet infrastructure 22 September 2022 Jim Forster, Ben Matranga and Anoop Nagendra

A growing number of community networks and other community connectivity providers are connecting those who have historically been unserved or underserved by traditional internet service providers. This report analyses the operating models and financing mechanisms that can support their success.

Report launch: Financing mechanisms for locally-owned internet infrastructure
Report launch: Financing mechanisms for locally-owned internet infrastructure 06 September 2022 APCNews

On 22 September at 14:00 UTC, join this online dialogue about an upcoming report focused on community connectivity providers – community networks, municipal networks and social enterprises building digital equity across the world. Register now.

Community Networks Schools and Mamaila Community Network win award for participatory design of information and communications technologies
Community Networks Schools and Mamaila Community Network win award for participatory design of information and communications technologies 31 August 2022 APCNews

In its 10th edition, the award is intended to recognise outstanding achievement in the area of participatory design of information and communications technologies.

Local Access: Women cultivating community networks
Local Access: Women cultivating community networks 28 July 2022 APCNews

Welcome to the 49th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives. In this edition, find out more about women's engagement in community networks in Africa and much more.

Interview with Risper Akinyi: Women cultivating community networks in Africa
Interview with Risper Akinyi: Women cultivating community networks in Africa 13 July 2022 Débora Prado

Risper Akinyi from the Tunapanda Institute in Kenya will be weaving connections among women engaged with community networks from different countries in the region during this year's Africa Internet Governance Forum, taking place 19-21 July in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Local access: Challenges and joys while building a community network mid-pandemic
Local access: Challenges and joys while building a community network mid-pandemic 30 June 2022 APCNews

When the COVID-19 pandemic challenged the whole world, the experience of communities in the rural and remote Ciracap sub-district in West Java, Indonesia, showed the importance and power of building a local response to the crisis. Welcome to the 48th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.

Meaningful connectivity: Pledges to enable bottom-up and rights-based solutions
Meaningful connectivity: Pledges to enable bottom-up and rights-based solutions 06 June 2022 APCNews

Within the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, APC was invited to be part of the "Empowering Communities" focus area lead. In that role, we have been highlighting the importance of commitment to policy, regulation and financial mechanisms to enable bottom-up and rights-based initiatives.

Local Access: What does it take for communities to make change happen?
Local Access: What does it take for communities to make change happen? 28 April 2022 APCNews

What does it take for communities to make change happen? In this newsletter, discover the elements that make it possible for community networks to emerge and enable rural development in Zimbabwe. Welcome to the 46th monthly round-up of developments impacting your community-based initiatives.

Local Access: Can community networks bring hope in times of crisis?
Local Access: Can community networks bring hope in times of crisis? 31 March 2022 APCNews

In a life-changing global pandemic, community-rooted initiatives became their own powerhouse of resistance against the risks and inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19. Welcome to the 45th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.

Digital inclusion: A call for pledges to empower communities and enable local solutions
Digital inclusion: A call for pledges to empower communities and enable local solutions 25 March 2022 APCNews

APC's executive director, Chat Garcia Ramilo, highlighted the importance of community networks in building innovative and community-centred models to overcome access inequalities and foster meaningful connectivity during the launch of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition Pledging Portal.

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