The Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA) initiative aims to foster universally accessible and affordable broadband across the continent to unlock future benefits of internet based services. The specific objective is to create a more harmonized and enabling legal and regulatory framework for the use of ICT for social and economic development, with an emphasis on consolidating ICT market across Africa. It is based on three pillars:
- Facilitate efficient and harmonized spectrum utilization,
- Harmonize measurable ICT/Telecommunications policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and
- Strengthen the ability of African stakeholders to actively participate in the global internet governance debate.
PRIDA is a 10 Million Euro Project funded by the European Commission.
The Outputs of PRIDA are as follows:
Output 1: Predictable spectrum allocation, licensing, management including the treatment of harmful interferences and pricing based on international best practices.
Output 2: Continental harmonization of ICT policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks through the development of a Monitoring & Evaluation system and enhancing cooperation between telecommunications regulatory authorities as well as raising awareness of public authorities and civil society regarding cross cutting use of ICT.
Output 3: Capacity of African stakeholders for active participation in the global internet governance is improved
Outputs 2 and 3 above will be implemented by the African Union Commission. Output 1 will be implemented by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The Development of the Continental ICT Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring & Evaluation System will be supplemented by a digital platform to strengthen the cooperation and collaboration between national telecommunications regulatory authorities (NRAs) at regional and continental levels.
The AU digital platform for Coordination and Harmonization will be a dedicated digital infrastructure to support the delivery of continuous online trainings for African Experts both on ICT policy and regulations and Internet Governance, a one-stop shop for all national policies and regulations, enabling exchange of Information and best practices among African experts and policy makers and also creating a framework to discuss and develop Africa Common positions on relevant issues related to ICT and digital policy.
