The Department for International Development (DFID) is leading the British government’s fight against world poverty.

Business Challenges

• To improve affordability of and extend access to ICTs across sub-Saharan Africa
• To reform ICT policy and regulations at regional and national level
• To ensure a coordinated approach to working with other donors

Solutions

• Developed capacity in Africa through training, mentoring and technical support for policy makers, regulators, private sector, civil society and the media
• Created and supported multi-stakeholder advocacy for policy and regulatory reform
• Developed policies and regulation regionally and nationally, and provided support for their implementation
• Provided research and tools to fill gaps in the body of resources available in this sector across Africa
• Supported the establishment of national IXPs (Internet Exchange Points)

Benefits

• Successfully influenced policy and regulation in ways which reduced cost and increased access to ICTs in Africa (e.g. in Kenya internet backbone prices have reduced by more than 60% and international calling prices by nearly 80%)
• Established a model for a multi-stakeholder advocacy process and network which can be replicated in other regions or countries
• Built capacity of key stakeholders and ensured sustainability of ongoing capacity development
• Significantly increased the number of IXPs in Africa which has resulted in a significant growth in local internet traffic

Download the DFID - Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) Case Study