African Civil Society on the Information Society

Société Civile Africaine pour la Société de l'Information

What is ACSIS

The Bureau

Activities

Publications

Network Partners

Contact

• ACSIS Presentation in details (En) - pdf document
• Présentation d'ACSIS détaillée (Fr) - document word
• By-laws/Statuts (Fr) - document pdf
• Action Plan - pdf document

Mandate:

ACSIS intends to act as an umbrella structure through which African CS can influence policy and ensure that strategies and programmes enable the promotion of development: Poverty alleviation, use of appropriate ICT for balanced development, participation of communities/civil society in policy and strategy development & implementation of initiatives. It will:

PROMOTE the views and interests of African CS to ensure that new and traditional ICT can be utilised for promotion of sustainable development and the formation of an Information Society based on social justice and human development;

ADVOCATE & LOBBY for the development of comprehensive and inclusive ICT strategies to address the digital divide;

INFORM CS generally on national, regional, continental and international deliberations regarding ICT for development policies, strategies and initiatives for the promotion of balanced development;

ADVISE national, regional, continental and international institutions on the needs and interests of African CS;

BUILD CAPACITY: develop capacities and promote action-oriented dialogue on our key aims;

NETWORK and PARTNER with grassroots organisations, national, regional, continental and international institutions to develop and add value to existing policies and initiatives aimed at promoting ICT

Tasks:

The chief tasks of ACSIS include, among others:

ADVISORY

· Develop and add value to existing ICT policies, strategies and initiatives;

· Advise on ICT policies and strategies that advance the social, economic and political development of Africa and African communities;

· Co-ordinate and support African CS input/participation into a range of national, regional, continental and international ICT policies and programmes;

· Ensure African CS representation (as appropriate) on a range of ICT related commissions or bodies

INFORMATION

· Draft text, conduct research and collate information including drafting an African CS position document;

· Provide information in an accessible format (including research/analyses) on ICT policies, strategies, initiatives and best practice;

· Promote and disseminate information on the use of a range of ICT for the promotion of human development, to a range of stakeholders;

ADVOCACY & LOBBYING

· Participate, as appropriate, in conferences, seminars and other activities related to ICT in order to advocate on behalf of and inform African CS and other partner stakeholders;

· Policy formulation and development

CAPACITY BUILDING

· Develop human capacities and promote action-oriented dialogue in partnership with grassroots organisations, national, regional, continental and international institutions

PARTNERSHIPS & NETWORKING

· Establish contact and partnerships with a range of stakeholders to enable the African CS to have input into policy formulation and implementation;

· Facilitate networking to enable the sharing of information, expertise and best practices.

ORGANIGRAM

For effective grassroots and inclusive development of a viable Information Society, ACSIS is organized, with Regional Coordination, a Secretariat, sub-regional and National Coordinations.