[council] Partnership to Grow Internet Information in African Nations

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http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-14nov07.htm
Partnership to Grow Internet Information in African Nations

ICANN, African Telecommunications Union sign agreement to work together

14 November 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO: Increasing awareness about Internet Governance issues 
and working together on the development and growth of the Internet in 
Africa are part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the 
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the African 
Telecommunications Union (ATU).
"It is clear there are issues where we can accomplish so much more by 
working together - even is as simple a step as sharing information can 
have a large benefit or both sides in this MoU," said Dr Paul Twomey, 
ICANN's President and CEO. "The Internet is all about sharing ideas and 
information - and this MoU is signed in that spirit."
The MoU is based on a number of common goals, including:

    * That there is a need for increased awareness of African policy 
makers and regulators on issues related to Internet governance;
    * That there is a need to increase understanding and to build the 
capacity of African policy makers and regulators on Internet technical 
and policy issues;
    * That there is a need to strengthen the communication channel with 
African policy makers and regulators in order to disseminate information 
on issues related to Internet Governance;
    * That African governments should play an appropriate role in 
Internet governance at national, regional and international levels;
    * That African governments should set appropriate frameworks for 
public policy issues related to Internet governance with the objective 
to promote the development and the growth of the Internet in the Africa 
region.
"ATU is the leading continental organization fostering the development 
of information and communication technologies infrastructure and 
services, and as such we are looking for partnerships that help us 
advance the interests of our members at global decision-making fora like 
ICANN," said Akossi Akossi, Secretary General of the African 
Telecommunications Union.
ICANN and at ATU have agreed to:

    * Regularly exchange of information and material related to 
Internet governance issues.
    * To organize, as often as possible, joint workshops and seminars 
for the purpose of disseminating information and increasing the 
understanding of African policy makers and regulators on issues related 
to Internet governance.
    * To co-operate as far as reasonably possible in matters relating 
to the development and the growth of the Internet in the African region 
with a view to fostering evolvement of appropriate polices and 
regulations by exchanging experience and relevant material.
A copy of the signed MOU will be posted soon at: http://www.icann.org/
--
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat - ICANN
gnso.secretariat[at]gnso.icann.org
http://gnso.icann.org