2023 African Community Networks Summit
Breaking Stereotypes in Community Network Deployments:
AFCHIX Experiences in Morocco, Namibia and Kenya
About Summit on Community Networks in Africa
Community networks help connect underserved communities online with locally built and managed infrastructure. However, they are not always available, and they face a diversity of challenges.
To foster learning, networking, knowledge and experience sharing on this issue, community network operators in Africa started gathering in 2016 at an annual summit.
Community networks help connect underserved communities online with locally built and managed infrastructure. However, they are not always available, and they face a diversity of challenges.
To foster learning, networking, knowledge and experience sharing on this issue, community network operators in Africa started gathering in 2016 at an annual summit.
Previous events
The First Summit on Community Networks in Africa was held on 22 November 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. Due to COVID-19 outbreak, 2020-2023 events were held virtually.
The First Summit on Community Networks in Africa was held on 22 November 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. Due to COVID-19 outbreak, 2020-2023 events were held virtually.
Summit Program Committee
The Program Committee members of the Summit on Community Networks (CN) in Africa are: Kedieng Ebongue, Immaculate Laker, Thato Mfikwe, Tonny Okwonga, and
The Program Committee members of the Summit on Community Networks (CN) in Africa are: Kedieng Ebongue, Immaculate Laker, Thato Mfikwe, Tonny Okwonga, and
Lillian Achom
AccessPlus
Fourteen years with community outreach programs, Lillian Achom is experienced in establishing women-led Community Networks to bring Internet services to rural and remote communities in East, South, West and Northern regions of Africa. Ugandan by nationality, Lillian believes an Information Communications Technology (ICT)-empowered society is an opportunity for employment, economic growth, and better livelihoods. Especially true for women and girls… Read more
Jean Louis Fendji
Senior Lecturer, University of Ngaoundere and Research Director, AfroLeadership/Chargé de Cours, l'Université de Ngaoundéré et Directeur de recherche, AfroLeadership
Dr. Eng. Jean Louis Fendji holds a PhD from the University of Bremen in Germany since 2015. His PhD work was focused on how to turn Community Telecentres into Community Networks in Cameroon. He is currently working with organizations such as GIZ on the deployment of community networks and the development of digital services for rural communities (mainly in education… Read more
James Gondwe
Founder&Executive Director, Centre for Youth and Development (CYD)/directeur fondateur, Centre pour la jeunesse et le développement
James Gondwe is the founding Director of Centre for Youth and Development (CYD), a local Non-Governmental Developmental organization in Malawi established in the year 2012 to facilitate positive and sustainable change for children, youth and women in Malawi. He is a human rights activist focused on rights of children, youth and women; a seasoned Development Specialist with over 10 years’… Read more
Michael Graaf is a lifelong activist, first against apartheid, later for environmental justice, and more recently for information freedom. To this end he believes Community Networks have a crucial role to play, and he has played various roles in that movement, as researcher, editor, content curator and general volunteer. Michael lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Read more
Josephine Miliza
Guest Author
She is currently the Africa regional coordinator for the Association of Progressive Communication-LOCNET project hosted by KICTANET. The LOCNET project focuses on creating an enabling environment for the growth of sustainable and scalable community networks. In 2016, Josephine has been involved in community networks since 2015 and led the establishment of TunapandaNET a community network in Kibera Nairobi Kenya that… Read more
Okot Solomon Nono
BOSCO Uganda
Solomon is an ICT professional and a Network Engineer, passionate about the development of Community Networks in Africa and the rest of the world. He Holds a degree in Information Technology from Islamic University Uganda, Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Management Institute and Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Gulu University. In a bid… Read more