Internet Society Zambia Chapter (ISOC Zambia)

  #InternetForEveryone

About

The Internet Society Zambia Chapter is an affiliate of the Internet Society whose work aligns with its goal and mission to get more people connected to the internet. The Chapter focuses on ensuring there is increased internet access in the country in a bid to reduce the digital divide.

The chapter works towards contributing to increased internet access through its work; contributing to policy and regulation that favours increased internet access, education on what the internet offers and how it can be effectively used and contribute to development of the Zambian internet architecture and infrastructure.

Since inception, the chapter has been actively engaged in contributing to policy and regulation related to internet access and its usage. Additionally, the bigger part has been raising awareness in the power of the internet and how it can be used to foster development. Further, the chapter embarked on projects aimed at bridging the digital divide through strengthening the technical community and connecting schools (pilot project) to digital content for schools with computer labs yet without internet access.

OUR FOCUS

Empowering People to take Action

As a way to increase capacity for citizens to participate in internet governance related issues, the chapter has conducted several trainings on various issues related to internet access and governance such as safety online, and leveraging data for business growth among others.

Further, the chapter started the flagship program, Zambia School on Internet Governance (ZambiaSIG) to increase capacity for Zambians to actively engage in internet governance at local, regional and global scale.

Supporting Internet Architecture and infrastructure Development

The chapter’s role in light of the architecture and infrastructure development is supporting and actively engaging the technical community on projects aimed at supporting the development of the internet in the country.

This is through DNS related capacity building projects, supporting projects aimed at reducing or bridging the digital divide in the country.

Informing Policy and Regulation

We understand the underpinning role of policy and regulation in shaping the internet. Aside from actively engaging government on policy and regulation related issues, the chapter works with other organisations to advocate and support initiatives whose role is to influence human rights centered laws and policies.

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OUR PROJECTS - INITIATIVES

1. Zambia School on Internet Governance (ZambiaSIG)

The school originated from a realisation of having few Zambians involved in regional and global internet governance forums and related platforms. The effect is that internet laws and policies can be made without a Zambian voice.

As a way to build capacity thereby seeing more Zambians involved in actively in the Internet Governance ecosystem, the school was founded.

So far, the school has seen a few Zambians become internet ambassadors with a goal to raise awareness on internet related issues.

The school focuses on the following issue

• Internet Governance and the Key players by Internet Society
• ICANN’s Role in Internet Governance
• Universal Acceptance
• Engagement in Internet Governance
• The legal and regulatory frameworks on Internet Governance
• Zambia Internet Landscape – history and developments
• Digital Marketing and Digital Skills
• And many other topics

Partners/sponsors

• ZICTA
• Bloggers of Zambia
• ICANN
• Internet Society
• Internet Society Foundation

OUR ONGOING PROJECT(S)

1. Digital Education Hub – e-ngoma, L3 Schools + ISOC

The goal of this project is to allow for schools in both urban and rural areas without internet access and/or power yet with computer labs have access to digital content with real-time surfing experience.

The initiative allows for development of content for local schools focused on the Zambian curriculum with video aid yet not limited to local content. Wikipedia, Khan Academy content and other learning platforms are accessible with room for quizzes to assess pupils’ performance.

The platform used allows for tracking of usage and improvement in performance for the learners.

Our DNS Security Workshop with ICANN at SAFNOG-8

With support from ICANN, a DNS security workshop was hosted and co-organised by the Internet Society Zambia Chapter at  the 8th SAFNOG.

The workshop showed local ISPs, Telecoms and other DNS operators and some law enforcement officers among those managing various aspects of DNS tools used in DNS validation and DNS security among others. 

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