Research ICT Africa
Research ICT Africa is a non-profit public research network interested in information and
communication technology (ICT) development policy and its governance. It is based in Cape
Town, South Africa and is under the direction of Dr. Alison Gillwald. It aims to bridge the strategic
gap in the development of a sustainable information society and a knowledge-based economy by
conducting research on the policies and governance of the necessary ICT to document efficient
governance in Africa. Initially financed by the CRDI, the network tries to extend its activities
through national, regional and continental partnerships. The creation of the Research ICT Africa
network meets the growing need for data and analysis necessary for an appropriate but visionary
policy in order to propel the continent into the information age. Through the development of a
network, RIA seeks to build an African knowledge base capable of supporting the ICT policy and
regulation processes and to ensure that the development of these processes is monitored on the
continent. The research comes from a public interest agenda and is in the public domain and
individuals, public and private sector entities and civil society are also encouraged to use it for
training, future research or to enable them to participate more efficiently in the formulation of ICT
policy and governance on national, regional and global levels.
This research is made possible thanks to significant funds received from the International
Development and Research Centre (CRDI), Ottawa, Canada, to whom the members of the network
express their gratitude for its support.
The network is formed by 18 African countries. Similar national studies are available for South Africa
(Kammy Naidoo/Steve Esselaar), Benin (Dr. Augustin Chabossou), Botswana (Dr. Patrica Makepe),
Burkina Faso (Dr. Pam Zahonogo), Cameroon (Prof. Olivier Nana Nzèpa), Côte d’Ivoire (Prof. Arsene
Kouadio), Ethiopia (Dr. Lishan Adam), Ghana (Dr. Godfred Frempong), Kenya (Dr. Tim Waema),
Mozambique (Francisco Mabila), Namibia (Dr. Christoph Stork), Nigeria (Prof. Ike Mowete), Rwanda
(Albert Nsengiyumva), Senegal (Mamadou Alhadji Ly/Mar Cathy Dieng Sylla), Tanzania (Bitrina
Diyamett), Tunisia (Prof. Farouk Kamoun) and Uganda (Dr. Nora Mulira).
Series Publisher: Dr. Alison Gillwald
Assistant publishers: Enrico Calandro and Mpho Moyo
About the Author
Augustin Chabossou is a researcher at “Centre d’Etudes, de Formation et de Recherches en
Développement” (CEFRED) (Centre of Development Studies, Training and Research), Université
d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC) and the activity coordinator of the “ICT and economic development”
department. He is a lecturer at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi’s Faculty of Economic and
Management Sciences. He also teaches at the Université de Parakou and the Université Catholique
de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (UCAO) in Abidjan.
He holds a Masters degree in Industrial Economy, specializing in Public Economy, as well as a PhD
from the Université de Cocody, Abidjan.
He ran the “ICT Support Centre for Training and Research” from 2001 to 2004. He currently
coordinates the research programme “E-stratégie du Bénin” as well as the activities of the Research
ICT Africa network in Benin. He has carried out various studies on telecommunication regulation as
well as on access to and the use of ICT services.