The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), now in its 20th year, is the United Nations’ main platform for digital cooperation and policy dialogue. This year’s edition has brought together more than 150 countries to review progress since the first WSIS in 2005 and to outline priorities ahead of a UN General Assembly review later this year.

At the event, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Swiss government, 19 projects were announced as winners of the WSIS Prizes, which honour practical initiatives that use technology to tackle real-world challenges.

Nigeria was recognised in the Access to Information and Knowledge category for its Digital Awareness Programme, run by the Nigerian Communications Commission. According to the organisers, the initiative has helped bridge the digital divide in underserved communities by providing training and tools to expand digital literacy.

South Africa won in the Enabling Environment category for its Digitech programme, a government-backed effort to promote local technology developers and digital products. Officials say the platform has supported startups and encouraged homegrown solutions, boosting the visibility of South African tech companies.

Zimbabwe’s Usawa Institute received the Media category award for its Girls Speak Out project, which trains girls in coding and digital storytelling. The grassroots initiative aims to give young women in marginalised communities better access to technology and opportunities in the digital economy.

Tanzania was named a winner in the E-Health category for its New Era in Zanzibar’s Healthcare project, an initiative led by PharmAccess. By introducing digital unique IDs for patients, the programme aims to improve access, transparency, and efficiency in health service delivery. Speaking at the event, Dr. Heri Marwa of PharmAccess Tanzania said the project is helping to modernise healthcare systems on the islands.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said the awards demonstrate how practical, community-based solutions can help countries meet their development goals through technology. Since the first WSIS in 2005, global internet usage has grown from one billion to more than 5.5 billion people, but experts say gaps in connectivity and digital skills remain.

The WSIS+20 forum will run through July 11, with delegates expected to agree on proposals for accelerating digital transformation in the years ahead. Organisers say Africa’s growing presence at the summit reflects the continent’s progress in driving local tech solutions and tackling digital inequality.

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TECHDIGEST – In anticipation of the upcoming August 23 elections in Zimbabwe, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and Gender Media Connect (GMC) have joined forces to host an informative session dedicated to raising awareness about digital rights among female journalists and women in politics.

During the session, journalists were educated about pressing digital rights matters and were sensitized to the significance of capturing stories related to digital rights.

Bridgette Ndlovu, the Partnerships and Engagements Officer at PIN, emphasized that the occurrence of internet shutdowns and deliberate reduction of internet speeds has become a widespread occurrence within the African digital rights landscape.

She stated, “Digital rights stand as an extension of human rights. The advent of digital technologies has revolutionized the exercise, safeguarding, and violation of fundamental rights.

“In Africa, we’re witnessing trends in digital rights violations such as internet shutdowns, dissemination of false information, online gender-based violence, and hate speech.

“These incidents have now crept into the electoral phase as political entities and candidates vie to amplify their political influence.”

Ndlovu underscored the responsibility of journalists to not only advocate for the safeguarding of digital rights but also to report instances of digital rights violations.

“Your role as journalists involves shedding light on digital rights violations, thereby fostering awareness of these challenges within communities.

“We’re aware that Zimbabwe has previously shut down the internet, and as the election approaches, our focus remains on enlightening the public about digital rights, urging their respect.”

Furthermore, Ndlovu highlighted that compromising digital rights during elections could detrimentally impact campaign efforts, given that political parties rely heavily on social media platforms to communicate their political messages.

“The breach of digital rights would not only hamper campaigning activities but also hinder the circulation of messages related to civic engagement, combat misinformation, and limit access to information about the electoral process,” she affirmed.

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