25 October 2017 - AFRINIC is pleased to announce the FIRE Award winners 2017.


1. The EduAirBox Project

EduAir (Formerly Kwiizi) from Cameroon is the concept name to offer a better education via digital with or without the internet. Their work focuses on the design of portable and open media libraries in the form of Boxes with solar energy giving access to millions of educational content and offering an integrated communication system where learners can make video calls within the local network deployed by the Box. http://www.eduair.org

2. The Last Mile Connectivity by African Renewable Energy Distributor

The African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED) from Rwanda has developed the Shiriki Hub, business in a box solar-powered kiosk to provide efficient distribution of digital services and offer last mile offline and online connectivity for low income people. They are using a micro franchise model to truly empower people. They developed a business in a box solar kiosk, app and software platform to bring connectivity solutions using internet WIFI, intranet solution for offline users, phone charging solutions and with their app they offer additional services such as airtime, mobile money, prepaid electricity, tax payment for people at the base of the pyramid. http://www.a-r-e-d.com

3.The Mobile Solar Computer Classroom

The Mobile Solar Computer Classroom breaks down barriers to computer literacy and internet access in remote villages in Uganda, enabling over 5,000 students and 200 community members to access the opportunities offered by technology every year.
The Mobile Solar Computer Classroom consists of an all-terrain vehicle equipped with solar panels, laptops, an internet router and 2 teachers. Taking all the equipment needed to provide computer skills lessons, the project partners with schools, community organisation and libraries to provide consistent practical and relevant computer skills trainings.http://maendeleofoundation.orgThe FIRE Award consists of a USD 3,000 cash prize plus travel and accommodation cost coverage for one representative of each project to attend the awards ceremony, and participate in sessions which will be held in Switzerland during the 2017 Internet Governance Forum
 

31 October 2017 - Please note that Wednesday 1 November and Thursday 2 November 2017 are public holidays in Mauritius. AFRINIC Offices shall be closed and will resume business on Friday 3 November 2017.Any urgent issues can be addressed to:

 

22 November 2017 - The Board has noted that there is no procedure for the removal of a NRO NC/ASO AC member. The Board has drafted a procedure to be considered for addition to the election guidelines.

The Board calls for comments for a 30 day period (ending on 22 December 2017). Please comment in the community-discuss mailing list.

The draft procedure appears below.

Alan Barrett
CEO, AFRINIC

 




The Board proposes the following procedure, to be considered for addition to the election guidelines

9. Removal

9.1 An NRO NC member appointed by the AFRINIC Board may be removed from office at any time by a resolution of the Board.

9.2 An NRO NC member elected by the AFRINIC community may be removed from office through any of the following methods:

(a) A supermajority vote (two-thirds) of the AFRINIC Board, meeting in person or via teleconference, at a meeting where the agenda circulated in advance includes the possible removal of an NRO NC representative.
(b) A majority vote held by the community present at an AFRINIC Public Policy Meeting.

9.3 An individual whose removal is contemplated in terms of 9.2 is entitled to at least 10 calendar days’ notice of the meeting, and may appear before and be heard at such a meeting. Removal may proceed with or without such individual’s presence at the meeting.

9.4 Any ten (10) bona fide members of the AFRINIC community may petition the Board to initiate a removal in terms of 9.2(b), giving at least 40 days’ notice and giving reasons for the contemplated removal. Such petition shall be published. Unless the Board finds that the petition is invalid or frivolous, the Board shall ensure that the agenda of the forthcoming Public Policy Meeting includes the consideration of the removal of the NRO NC member.

9.5 Eligibility to vote for the removal in terms of 9.2(b) shall be determined in the same way as the eligibility to vote for the appointment of candidates.

 

01 December 2017 - Consequent to the discussions by the PDWG community present at AFRINIC-27 during the Public Policy Meeting held on 30 November 2017 in Lagos, the following policy proposals have been moved to “Last Call”, starting today 01 December 2017

The last call period will be 15 calendar days.

 

1. IPv4 Soft Landing - bis (AFPUB-2016-V4-001-DRAFT07)

Moves to last call with the following minor modifications:

  • Reword 5.4.7.1 to remove specific reference to “XLAT translators”
  • Add “including IDN ccTLDs” to 5.4.7.5.3

Current Version:

https://afrinic.net/en/community/policy-development/policy-proposals/2247-ipv4-soft-landing-bis-

 

2. Lame Delegations in the AFRINIC rDNS (AFPUB-2017-DNS-001-DRAFT-02)

Moves to last call, as written and presented.

 

Current Version:

https://afrinic.net/en/community/policy-development/policy-proposals/2241-lame-delegations-in-afrinic-reverse-dns-v02

 

The Last Call period will end on 16 December 2017.

 

PDWG Co-Chairs

This is to inform the community that the period for the Call for Nominations into following has been extended till the 18th of March 2018 by 20:00 UTC.

  • the AFRINIC Board,
  • Governance Committee (GC),
  • Policy Development Appeal Committee and
  • Policy Development Working Group

Thank you.

NomCom 2018

ICANN 2018 Nominating Committee (NOMCOM) invites fresh and diverse candidates in Africa to apply for these open seats on the ICANN Board.Current Open seats include: 3 ICANN Board, 2 ALAC (At-Large Advisory Committee) Europe and North America, 1 Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) and 2 Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO). 

The application is a 2-step process with deadlines: 

  1. Expression of Interest (EoI) this is a necessary first step and must be complete by March 19, 2018. (This is a necessary first step).
  2. Following up to the EoI applicants will receive a link to the wiki to apply deadline to complete this application is March 26th, 2018.

Click on the following link to apply and for more details: https://www.icann.org/nomcom2018

AFRINIC is announcing the call for applications for the 2018 FIRE Africa Innovation Grants. This year, the Grants categories are:

  1. 1. Women Empowerment in ICT:

New projects from organisations led by female entrepreneurs focusing on practical solution(s) that use technology to address specific challenges faced by women and girls. Three (3) grants, each amounting to $11,000 USD will be allocated in this category

  1. 2. Building Community Networks:

New projects relating to research and implementation of low-cost solutions in the form of locally owned and managed communications infrastructure that uses technologies such as wireless communications/technologies to build community networks.

Two (2) grants, each amounting to $15,000 USD will be allocated in this category.

The important dates to note:

  • Grants applications open: 15 March 2018
  • Grants applications close: 6 April 2018
  • Selection process:  9 April - 30 June 2018

For detailed information about competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission procedures, please visit www.fireafrica.org or send us an email at: fireprogram[at]afrinic.net.