6 TECH TALKS TO WATCH AT EAST AFRICA COM: DAY 2

12 May 2021| 10:20 AM

Understand the real value of what a fourth industrial revolution currently does and doesn't deliver for citizens across the East African region. You'll also explore the most impactful digital enterprise technologies in the next 5 years - AI, IoT, 5G, robotics & automation, cloud computing & big data. Find out how these being leveraged to deliver equitable economic development. If you want to examine the role of policy and infrastructure as well as the opportunities for building a tech-savvy workforce, then this is the talk for you!

BHASKAR CHAKRAVORTI (The Fletcher School at Tufts University) / VIVIAN DDAMBYA (The National Information Technology Authority–Uganda) / PAULA GILBERT (Connecting Africa) / EVELYN NGATIA (Techawatt) / IZABELA MILEWSKA (Amazon Web Services)

12 May 2021| 11:10 AM

Uganda’s ICT sector has grown a lot over the past years, the estimate is at around 20% per year resulting in a GDP contribution of around 2.5%. This being the fastest growing and most competitive sector of the country has meant that the ICT skillsets have grown too, especially under the young population. It also resulted in that Uganda has seen an increase in demand for IT products and services, both nationally and internationally.

In this session we will talk about the importance of the IT/ITES industry in Uganda, as well as Uganda’s IT/ITES potential and opportunity in the African region.

MILOU VAN BRUGGEN (UN ITC) / JACQUES BUGHIN (MachaonAdvisory; Senior Advisor - FortinoCapital; & Venture Partner - Antler) / PATRICK KAGENGA (Alliance for Trade in Information-Technology and Services (ATIS)

12 May 2021| 11:50 AM

Disinformation campaigns in East Africa are more pervasive than ever. This panel will explore the struggle for online accuracy with a focus on the pandemic, elections and regional conflicts. Learn about the critical role information access plays in a free, informed society, who controls internet access throughout the region and how ‘free’ it can really be considered. This panel will help you understand how governments, telcos and social media companies are leveraging tools that fact-check and authenticate information online.

Emmanuel Lubanzadio (Twitter) / Alphonce Shiundu (Africa Check) / AbdelHalim AbdAllah (World Health Organization) / J.D. Maddox (Independent Consultant)

12 May 2021| 12:30 PM

Disinformation campaigns in East Africa are more pervasive than ever. This panel will explore the struggle for online accuracy with a focus on the pandemic, elections and regional conflicts. Learn about the critical role information access plays in a free, informed society, who controls internet access throughout the region and how ‘free’ it can really be considered. This panel will help you understand how governments, telcos and social media companies are leveraging tools that fact-check and authenticate information online.

ADRIAN HO (Omdia) / MUHAMMAD TALHA BIN HAFEEZ (Bank of Khartoum) / IMELDA NGUNZU (Mastercard) / OLIVIA ETYANG (Safaricom) / PAULA HUNTER (Mojaloop Foundation)

12 May 2021| 2:41 PM

Steps have been taken but the gender gap across the continent is still growing. What are governments doing to tackle "digital equality"? This panel discussion will look at Kenya's progressive constitution as well as the funds allocated for women to participate in entrepreneurial activities. Specifically, industry experts will deep-dive in on how effective measures have been in bridging the gap. The panel will also look at Rwanda and the efforts made by the government to reduce the digital gender gap & improve ICT skills. Also on the agenda, they'll look at the impact of technology and connectivity. Is it better or worsening the situation for women facing domestic violence? 

LORRAINE AGUTU (Qallann Marketing Agency) / PEACE AMUGE (Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) /  Otilia Phiri (Microsoft) / Adrine Muhura (GSMA)

12 May 2021| 2:41 PM

There is a lack of cohesion between agricultural ‘communities’ across East Africa. So what's needed to create a better organised, more strategic ‘shared-value’ sector? This discussion addresses the enduring gap between data collection, analytics and getting useful information to farmers. 

ELIZABETH MUDOGO (Safaricom) / KIRINGAI KAMUA (Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition)