IGF 2024 WS #207 Ghost Offices and The Digital Age: A case study of Africa

    Organizer 1: Phillip Ayazika , POLLICY
    Organizer 2: Bonaventure Saturday, 🔒
    Organizer 3: Rachel Magege, POLLICY

    Speaker 1: Rachel Magege, Civil Society, African Group
    Speaker 2: Bonaventure Saturday, Civil Society, African Group
    Speaker 3: Phillip Ayazika , Civil Society, African Group

    Moderator

    Bonaventure Saturday, Civil Society, African Group

    Online Moderator

    Bonaventure Saturday, Civil Society, African Group

    Rapporteur

    Rachel Magege, Civil Society, African Group

    Format

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: - Focused Discussion: With a limited time frame, the conversation stays focused on the core topics. This ensures attendees get the most out of the diverse perspectives offered by the panelists.
    - Maximizes Panelist Expertise: This format allows each panelist to share their specific knowledge and viewpoints efficiently, and is particularly valuable in an international forum where diverse expertise can be brought to the table.
    - Encourages Active Participation and Leaves Room for Q&A: With 60 minutes, there will be time for Q&A. This allows the audience to clarify points or raise their own questions based on the discussion.

    We are aware that a 60-minute session might limit the depth explored on each topic and therefore, if a very complex issue needs to be addressed, we will make external spaces for a longer engagement.

    Policy Question(s)

    A. How can African governments leverage digital technologies to bridge the skills gap and create an inclusive future of work, particularly for those currently employed in the informal sector, without exacerbating existing inequalities in access to technology and education?
    B. What are the current trends in digital responsibility that need to be addressed in data governance frameworks?
    C. Is there a need to have an African continental data governance authority?

    By addressing these issues, this policy question encourages African governments to develop a future of work strategy that is both innovative and equitable.

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Through this session, participants can expect a published manifesto displaying Afro-centric future of work principles and digital responsibility schemes; this instrument will be circulated among key stakeholders and committee groups working on advancing digital knowledge and usage in Africa, paying close attention to realizing a safe and responsible future of work for digital and non-digital workers.
    Secondly, as our session will address data stewardship and digital asset management processes, participants will get a better understanding of how digital assets may be transferred through succession laws in Africa by evaluating the clear meaning of ownership and asset transfer.

    Description:

    We have advanced digital tools and we are now forging the future.
    The digital revolution is rapidly reshaping the landscape of work; and whereas automation and artificial intelligence may take over some routine tasks, new opportunities are emerging that require creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to adapt to complex systems. The future workplace is already characterized by increased remote work flexibility, a growing demand for continuous learning to keep pace with technological advancements, and a focus on human skills and intelligence that complement, rather than compete with, machines.

    In this session, we aim to guide our audience to the knowledge of how to combat misinformation, disinformation and biases in the digital space. We will specifically address the following components - digital responsibility, data governance and data stewardship (digital asset management) in an effort to channel realistic and practical solutions on tech governance and accountability in and outside of work spaces in Africa.

    Overall, data governance is our focus topic and we will discuss how human skills and creativity remain to be the unsung heroes of the technological revolution and the need for responsible regulations structures. Here, we will address findings from three resources we published - platform worker project, the Future of Work Internet Scorecard and the AfroFeminist Internet Awards. While machines excel at following instructions and producing data, they lack the ingenuity to solve unexpected problems or dream up groundbreaking ideas. It is human creativity that breathes life into technology and pushes the boundaries of what is possible. In this age of automation, our ability to think critically, collaborate effectively, and imagine new solutions will be the key to unlocking the true potential of technology and shaping a better future.

    Expected Outcomes

    By the end of this panel session, participants can expect a clearer picture of how technological advancements will reshape the African workforce. Our audience will gain insights into in-demand skills for the future, along with potential challenges and opportunities presented by automation and digitalization. Speakers will also discuss policy recommendations for African governments and businesses to prepare the workforce for this new landscape, fostering innovation and ensuring inclusive growth across the continent. The workshop will also produce and showcase the Future of Work and Digital Responsibility Manifesto.

    Hybrid Format: 1. Apart from the physical organizers at the forum, we will also have a virtual communications team that will monitor online participation by engaging virtual participants, sharing our links and resources, as well as handling any technical difficulties.

    2. We aim to make our session hybrid, and will send out email invites ahead of time so that virtual participants can register and mark their calendars. We are mindful of different language needs and we are prepared to offer virtual interpretation for our audience online.

    3.We plan to use Kahoot, showcase the Data Privacy Quiz Game we developed, and also present a padlet with different data governance legal frameworks that we designed to be more visual for audience members.