Session One | Nov 15
SESSION TITLE
Keys for sustainability (2):
USF in the different areas of the world + social sustainability
ABOUT THE SESSION
This session intends to present what are Universal Service Funds, why they are necessary, what are the different models used, their implementation challenges and lessons learned from past experiences with an emphasis in Kenya and other African countries.
After a group discussion from the CN movement perspective around USF and social sustainability, we will draw some ideas as to innovative uses of USF to promote bottom-up and women-led community networks. We expect participants to be able to identify possible opportunity areas for USF changes that may benefit their CN projects. To that end we would like them to bring to the session the rules or description of the current USF program or rules in each of their countries, basically identifying:
Where do resources come from? Who administers the fund? Who can be a beneficiary ? What kind of assets, activities, projects may be funded? Identified barriers?
SESSION PLAN
- Introducing Dr. Emma Otieno by Cynthia.
- Expectations for the session
- Presentation by Emma Otieno on USF models around the world and challenges in implementation in Africa.
- Group exercise: Do you know how the USF of your country works, if none, any other subsidy?
- Towards local social sustainability through USF for bottom-up connectivity projects (CN)
- Wrap-up by participants.
ABOUT THE MENTORS
Emma Otieno
Dr. Emma Otieno currently serves as Manager of the Universal Service Fund (USF), at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) – the government regulatory agency responsible for ICTs and Postal development. Dr. Otieno leads Universal Service strategy development, fund mobilization and stakeholder engagements activities with government agencies, international organizations, and ICT industry players in the areas of digital inclusivity and digital transformation. She previously served the national ICT Regulator in other capacities as a Manager, Corporate Planning and Assistant Manager, Training & Organizational Development. Prior to joining the Regulator, she worked with Kenya Revenue Authority, serving in the Human Capital Department for a period of eight (8) years, since the year 2001. Dr. Otieno has vast experience in the areas of Strategy, digital transformation & digital inclusion, organizational performance, enterprise risk management, quality management systems and human capital management. She has championed various digital inclusivity initiatives including; studies to map out national ICT access gaps in Kenya, Deepening the Access and Usage of ICTs for the marginalized groups and presently, she is driving the development of Kenya’s Next five (5) years USF Strategy that will drive the realization of a digitally transformed Kenya. Academically, she holds Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, specializing in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi. She also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelors of Arts (BA) degree in Communications from the same University. Professionally, she holds a National Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management, PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner Certificate, Lead Auditors Quality Management Systems Certification and various certifications in the area of Digital Inclusivity.
Adriana Labardini Inzunza
Adriana Labardini Inzunza obtained her law degree cum laude from Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City in 1987 and her master’s degree (LLM) from Columbia University in New York, on a Fulbright scholar in 1991. For four and a half years she served as Commissioner at the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), the Mexican independent regulatory body and competition authority for telecommunications and broadcasting industries. Currently an independent public interest lawyer and consumer rights expert, is collaborating with Rhizomatica promoting and advocating for sustainable, self-managed community networks to bridge the digital divide, promote rural and indigenous connectivity and media. She is also a founder of Conectadas a network of women in the ICT industries working for gender equality in Mexico.