CPRafrica : Looking back at a decade of
communications reform: Looking forward to 2020
DATES AND VENUE
The launch and first conference of CPRafrica
will take place on 19-21 April 2010, Graduate
School of Business, University of Cape Town
Waterfront Campus, Cape Town, South Africa.
It is organised by Research ICT Africa in
association with the Management Programme in
Infrastructure Reform and Regulation, University
of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business and
supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC).
INTRODUCTION
Communication Policy Research (Africa) intends
to encourage intellectual endeavour and research
in the area of ICT policy and regulation in
Africa through the creation of a forum in which
African academics and researchers can engage on
and profile their research and contribute to
global debates from an African perspective. The
overall objective is to nurture policy
intellectuals capable of informed and effective
intervention in ICT policy and regulatory
processes in specific country contexts.
The conference provides a forum for senior,
junior and mid-career scholars to meet
face-to-face and exchange ideas, network and
improve the quality of their scholarly work. The
long-term objective is to facilitate the
fostering of the next generation of active
scholars and local experts capable of
contributing to good ICT policy and regulation in the region.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
CPRafrica will offer researchers the opportunity
to discuss their research on ICT regulation and
policy in Africa and the South more generally,
with a policy-oriented, international audience
and obtain useful feedback. The conference will
include the celebration of the anniversary of
the launch of the African Journal of Information
& Communication 10 years ago, as the South
African Journal of Information and
Communication. A large number of the eminent
members of the editorial board will be present
to present papers and chair sessions.
ORGANISING & SELECTION COMMITTEE
Drs Lishan Adam, Tracy Cohen, James Hodge,
Kammy Naidoo, Profs Arsene Kouadio and Tim Waema and Alison Gillwald
Advisors: Dr Rohan Samarajiva and Helani Galpaya
(LIRNEasia) Prof Leo van Audenhove (EuroCPR).
PARTICIPANTS
The conference is designed to accommodate 21
paper presenters over the course of two and a
half days, and the audience will be made up of
50 scholars involved in the field of ICT policy
and regulation, broadly defined, including 15 Young Scholars.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstracts for papers on ICT policy and
regulation research carried out in Africa or
relevant to Africa may be submitted for review
and acceptance. Proposed sessions include:
? Convergence
? Content
? Comparative studies of ICT readiness
? Data and methods for research on ICTs
? Governance of ICT and ICT for governance
? Telecom/broadcasting policy
? Intellectual property rights
? Internet governance
? ICT markets and competition
? National and regional innovation systems
? Participation in ICTs: demand side studies
? Regulation: Spectrum allocation, interconnection, licenisng
? Policy: institutional arrangements, market
structure, infrastructure extension
? Market innovation, competition and disruption
? Telecom operator strategies in emerging economies
The actual program will depend on the papers
received. The organisers reserve the right to
combine topics and to not offer sessions for
which sufficient high-quality submissions are not received.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Abstracts should be submitted to
<http://us.mc285.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=(info /at/ researchICTafrica.net)>(info /at/ researchICTafrica.net)
by or before 15 September, 2009 and must contain the following:
? the title of the paper,
? your name and contact information,
? a 500-word abstract of the paper, and
? a curriculum vita of no more than a page.
The document must be named CPRafrica_Abstract&Bio_YourLastName.
Notification of acceptance will be e-mailed on
or before 30 November, 2009 and authors will be
given three months to submit their completed
papers i.e.. full papers have to be submitted
for final review by February 28, 2010. If full
papers of acceptable quality are not received by
the deadline, the paper may be relegated to the 'online-only' category.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Abstracts will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
? Clarity of the thesis or the research finding
? Novelty, significance, and importance to the CPRafrica community
? Adequacy of methods
? Quality of writing
? Appropriateness of interpretations
Please note: Only the authors whose papers that
are delivered by the 30 November, 2009 deadline
AND who meet the quality standard will be
allowed to present their papers at the
conference and have their travel funded. Others
may attend the event at their own expense or if
they have applied for and satisfied the criteria
for selection as Young Scholars.
FUNDING
Selected presenters will be provided with
least-cost travel to and from Cape Town,
accommodation and a per diem for the duration of
the conference. All incidental costs will have
to borne by the participants. Costs are being
tightly controlled to accommodate as many participants as possible.
KEY DATES
Deadline for abstracts: 15 September, 2009
Deadline for complete papers: 30 November, 2009
Feedback from Chairs and respondents: 30 January, 2010
Final papers: 28 February 2010
YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARDS
Fifteen Young Scholars from Africa will be
selected to participate in the conference.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Applications should be submitted to
<http://us.mc285.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=(info /at/ researchICTafrica.net)>(info /at/ researchICTafrica.net)
by or before 30 October, 2009 and must contain the following:
? a one-page curriculum vita that includes your
contact information and the name and contact
information of current supervisor or mentor, and
? a one-page write-up outlining why you wish to
be an African based expert capable of
contributing to ICT policy and regulatory reform in the region.
The document should be named CPRafrica_YoungScholar_YourLastName.
Notification of acceptance will be emailed on or
before 15 December, 2009, with instructions on travel arrangements.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
? Content of application
? Evidence of interest in policy-relevant research for the Africa
? Quality of writing
? Gender and country representation
The selection committee may contact your
supervisor or mentor before making the final selections.
FUNDING
Selected applicants will be provided with
least-cost travel to and from Cape Town,
twin-sharing accommodation and meals at the
Waterfront campus Breakwater Hotel for the
nights of the conference only. All incidental
costs will have to borne by the participants.
Costs are being tightly controlled to
accommodate as many participants as possible.
KEY DATES
Deadline for applications: 30 October, 2009
See <http://www.researchictafrica.net/>www.researchICTafrica.net for updates.
