Co-funded by the European Union, AfricaConnect3 builds on the work carried out by AfricaConnect (2011-2015) and AfricaConnect2 (2015-2019) which contributed to support the creation, development and use of high-capacity research and education networks in Africa.
Through those two successive phases, 19 countries were connected to the three Regional Research and Education Networks (RRENs):
- Eastern and Southern Africa NRENs form the UbuntuNet Alliance (UA): Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
- West and Central Africa NRENs form the Western and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN): Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo
- Northern African NRENs are grouped under the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN): Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia
AfricaConnect3 will consolidate and expand the results of previous projects in contributing to enhance human capital development in Africa (the Overall Objective of this Action).
More specifically, it will seek to unlock the potential of education and research through increased access of African education and research institutions to digital infrastructures and technologies (the Specific Objective of the Action).
By facilitating access to educational and research resources and enabling research collaboration, AfricaConnect3 will support the digital transformation of those sectors and digital skills development.
The Action will be managed through four different grant contracts which all contribute to the implementation of a coherent action composed of common work packages.
In order to address the different challenges faced by NRENs and RRENs, the Action will work at different levels:
- Output 1: The access to tertiary education and research institutions will be enhanced by establishing secure, adequate and affordable network infrastructures, such as high-speed broadband connectivity
- Output 2: The development of Research and Education through dedicated services, applications and user support will be fostered
- Output 3: Adequate human resource capacities and expertise will be built within RRENs and NRENs
- Output 4: Awareness of the role of digital transformation for education and research will be raised by emphasising the enabling potential of digital tools and their multiplier effect for skills development, employability and economic growth
The Ubuntunet Alliance, ASREN and WACREN are the three regional organisations that deliver AfricaConnect3 locally.
AfricaConnect3 project to extend pan-African
high-speed internet connectivity and
services for research and education
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