Virtual Research Sprint: “Toward an African Narrative on Digital Sovereignty”

Wollen Sie den Diskurs über die Rolle des Internets für nachhaltige Entwicklung und persönliche Freiheit in Ihrem Land mitgestalten? Fragen Sie sich, wie die Zukunft unserer Welt aussehen würde, wenn wir digitalisiert sind? Sind Sie daran interessiert, künstliche Intelligenz, Big Data und andere Technologien der vierten industriellen Revolution zu nutzen, um gerechtere und bessere Gesellschaften zu schaffen? Möchten Sie das Narrativ gestalten und auf konkrete politische Auswirkungen hinarbeiten? Wenn ja, werden Sie Teil unseres virtuellen Sprints 2021 zur digitalen Souveränität Afrikas! Bewerbungsfrist: Sonntag, 23 Mai 2021, 23:59 Uhr Zentralafrikanische Zeit.

The debate on the digital economy is heating up. Many questions abound. Will robots displace jobs? Is there a new data colonialism? Will large platform companies push out traditional production and sales in countries, or can all businesses prosper? And if so, how can we create the right balance between the greater use of digital technologies and the threats of data extraction and commodification, the rising costs of innovation,  and digital surveillance? This research sprint focuses on digital sovereignty in Africa to look at what solutions can help realize national and individual interests of citizens in the digital economy across Africa, and assist African countries leverage their own unique advantages. During the eight weeks, we invite you to put yourself in the shoes of users, technologists and policy makers, to explore important questions and solutions – including technology tools – from an African perspective. We invite you to articulate an internal African vision for development in the digital age. 

In a nutshell

• The research sprint will run from 7 June to 30 July 2021.
• It is hosted by the University of Johannesburg, within the framework of the Ethics of Digitalisation project run by the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC) and its partner institutions, including the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society (BKC), the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI) and the Digital Asia Hub (DAH) under the auspices of the Federal President of Germany and funded by Stiftung Mercator. 
• The program will consist of up to 8 substantive, thematic sessions online (one per week of around 90 minutes), with assignments and other (optional) offerings, including working groups and “social” gatherings, for networking and mentorship.
• Students at the Masters- and PhD-level, and early career researchers from all disciplines working across Africa (or engaged in African issues at a global level) are invited to apply and will be actively involved in all parts of the program.
• The sprint will use Zoom, Google Drive, and Slack.
• Selected participants will be offered an internet connection sponsorship of up to EUR 100 to cover their internet costs for the eight weeks of the program.

We invite applications from researchers and professionals from academia, industry and civil society with diverse backgrounds (including but not limited to human rights and development studies, data science, software engineering, product management and design, science and technology studies, gender studies, law, social science, and related fields) to join our

Virtual Research Sprint: Toward an African Narrative on Digital Sovereignty
(07 June – 30 July 2021)

hosted by the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI-ID) at the University of Johannesburg in collaboration with the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) with funding from Stiftung Mercator.

What we offer participants

• Evidence-based reflections on the digital economy: a unique opportunity to participate in a focused, solution-oriented process and to engage in ground-breaking problem-solving with scholars and practitioners from across Africa.
• Networking: a chance to learn from and interact with renowned global experts in the field.
• Access to a trans- and interdisciplinary community of professionals dedicated to increasing fairness in the digital economy.
• A chance to contribute to the final report of the sprint on selected issues of relevance for a pan-African narrative for digital sovereignty.
• Support and guidance from a committed project team and mentors at the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI-ID) at the University of Johannesburg, the HIIG and its NoC partner institutions, including the HBI, BKC and DAH.

What we expect from participants

• Some background education and interest in topics of digitalisation and the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution from the perspective of social sciences, natural sciences, the law or any other discipline.
• Relevant work experience or excellent academic qualifications (human rights, data science, software engineering, product management and design, science and technology studies, gender studies, law, social science, and related fields).
• A background working in Africa on these issues, or engaged in African issues at a global level.
• Passion for trans- and interdisciplinary work, with a fluency in English.
• Commitment to take part in recurring virtual sessions (estimated time commitment: 10 hours a week with 90-120 minutes presence in group sessions per week).
• Willingness to engage with other participants and generate active discussions during and after the Sprint.
• The commitment to produce a high-quality short written output (3-4 pages each) within the timeframe of the Sprint.

How to apply

Applications (along with a curriculum vitae and a representative writing sample of any length) are to be submitted at the following link: https://forms.gle/Kx5QShiHKnLEgkzv5. 

For queries or technical assistance, please contact Mrs. Koketso Manyane-Dlangamandla on koketsom@uj.ac.za.

Application deadline:  Sunday, 23 May 2021, 11:59 pm Central African Time.

About the research project

This Virtual Research Sprint is part of the NoC research project “The Ethics of Digitalisation – From Principles to Practices”, which aims to develop viable answers to challenges at the intersection of ethics and digitalisation. Innovative formats facilitate interdisciplinary scientific work on application-, and practice-oriented questions and achieve outputs of high social relevance and impact. 

Besides the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI-ID) and the HIIG, the main project partners are the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University, the Digital Asia Hub, and the Leibniz Institute for Media Research I Hans-Bredow-Institut. 

The project stands under the patronage of the Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and is funded by the Mercator Foundation. 

Project Team

• Sprint Chair: Padmashree Gehl Sampath
• Regional Partner: Fiona Tregenna
• Regional Team from SARChI-ID, University of Johannesburg: Phumzile Ncube, Koketso Dlangamandla-Manyane, Nicola King and Alexis Habiyaremye
• HIIG Project Team: Nadine Birner and Matthias C. Kettemann