ASREN Signs MoU on Africa Training Initiative with WACREN and Ubuntunet Alliance for Training

ASREN Signs MoU on Africa Training Initiative with WACREN and Ubuntunet Alliance for Training

Posted on: 13 Dec, 2023

ABIDJAN - The three regional research and education networks of Africa: WACREN for Western and Central Africa; UbuntuNet Alliance for Eastern and Southern Africa and ASREN for North Africa, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on African Training Initiative (ATI) to coordinate joint efforts on training and capacity building for NRENs and universities across Africa on ICT and Internet security.

 The parties signed this MoU because they share common needs for establishing an appropriate framework for sustainable capacity building and skills' growth in the operation of their networks, and to further develop the security of the Internet in Africa.

 ATI initially started as an independent community initiative that was operated under the auspices of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). Its main focus was on the development of the Internet in Africa, the growth of local skills and capacity, the adoption of better practices in building and protecting the Internet as well as fostering the emergence of a productive environment for the growing community of African users.

 The regional research and education networks of Africa will now adopt the Africa Training Initiative to enable it to function as a defined and endorsed project under their auspices; in particular to promote a self-sufficient capacity building ecosystem for African networking professionals through input into university programs, student involvement and also through fostering Internet research.

 Commenting on this important stride forward, ASREN Chairman, HE Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh said: “ASREN is responsible for the Northern part of Africa, but we are committed to work and cooperate with our African Partners to provide the best training and capacity building tools and to enable knowledge sharing and experience exchange across the entire African continent.”

 The MoU was signed by Boubakar Bary representing WACREN, Pascal Hoba representing UbuntuNet Alliance and Yousef Torman representing ASREN.