Tracking the Internet's Pulse to Strengthen Africa’s Internet Resilience, Africa IGF, Tanzania

As Africa becomes increasingly connected, its economic growth, civic engagement, and access to essential services rely more on a stable, open, globally connected, trustworthy Internet. Yet, infrastructure weaknesses, governance gaps, and deliberate disruptions—such as shutdowns or throttling—threaten this critical lifeline. How can journalists, policymakers, and civil society advocates understand, monitor, and respond to these challenges with clarity and impact?

This hands-on workshop equips participants with the tools and knowledge to engage with Internet resilience data and respond effectively to Internet disruptions. Drawing on the Internet Society's Pulse—including the Internet Resilience Index and country-level reports—the session will provide a guided introduction to how resilience is measured, why it matters, and what it reveals about the readiness of different countries to withstand or recover from outages.

Participants will explore the importance of taking a holistic view beyond technical performance and consider governance, market diversity, policy environments, and human capacity. In doing so, they will gain insights into the power of data-driven journalism and evidence-based policymaking in advocating for more resilient digital infrastructure.

Whether you're investigating digital disruptions, shaping national connectivity strategies, or advocating for open Internet access, this workshop will strengthen your ability to act with evidence, insight, and influence.

Facilitators:

• Dawit Bekele, Regional Vice President for Africa, Internet Society
• Amreesh Phokeer, Internet Measurement and Data Expert, Internet Society