<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><b><i>CPRafrica : Looking back at a decade of communications reform: Looking forward to 2020</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b>DATES AND VENUE</div><div> 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. </div><div>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). <br> <br>INTRODUCTION<br>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.<br><br>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. <br><br>ABOUT THE CONFERENCE<br>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. </div><div><br></div><div>ORGANISING & SELECTION COMMITTEE<br> </div><div>Drs Lishan Adam, Tracy Cohen, James Hodge, Kammy Naidoo, Profs Arsene Kouadio and Tim Waema and Alison Gillwald</div><div>Advisors: Dr Rohan Samarajiva and Helani Galpaya (LIRNEasia) Prof Leo van Audenhove (EuroCPR).</div><div><br>PARTICIPANTS<br>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.<br><br><br>CALL FOR ABSTRACTS<br>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:<br> <br><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Convergence</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Content</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Comparative studies of ICT readiness</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Data and methods for research on ICTs</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Governance of ICT and ICT for governance</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Telecom/broadcasting policy</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Intellectual property rights</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Internet governance</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• ICT markets and competition</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• National and regional innovation systems</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Participation in ICTs: demand side studies</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Regulation: Spectrum allocation, interconnection, licenisng</div><div>• Policy: institutional arrangements, market structure, infrastructure extension</div><div>• Market innovation, competition and disruption</div><div>• Telecom operator strategies in emerging economies</div> <br>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.<br><br>SUBMISSION GUIDELINES<br>Abstracts should be submitted to <a href="http://us.mc285.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@researchICTafrica.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:info@researchICTafrica.net">info@researchICTafrica.net</a> by or before 15 September, 2009 and must contain the following:<br> <br><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• the title of the paper,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• your name and contact information,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• a 500-word abstract of the paper, and</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• a curriculum vita of no more than a page.<br></div> <br>The document must be named CPRafrica_Abstract&Bio_YourLastName.<br><br>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.<br><br>REVIEW CRITERIA<br>Abstracts will be reviewed according to the following criteria:<br> <br><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Clarity of the thesis or the research finding</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Novelty, significance, and importance to the CPRafrica community</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Adequacy of methods</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Quality of writing</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Appropriateness of interpretations<br></div> <br>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.<br><br>FUNDING<br>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.<br><br>KEY DATES<br>Deadline for abstracts: 15 September, 2009<br>Deadline for complete papers: 30 November, 2009</div><div>Feedback from Chairs and respondents: 30 January, 2010 </div><div>Final papers: 28 February 2010<br><br><b>YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARDS</b><br>Fifteen Young Scholars from Africa will be selected to participate in the conference.<br><br></div><div>APPLICATION GUIDELINES<br>Applications should be submitted to <a href="http://us.mc285.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@researchICTafrica.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:info@researchICTafrica.net">info@researchICTafrica.net</a> by or before 30 October, 2009 and must contain the following:<br> <br><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• a one-page curriculum vita that includes your contact information and the name and contact information of current supervisor or mentor, and</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• 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.<br></div> <br>The document should be named CPRafrica_YoungScholar_YourLastName.<br><br>Notification of acceptance will be emailed on or before 15 December, 2009, with instructions on travel arrangements.<br><br>REVIEW CRITERIA<br>Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:<br> <br><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Content of application</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Evidence of interest in policy-relevant research for the Africa</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Quality of writing</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span>• Gender and country representation<br></div> <br>The selection committee may contact your supervisor or mentor before making the final selections.<br><br>FUNDING<br>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.<br><br>KEY DATES<br>Deadline for applications: 30 October, 2009<br><br>See <a href="http://www.researchictafrica.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.researchICTafrica.net</a> for updates.<br></div></div><div><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"></blockquote></blockquote></div></span><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br></body></html>