Academic literature on the topic 'Telecommunication policy - Kenya'

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of reward on employer branding in the mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya.Methodology: The study used descriptive design. The data collection instrument used was questionnaire. Census study method was used. The target population was only the top, middle and lower level managers in the mobile telecommunication sector totaling to three hundred and ninety (390). A pre-test and pilot survey was conducted. Data analysis involved statistical computations for averages, percentages, and correlation and regression analysis. Statistical computer software (SPSS) was used in data analysis. Analyzed data was presented using tables, charts and graphs.Results: Results revealed that in most of the mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya employees were stimulated by Salary, benefit and allowances to apply for the job. The results of the study also showed that Bonus, pension pay and promotions have great impact on the success of the organization and may influence retention in the mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya. The results further showed that exists a benefit scheme policy in the mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya, this implies that majority of the telecommunication companies have enrolled their employees to the benefit scheme.Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended Mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya to introduce annual salary reviews, housing and commuter allowances to motivate their employees and boost the employee branding.

Empirical research demonstrating the influence of technological innovation on competitive advantage has produced inconclusive results. This paper, therefore, aims to investigate the association amidst technological innovations and competitive advantage. Significant transformations have been evident in Kenya’s telecommunication industry for the last two decades, which has resulted in intense competition, and technological innovation has become the new face of competition among firms. The study applied the positivism philosophy and adopted the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The target population comprised all 83 large licensed telecommunications service providers where census method was used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized in the analysis of data. Descriptive statistics comprised of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations while inferential statistics used linear regression analysis which was employed in testing the hypothesis. Findings reveal a significant and positive influence of technological innovation on competitive advantage. Technological innovation explained the variations in competitive advantage. It is deduced from the findings that more technologically innovative telecommunication firms are likely to produce better products and services and consequently able to acquire more customers earning competitive advantage compared to less innovative telecommunication firms. The study presented notable implications on the policy framework, the strategic management practice, and theory implications in the telecommunication industry and beyond. At policy level, the Government of Kenya would benefit from the study by ensuring that policy makers and regulatory authorities in the telecommunication sector formulate policies that would promote technological innovation for enhancing competitive advantage. Managerial practitioners may consider institutionalizing innovation by creating the requisite direction and controls that enable the emergence of innovation and value creation for sustainable competitive advantage. The study findings’ implications further extended, supported, and added value on the theory adopted by the study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of organizational culture on employer branding in the mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya.Methodology: The study used descriptive design. The data collection instrument used was questionnaire. Census study method was used. The target population was only the top, middle and lower level managers in the mobile telecommunication sector totaling to three hundred and ninety (390). A pre-test and pilot survey was conducted. Data analysis involved statistical computations for averages, percentages, and correlation and regression analysis. Statistical computer software (SPSS) was used in data analysis. Analyzed data was presented using tables, charts and graphs.Results: Results revealed that in most telecommunication companies in Kenya employee’s work as a team, rather than hierarchy. The results also revealed that in most Mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya people are viewed as an important source of competitive advantage. The results also revealed that most telecommunication companies in Kenya have consistent core values. The results also showed that majority agreed with the statement that Work is organized so that each person can see the relationship between his or her job and the goals of the organizationUnique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya should have clear well communicated long term vision as well as formal and structured induction, orientation and familiarization process. The study also recommends that the mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya should enhance strategy fit culture, involve the employees in decision making and in addition, strive to maintain good working environment, flexible work schedule, and refreshing atmosphere which will boost employee’s morale and encourage team work. Finally, the findings should also be used in comparison with the performance of other companies like the manufacturing and academic institutions in kenya in relation to Human resource practices, organizational culture and employer branding.

The study conceptualized a relationship between technological innovation and strategic leadership on competitive advantage. Technological innovation has been posited to influence performance competitive advantage however; this position has been largely tautological and hence required more empirical testing. Although implied, the role of strategic leadership in the relationship between technological innovation and competitive advantage has been largely lacking. The study, therefore, specifically sought to determine the moderating role of strategic leadership on the relationship between technological innovation and competitive advantage of large telecommunication enterprises (LTEs) in Kenya. Significant transformations have been evident in Kenya’s telecommunication industry for the last two decades, which has resulted in intense competition, and technological innovation has become the new face of competition among these firms. The target population comprised all 83 large telecommunication enterprises in Kenya and census was used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. Strategic leadership was found to have a positive and significant influence on the relationship between technological innovation and competitive advantage. It is deduced from the findings that strategic leadership would affect the strength of the relationship between technological innovation and competitive advantage. This can be attributed to the importance of organizational leadership’s role as decision makers and key enablers of technological innovation among large telecommunication enterprises. The study presented notable implications on the policy framework, the strategic management practice, and theory implications in the telecommunication industry and beyond. At policy level, the Government of Kenya would benefit from the study by ensuring that policy makers and regulatory authorities in the telecommunication sector formulate policies that would promote technological innovation and strategic leadership for enhancing competitive advantage. Managerial practitioners may consider institutionalizing innovation and leadership by creating the requisite direction and controls that enable the emergence of innovation and value creation for sustainable competitive advantage. The study findings’ implications further extended, supported, and added value on the theories adopted by the study.

Purpose: Competition is at the core of existence of firms. This determines the appropriateness of a firm’s activities that can contribute to its performance, such as innovations, a cohesive culture, or good implementation. Many firms have performed poorly in a competitive environemnt due to failure to analyse and strategise on the Porter’s Five Forces, regardless of the industry sector. Competitive strategy aims to establish a profitable and sustainable position against the forces that determine industry competition. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Porter’s Five Forces on competitive advantage in telecommunication industry in Kenya. The study aims at establishing the extent to which barriers to entry, rivalry among established firms, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and substitute products influence competitive advantage of telecommunication industry in Kenya. Methodology:The study adopted desktopresearch. Specifically, the paper identified documentary evidence in the form of already completed studies that focused on influence of porters five forces on competitive advantage both locally, regionally and globally. Findings:The study findings indicated that there was threat of new entrants in the teleommunication industry in kenya due to presence of various competing firms. In addition, although the suppliers in the industry had formed associations to negotiate prices with the input providers, the buyers bargaining power was high. The firms had to strategize on how to attract and retain the customers to avoid shifting from one company to the other. Findings on bargaining power of buyers of mobile phone providers indicate that, firms have spent time and energy in ensuring their customers are well protected and incentivized so as to stick to their respective mobile networks. Similarly, findings on intensity of rivalry, indicate that to strategize and win in this highly competitive industry, product differentiation, process innovation, product innovation and technological innovation are some of the strategies the companies use to stay ahead. Findings on threat of substitute products indicate that, the industry has a number of substitutes that can highly influence the profitability of these companies. The study concludes that porters five forces framework indeed influenced performance of telecommunication firms in Kenya. The study also concludes that the threat of new entrants applies to the mobile phone providers in the Kenyan Telecommunication industry due to the presence of various competing organizations. These organizations are offering similar products and services such as mobile money transfer services, handheld devices, airtime and accessories. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy The study recommends that the telecommunication firms should keep monitoring their business environment so as to structure the appropriate strategies to keep up with competition and technological changes.

Kenya has over six million active mobile subscribers who may at some point want to replace or  get rid of old mobile phones. A big number of the mobile phones were recently switched off for not being genuine without a prober mechanism being put in place for the disposal. If every affected individual or otherwise disposed off phones by throwing it away then there could a serious ecological disaster in waiting. Cell phones are hazardous materials because of electromagnetic radiation and electronic composition. They have substances such as antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc which belong to a class of chemicals known as persistent toxins. These toxins pollute and remain in the environment for long periods. There are ill-effects of wireless and telecommunication devices on the environment are disastrous. The increased use of high resolution LCD screens leads to a potentially devastating environmental challenge. There is no clear policy frame work on e-waste management with a special focus on used mobile phones in the country. A proper disposal mechanism of wireless and telecommunication devices is a necessity in Kenya.

Introduction: Points based programs are programs offered by service industries to their customers when they make a purchase. In Points based system, frequent customers earn points, which translate into some type of reward: discount, gifts, or special customer treatment, customer purchases toward a certain amount of points to redeem their reward. Purpose: This study sought to establish the influence of point-based program on financial performance of selected firms in the service industry in Kenya. Methodology: The research design adopted descriptive method of the study. The target population was three (3) telecommunication firms (Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Kenya), 5 supermarkets and 18 Five Star hotels. The study used census survey method for telecommunication firms and all the 18 five-star hotels in Nairobi offering loyalty points and thus there was no sampling. The study used secondary data extracted from financial statements. The researcher used both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive analysis and trend analysis of the dependent and the independent variable were conducted. Findings: The results showed that point-based program has a positive and significant relationship with financial performance of selected supermarkets in Kenya. Recommendations: The study recommended that it’s imperative for the policy makers such as Communication Authority of Kenya, Tourism Authority of Kenya and the ministry of trade to support the development and usage of point based programs among supermarkets firms in Kenya. This can be done in friendly manner such as avoiding overly broad and strong regulation of the point based programs. In this regard, the government and the law makers should ensure that they involve a variety of point based programs stakeholders in the regulatory process, so that their vision and needs can be fairly balanced with government interests.

In the 21st century where economies are driven majorly by knowledge and information-based service businesses, telecommunication industries are playing a critical economic role both regionally and globally. In Kenya, with a combined subscription rate of 37.8 million based on a 2016/17 Communication Authority of Kenya report of 2017, Safaricom Kenya Limited controls about 71.2% of the subscribers, Airtel Kenya Limited is second with 17.6% with Telkom Kenya coming third with 7.4%. Finserve East Africa (Equitel) a new entrant in the market controls 3.8% of subscribers. These figures points to the fact that only Safaricom seems to be the only firm performing well. This reality forms the basis of establishing whether their difference in performance is attributable to their information systems capabilities. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship IS capabilities and performance of firms in the telecommunications industry in Kenya. It was anchored on Resource-Based Theory and guided by a conceptual framework with the dependent variable being firm performance while independent variable was IS capabilities. Correlational and survey research designs were used. The population of the study was 408 staff comprising all executive, management and operational level managers from the business and IT sections in each firm. A sample of 202 staff was drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling method. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire and an interview schedule. Reliability of the research instrument was tested against Cronbach’s alpha coefficient where a reliability score of 0.814 was achieved while validity was gauged through research experts’ opinions. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings established that IS capabilities and firm performance have a weak relationship (r = 0.409, p<0.05) which means that whenever firms in industry invested on market based IS capabilities there was a small improvement on their performance and therefore firms should invest in the development of market based IS capabilities since they have significant influence on their performance. This study may be useful to industry players by gaining better understanding on various information system resources that they can utilize to improve and sustain their performance besides policy formulation. By advancing a model that depicts the relationship between information systems resources and firm performance, this study may make a significant contribution to theory building in the field of information systems.

Abstract Monitoring and evaluating policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries are often difficult because of the lack of routine data. High mobile phone ownership in these countries presents an opportunity for efficient data collection through telephone interviews. This study examined the feasibility of collecting data on medicines through telephone interviews in Kenya. Data on the availability and prices of medicines at 137 health facilities and 639 patients were collected in September 2016 via in-person interviews. Between December 2016 and December 2017, monthly telephone interviews were conducted with health facilities and patients. An unannounced in-person interview was conducted with respondents to validate the telephone interview within 24 h. A bottom-up itemization costing approach was used to estimate the costs of telephone and in-person data collection. In-depth interviews were conducted with data collectors and respondents to explore their perceptions on both modes of data collection. The level of agreement between data on medicines availability collected through phone and in-person interviews was strong at the health facility level [kappa = 0.90; confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.92] and moderate at the household level (kappa = 0.50, CI 0.39–0.60). Price data from telephone and in-person interviews showed strong intra-class correlation at health facilities [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.96] and moderate intra-class correlation at households (ICC = 0.47). The cost per phone interview at health facilities and households were $19.73 and $16.86, respectively, compared to $186.20 for a baseline in-person interview. Participants considered telephone interviews to be more convenient. In countries with high cell phone penetration, telephone data collection should be considered in monitoring and evaluating public health programs especially at health facilities. Additional strategies may be needed to optimize this mode of data collection at the household level. Variations in cell phone ownership, telecommunication network and data collection costs across different settings may limit the generalizability of the findings from this study.

Telecommunication and Internet service enterprise has drastically evolved in the last 10 years across the globe. With demand for huge amounts of data and increased voice traffic, optical fibre is globally preferred technology to transmit high-speed broadband. Nonetheless, fibre optic infrastructure involves construction challenges and continues to fail for several reasons including ineffective leadership, poor stakeholder management, and unclear scope definition. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating influence of project scope on leadership skills, stakeholder management, and execution of fibre optic infrastructure. The study adopted the pragmatism paradigm approach, with a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaire, interview guide, and document review guide were data collection instruments. Census was used to select 187 respondents from a target population of 187 functional members of staff in fibre optic infrastructure departments of two mobile telecommunication, four Internet service companies, and two policy-making and regularity authorities in Nairobi County in Kenya. Quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed by content analysis. It was demonstrated that project scope has a positive and significant moderating influence on the combined influence of leadership skills and stakeholder management on execution of fibre optic infrastructure. This study contributes to the literature in project management by not only providing empirical evidence on project scope, leadership skills, stakeholder management, and execution of fibre optic infrastructure but also by expanding research on project scope. The results may also help professionals in mobile telecommunication and construction industries by providing strategic guideline in effective, efficient, and sustainable execution of fibre optic infrastructure.

The liberalisation of domestic telecommunication (telecom) markets has become a worldwide trend. As a result, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), evolving from deliberations within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has been heralded as the mechanism with which to effect telecom liberalisation domestically. For countries in Africa, the GATS instruments have been translated as a means to establish the principles required for an effective telecom industry supported by key institutions in policy, regulation and implementation. However, the analysis of relevant literature on telecom in Africa has tended to focus on technological developments based on current observable outcomes. This methodology is inadequate because it fails to account for the context-specific nature of the policy arena and framework shaping telecom outcomes. I argue that we must consider telecom outcomes by understanding the nature of political institutions domestically and their interaction with the international arena. To explicate this intersection of ideas, I draw on two seemingly independent theories, Neopatrimonialism and New Institutional Economics (NIE) with reference to the works of van de Walle (2001) and North (1990) respectively, to shed light on the nature of the Kenyan political context and the value of the GATS as an instrument that facilitates credibility and reduces opportunistic ex-post behaviour. It is contended in this study, that for the Kenyan Government, the value of the GATS accession lies in the legitimising role that it facilitates in accessing funds from the international community. This study thus highlights the inevitable tension that arises when domestic policy-reform goals are juxtaposed with international trade obligations undertaken through treaty accession and informed by a liberalisation agenda. A qualitative approach was used to collect the data and involved interviews and documentary analysis. The findings suggest that Kenya is partially in compliance with its GATS telecom commitments. However, this partial reform results from patrimonial tendencies in Kenya and is exacerbated by the need to attract hard currency through aid packages that dictate the nature of the policy process and the relationship between Kenya and the international community. In conclusion, even with policy reforms, state agents always find ways to maintain or create clientelist practises. Unless such reform is accompanied by political changes that provide checks and balances on institutions and state agents, reform policies on their own will not create an effective telecom sector. To truly evaluate telecom reform therefore, we must appreciate the context-specific nature of policy making.

Assessing the impact of existing and emerging mobile technologies on individuals and societies is a complex task. Various models of the telecommunication industry have been developed and differ from country to country. The study analyses the Kenyan mobile industry's governance, complexity, and resilience. It investigates the emerging notion of “resilience” as a perspective for understanding how societies can cope with, and develop from, disturbances and change. A resilience approach to governance issues shows a great deal of promise to enable a more refined understanding of the dynamics of rapid, interlinked, and multiscale change. Simulation is done of the Kenyan mobile industry. The simulation result proves that the regulator Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) is resilient amid the continuous change in the telecom industry. This study also uses the model to analyze mobile industry policy and concludes with policy suggestions to improve the expected mobile industry services and governance for developing countries.

This chapter assesses the status of e-government practice in Africa. It identifies the best and least e-government states and developing sub-regions and the challenges. Data on e-government practice in Africa by the United Nations was extracted and used for measuring the e-government status of selected African states and their sub-regions. Eastern and Central African Sub-Regions were respectively the best and the least among the regions, while Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Cape Verde, and Angola were the best e-government practicing states. The major impediments to e-government development were inadequately skilled ICT personnel and insufficient telecommunication infrastructure. Consequently, e-government development in many African states is likely to suffer terrible setbacks unless radical reformations are taken to address the issue of human resource underdevelopment and inadequate ICT infrastructure. Results of this survey could guide policy makers towards optimal manpower planning for effective ICT development.

This chapter was written before the untimely death of Bob Collymore, Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom (the Kenyan telecommunications company). In many ways, the chapter offers testimony to his great ideas and legacy in innovation of mobile money that revolutionized the financial sector. The chapter narrates the journey of M-PESA from inception to its current state, the partnerships formed along the journey and supporting regulations thereof. The chapter also features the role of mobile money as a tool for financial inclusion and deepening. It is shown that the enabling policy and regulatory environment were critical for mobile money development in Kenya. It is also suggested that regulation should be market-led and proactive measures should be undertaken to enhance not only mobile money growth but also consumer protection.

This report maps the African landscape of Open Science – with a focus on Open Data as a sub-set of Open Science. Data to inform the landscape study were collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, desk research, engagement with a community of practice, networking with stakeholders, participation in conferences, case study presentations, and workshops hosted. Although the majority of African countries (35 of 54) demonstrates commitment to science through its investment in research and development (R&D), academies of science, ministries of science and technology, policies, recognition of research, and participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the following countries demonstrate the highest commitment and political willingness to invest in science: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to existing policies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the following countries have made progress towards Open Data policies: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Only two African countries (Kenya and South Africa) at this stage contribute 0.8% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to R&D (Research and Development), which is the closest to the AU’s (African Union’s) suggested 1%. Countries such as Lesotho and Madagascar ranked as 0%, while the R&D expenditure for 24 African countries is unknown. In addition to this, science globally has become fully dependent on stable ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, which includes connectivity/bandwidth, high performance computing facilities and data services. This is especially applicable since countries globally are finding themselves in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is not only “about” data, but which “is” data. According to an article1 by Alan Marcus (2015) (Senior Director, Head of Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries, World Economic Forum), “At its core, data represents a post-industrial opportunity. Its uses have unprecedented complexity, velocity and global reach. As digital communications become ubiquitous, data will rule in a world where nearly everyone and everything is connected in real time. That will require a highly reliable, secure and available infrastructure at its core, and innovation at the edge.” Every industry is affected as part of this revolution – also science. An important component of the digital transformation is “trust” – people must be able to trust that governments and all other industries (including the science sector), adequately handle and protect their data. This requires accountability on a global level, and digital industries must embrace the change and go for a higher standard of protection. “This will reassure consumers and citizens, benefitting the whole digital economy”, says Marcus. A stable and secure information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure – currently provided by the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) – is key to advance collaboration in science. The AfricaConnect2 project (AfricaConnect (2012–2014) and AfricaConnect2 (2016–2018)) through establishing connectivity between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), is planning to roll out AfricaConnect3 by the end of 2019. The concern however is that selected African governments (with the exception of a few countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and others) have low awareness of the impact the Internet has today on all societal levels, how much ICT (and the 4th Industrial Revolution) have affected research, and the added value an NREN can bring to higher education and research in addressing the respective needs, which is far more complex than simply providing connectivity. Apart from more commitment and investment in R&D, African governments – to become and remain part of the 4th Industrial Revolution – have no option other than to acknowledge and commit to the role NRENs play in advancing science towards addressing the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). For successful collaboration and direction, it is fundamental that policies within one country are aligned with one another. Alignment on continental level is crucial for the future Pan-African African Open Science Platform to be successful. Both the HIPSSA ((Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa)3 project and WATRA (the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly)4, have made progress towards the regulation of the telecom sector, and in particular of bottlenecks which curb the development of competition among ISPs. A study under HIPSSA identified potential bottlenecks in access at an affordable price to the international capacity of submarine cables and suggested means and tools used by regulators to remedy them. Work on the recommended measures and making them operational continues in collaboration with WATRA. In addition to sufficient bandwidth and connectivity, high-performance computing facilities and services in support of data sharing are also required. The South African National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System5 (NICIS) has made great progress in planning and setting up a cyberinfrastructure ecosystem in support of collaborative science and data sharing. The regional Southern African Development Community6 (SADC) Cyber-infrastructure Framework provides a valuable roadmap towards high-speed Internet, developing human capacity and skills in ICT technologies, high- performance computing and more. The following countries have been identified as having high-performance computing facilities, some as a result of the Square Kilometre Array7 (SKA) partnership: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. More and more NRENs – especially the Level 6 NRENs 8 (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and recently Zambia) – are exploring offering additional services; also in support of data sharing and transfer. The following NRENs already allow for running data-intensive applications and sharing of high-end computing assets, bio-modelling and computation on high-performance/ supercomputers: KENET (Kenya), TENET (South Africa), RENU (Uganda), ZAMREN (Zambia), EUN (Egypt) and ARN (Algeria). Fifteen higher education training institutions from eight African countries (Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania) have been identified as offering formal courses on data science. In addition to formal degrees, a number of international short courses have been developed and free international online courses are also available as an option to build capacity and integrate as part of curricula. The small number of higher education or research intensive institutions offering data science is however insufficient, and there is a desperate need for more training in data science. The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science aim at addressing the continental need for foundational data skills across all disciplines, along with training conducted by The Carpentries 9 programme (specifically Data Carpentry 10 ). Thus far, CODATA-RDA schools in collaboration with AOSP, integrating content from Data Carpentry, were presented in Rwanda (in 2018), and during17-29 June 2019, in Ethiopia. Awareness regarding Open Science (including Open Data) is evident through the 12 Open Science-related Open Access/Open Data/Open Science declarations and agreements endorsed or signed by African governments; 200 Open Access journals from Africa registered on the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); 174 Open Access institutional research repositories registered on openDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories); 33 Open Access/Open Science policies registered on ROARMAP (Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies); 24 data repositories registered with the Registry of Data Repositories (re3data.org) (although the pilot project identified 66 research data repositories); and one data repository assigned the CoreTrustSeal. Although this is a start, far more needs to be done to align African data curation and research practices with global standards. Funding to conduct research remains a challenge. African researchers mostly fund their own research, and there are little incentives for them to make their research and accompanying data sets openly accessible. Funding and peer recognition, along with an enabling research environment conducive for research, are regarded as major incentives. The landscape report concludes with a number of concerns towards sharing research data openly, as well as challenges in terms of Open Data policy, ICT infrastructure supportive of data sharing, capacity building, lack of skills, and the need for incentives. Although great progress has been made in terms of Open Science and Open Data practices, more awareness needs to be created and further advocacy efforts are required for buy-in from African governments. A federated African Open Science Platform (AOSP) will not only encourage more collaboration among researchers in addressing the SDGs, but it will also benefit the many stakeholders identified as part of the pilot phase. The time is now, for governments in Africa, to acknowledge the important role of science in general, but specifically Open Science and Open Data, through developing and aligning the relevant policies, investing in an ICT infrastructure conducive for data sharing through committing funding to making NRENs financially sustainable, incentivising open research practices by scientists, and creating opportunities for more scientists and stakeholders across all disciplines to be trained in data management.