In an era where the internet drives commerce, education, and cultural exchange, ensuring equitable access is critical. ICANN’s New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program and its Applicant Support Program (ASP) aim to democratize internet access, particularly in Africa.

In this exclusive episode of the Pure Digital Passion Podcast, I sit down with Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN’s Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement in Africa, to discuss how these initiatives empower African organizations by reducing financial and technical barriers to participation in the global internet ecosystem.

What are gTLDs and the ASP?

Why It Matters for Africa and Kenya
Pierre highlights how gTLDs foster economic inclusion and cultural representation, especially through non-Latin scripts that preserve linguistic diversity. For example, the .africa domain has become a powerful branding tool unifying the continent’s digital identity.

Overcoming Challenges
While opportunities abound, hurdles like limited awareness and financial constraints persist. ICANN’s outreach and the ASP are addressing these issues, ensuring no one is left behind in this digital revolution.

How to Apply for the ASP

Next Steps

Seize this transformative opportunity to shape Africa’s digital future. Watch the full conversation and learn how to take advantage of ICANN’s New gTLD Program and ASP!

Earlier this week, on Wednesday the 22nd of January 2025, I had the privilege of being interviewed remotely by Tabitha Muthoni on CNBC Africa’s Power Lunch East Africa Show. During this brief and engaging discussion, we delved into Kenya’s and Africa’s rapidly evolving labour market, focussing on the gig economy, fintech, and e-commerce sectors. These topics are particularly critical as digital transformation continues to shape how we work and live across Kenya, East Africa, and the broader African continent.

The Role of E-Commerce and Fintech in Job Creation

Kenya’s and Africa’s digital transformation has unlocked numerous opportunities for job creation, especially in e-commerce and fintech. Platforms like Jumia have revolutionized digital retail, creating thousands of jobs in logistics, digital marketing, customer service, and platform management. Meanwhile, fintech solutions such as Safaricom’s M-Pesa have transformed financial inclusion, enabling unbanked populations to access critical services and driving growth in areas like mobile banking, agency networks, cybersecurity, and software development.

As we discussed, collaboration between African Governments and the private sector is essential to scale these opportunities. Investments in infrastructure, training programs, and partnerships can further enhance the reach and impact of e-commerce and fintech, fostering sustainable job creation for the youth.

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap

A recurring challenge in Kenya and Africa is the mismatch between educational outcomes and the skills demanded by the digital economy. To bridge this gap, it’s crucial to reform school curriculums to include coding, AI, and data analytics from an early age. Partnerships between global technology leaders like Microsoft and Google with Governments in Africa and educational institutions are already happening in this space. Upskilling and reskilling programs, such as technology bootcamps, are also enabling students and workers to adapt to the demands of the digital future of work as we know it.

Opportunities in the Gig Economy

One of the most exciting trends we explored was the rise of the gig economy, which offers flexible opportunities for young Kenyans and Africans to monetize their skills. Platforms like Uber and Bolt for ride-hailing, and Upwork and Fiverr for freelancing, have empowered individuals to earn an income outside of traditional employment structures. However, for the gig economy to truly thrive, it’s essential to establish social protections, including access to healthcare, pensions, and fair wages.

Policies for Inclusive Growth

Lastly, the role of Governments and the private sector in creating an enabling environment for innovation cannot be overstated. Policies that encourage parity between local businesses and global players are vital. At the same time, investments in infrastructure and AI skills training can position Kenya’s and Africa’s workforce to compete globally in the future of work.

Conclusion

My interview with Tabitha highlighted that Kenya’s and Africa’s labour market is at a transformative moment. By embracing digital transformation and prioritizing inclusive growth, the African continent can unlock vast opportunities for its youth while creating sustainable solutions to unemployment. As we navigate this exciting future, collaboration between Governments, businesses, and educational institutions will be key.

Last night I was a guest on the BBC News' Focus on Africa Show with Waihiga Mwaura where we had a brief but insightful conversation about the seemingly imminent banning of TikTok in the US which is due to happen tomorrow, Sunday the 19th January 2025.

In the attached video recording, we approached our conversation from a Kenyan and African perspective to better understand what the implications and considerations could be for users in the US as well as those in Africa, looking at both positive and negative aspects, going forward.

As things stand, unless there is some sort of last minute intervention by current US President Joe Biden, or incoming US President Elect Donald Trump when he takes office on Monday the 20th January 2024, TikTok will mostly likely go offline tomorrow (Sunday) to comply with the banning deadline.

TikTok has over 170M users in the US as of this writing and is easily one of the most popular social media platforms in the US that has disrupted the status quo there over the past 5 years or so. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are competing content formats that mimic how TikTok works.

TikTok's biggest innovation and 'secret sauce' is its highly prized algorithm that is remarkably good at keeping users hooked on it showing them content based on their interests, which is also known as the 'interest graph'. None of TikTok's competitors have managed to create as good an algorithm as they have done to-date in this respect.