This session, Networked Africa through Digital Inclusion addresses the development of an integrated and inclusive digital environment throughout Africa. This discussion will address major challenges to universal internet access, such as infrastructure gaps, socio-economic challenges, and policy fragmentation. It will also focus on youths, gender inclusion, digital literacy, and harmonizing digital policies across African countries. The session will align with Pan-Africanism and Agenda 2063 in support of cross-border collaboration toward digital development to ensure that the marginalized communities, particularly women and rural communities, benefit from reliable and affordable access to the internet. It brings multi-stakeholders, like government, private sector, and civil society representatives, together to develop actionable recommendations that could lead to partnerships for the advancement of digital inclusion in Africa.
This session will be led by PLO Lumumba Foundation Ethiopia Chapter, Pan African Youth Ambassadors for Internet Governance (PAYAIG), Internet Society Ethiopia and Tanzania Chapter.

1. Regional Focus and Collaboration:
What is paramount, however, is that there should be collaboration among different regions of Africa, particularly through regional organizations like the AU and AfCFTA, while the collaboration has been termed very relevant for cross-border gaps about digital infrastructure and connectivity.

2. Sustainability:
It is also important to consider how sustainability and green technology can play into the development of digital infrastructure. This would include the use of renewable energy sources for powering Internet infrastructure in rural areas, at the least, which will be indicative and in support of larger environmental goals under the African Union Agenda 2063.

3. Case Studies and Success Stories:
Include a variety of successful digital inclusion projects that illustrate 'what has worked' across several African countries, demonstrating how they can be replicated. Examples will include public-private partnerships, gender inclusion programs, and cross-border digital policy harmonization.

4. Youth Engagement:
Make sure your message captures that the youth are, in fact, the drivers of Africa's digital future; explain how, therefore, this session is going to be an avenue for active youth participation, particularly concerning digital literacy and entrepreneurial opportunities presented by a digital economy.

5. Pan-African Vision:
-Enhancing "One Africa, One Network" messaging by being more comprehensive in framing: a Pan-African vision, not just about technology, but a socio-economic movement unto itself in the reduction of inequality, the empowerment of the most marginalized, and continental unity.

6. Multilingual Accessibility
- Highlight a call to action toward multilingual digital inclusion, focusing on the development of local African language digital tools and services that can ensure diverse community inclusion across the continent.

7. Outcome-Oriented Approach:
- Point out that this session is outcomes-oriented, and beyond mere discussion, it aims at concrete outputs such as policy recommendations, frameworks for partnerships, and strategies toward scaling successful initiatives across the continent.