Activities
AfrIPI – OVERALL AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN
AfrIPI has four main objectives:
- Promotion of Intellectual Property international agreements for a reinforced cooperation between EU and Africa;
- Strengthening of national and regional Intellectual Property institutions, networks, and tools, to increase a user- friendly and efficient protected IP system;
- Raising awareness of Intellectual Property Rights (including Geographical Indications) in the African society for Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs);
- Implementation of the work plan activities linked to the African Union (AU) Continental Strategy for Geographical Indications.
To achieve these results, the overall work plan sets a multiannual framework in terms of thematic and geographic priorities, complemented by plans to be developed each year containing detailed activities.
As a Pan-African Action targeting many countries and sub-regions, a geographical balance for activity implementation is sought. Activities are identified each year in close coordination with stakeholders, particularly AU Member States, ARIPO, OAPI, National IP Offices, the private sector and other organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
AfrIPI Activity Clusters and Key Activities
Study Visit of Heads of IP Offices from ARIPO Member States
The ARIPO Member States need support to provide quality intellectual property services to their users and the business community while ensuring adequate enforcement of intellectual property rights.
National training on patents, patent searches and patent drafting for ARIPO MS
This activity aims to increase intellectual property awareness among researchers, staff, and students from academic and research institutions in ARIPO Member States. It will promote the creation, protection and use of IP tools to achieve economic and technological development.
Side event on GIs in Africa at the AU-EU Agricultural Ministerial Conference
The African Union – European Union agricultural ministerial conference allows AU and EU agriculture ministers to exchange views and share best practices on the development of more sustainable food systems and responses to crises.
Expert support for the OAPI Master’s training programme
Since 2021, AfrIPI has contributed to training over a hundred students of the OAPI Masters’ Programme in IP. The Master’s programme, which is in its 12th edition, is jointly delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the OAPI and is hosted by the University of Yaoundé II.
Technical support on the reference collections for the accredited research and examination centres on plant varieties in OAPI countries
Access to quality seeds and plant varieties for OAPI Member States is a major issue for all their populations, as these constitute the basis of plant production.
Expert support for the ARIPO Master’s training programme
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), are delivering a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) Master’s Programme in English to three universities in Africa: Africa University (AU) in Zimbabwe,
Capacity building on IP right recordation for selected enforcement agencies in Kenya – Phase 2: study visit to Mauritius
In 2022, AfrIPI facilitated the organisation of a meeting between the European Business Council (EUBC) in Kenya and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).
Support for the digitalisation of Nigeria IP office: ‘capture and store’ of trade marks paper files
The Nigeria Intellectual Property (IP) Office still has a vast quantity of paper-based trade marks, which must be scanned to migrate the data to the back-office system (IPAS). This IP Office has been selected as the pilot office to give support to in this digitalisation process.
Support for the Setup and Strengthening of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) in OAPI member states
It is crucial to strengthen and improve the copyright and related rights environment for the development of a cultural industry, especially a digital one, on the African continent.Support for the ARIPO patent examination training (ARPET)
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) launched the ARPET programme under the 2021 Annual Work Plan (AWP1) through the Module A introductory training.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in other countries
This activity aims to support individual countries, such as Nigeria, that have expressed the need to adopt a standalone system for protecting geographical indications (GIs).
Technical Support for the development of the institutional framework for GIs in OAPI countries
The Continental Strategy on Geographical Indications (GIs) aims to create an enabling environment at the legal and institutional level for GIs in African countries.
Support the registration at EU level of GIs for Kilichi du Niger
Kilichi du Niger was registered as a geographical indication (GI) in the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) system in August 2021. As a famous GI, it is envisaged that it will be registered in the European Union (EU) system.
Screening processes in OAPI countries – Chad
While there is a common understanding about the importance of GIs in OAPI Member States, some countries have not tracked their evolution. It is assumed that mapping the existing GIs in some of those countries would help build momentum at national level.
Africa IP SME Helpdesk
The Africa IP SME Helpdesk assists EU businesses by organising training events, publishing IP resources, and replying to queries on IP issues in Africa through its helpliTechnical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in ARIPO Member States
This activity aims to support the ARIPO ad hoc working group on GIs in moving forward to create an enabling legal and institutional framework in accordance with international best practices.
Consultative roundtable on enforcement of IPR for North African countries
This activity is a continuation of Activity 7 of the AWP 2.
Judges Colloquium on enforcement
AfrIPI created a pan-African case-law database on intellectual property rights under its 2021 annual work plan. This year, it will focus on maintaining the tool and continuously uploading new case-law on different IP rights.
Promotional workshop on Designs and Utility Models for ARIPO
This activity aims to raise awareness of the benefits and economic value of industrial designs and utility models in Liberia.
Support the registration of pilot GIs in the ARIPO region
This activity aims to provide ARIPO Member States with technical assistance on a pilot (meeting AfrIPI’s criteria for support) to register their associated name as a Geographical Indication (GI) in their national system.
Support for the setup of innovation platforms in OAPI pilot countries
An effective and strategic use of intellectual property requires the promotion of IP protection of inventions and technological innovations within universities, institutes and research centres, and the linkage to the business environment to guarantee the effective exploitation of research results
Maintenance and the future of the GI Hub
The GI Hub is a common online platform that aims to make all the information on GIs in Africa widely available and easily accessible to all stakeholders, enhancing transparency and awareness on IP in the region.
Support for the OAPI training program for trade marks and design examiners and IP representatives on substantive examination
OAPI has been examining trade mark and industrial design applications on substance since January 2022. Before being granted, applications for registration in the OAPI region must now be published.
Support the registration at the National Level of GIs for OAPI countries
Outcome 3 of the six strategic outcomes of the Continental Strategy for GIs in Africa (2018-2023) highlights the importance of developing and registering GI products as pilots and drivers for rural and sustainable development to provide learning and demonstrative effects.
Regional workshop on accession to the ARIPO International Protocols
This activity aims to promote accession by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) member states to international agreements on intellectual property rights. Accessions can increase these states’ market value for trade and investment purposes.
Trade mark and Design Guidelines of Egyptian TIDO: revision and Technical Working Group participation
During 2022, AfrIPI and the Egyptian Trademarks and Designs Office (TIDO) management held several meetings to set up the basis of an initiative under which AfrIPI would help TIDO develop their national trade mark and design manuals.
Communications training on the ARIPO Regional Intellectual Property Rights System
This activity is a continuation of the Communications Training on the ARIPO Regional Intellectual Property Rights System in AWP2.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in ARIPO Member States
This activity aims to support the ARIPO ad hoc working group on GIs in moving forward to create an enabling legal and institutional framework in accordance with international best practices.
Legal and technical assistance for the RECs for the phase II negotiations on IPR
Under its AWP 2, AfrIPI began collaborating with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to provide strategic accompaniment to the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
International seminar on anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property and their impact on the economy and the environment
AfrIPI co-hosted its first on-site event in Algeria on 28 - 29 November 2022, to support North African countries in the fight against counterfeiting, to promote intellectual property rights (IPRs) and to discuss their impact on the economy and the environment.
Communication Training on the ARIPO Regional Intellectual Property Rights System
There was a need for government communicators and journalists to be equipped to effectively inform their audiences of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Regional Intellectual Property Rights System, which could be used to raise awareness at
Regional Conference for OAPI MS on the Status of the Protection and Use of African Medicinal Inventions
African countries are a key destination for counterfeit goods, such as pharmaceuticals, with all the hazards and dangers that these pose for consumers.
Consultative roundtable on counterfeiting in Nigeria
According to the OECD-EUIPO report on Mapping the Real Routes of Trade in Fake Goods
Support for the Creation of an Association of Judges for OAPI Member States
On 12 to 14 October 2022, the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) and AfrIPI held a constitutive General Assembly of the Association of Judges in Dakar, Senegal.
Technical support on the reference collections for the accredited research and examination centres on plant varieties in OAPI countries
After the entry into force of Annex X of the Bangui Agreement on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants on 20 November 2020, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), accredited four examination centres, called ‘CENTRE D’EXAMENS DHS’, in Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire
Support for the ARIPO Patent Examination Training
Under the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Patent Examination Training programme (ARPET), AfrIPI, ARIPO and the European Patent Office (EPO) partnered together to train patent examiners of the national patent offices of ARIPO Member States.
Judges Colloquium on Enforcement
AfrIPI created a pan-African case-law database on intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the first Annual Work Plan (AWP) in 2021. This year, the second AWP will focus on maintaining the tool and continuously uploading new case-law for different IPRs.
Study and mentorship visits
In line with international and European best practices and in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, AfrIPI aims to create, protect, utilise, administer and enforce intellectual property rights across Africa.
Integration and Implementation of IP Tools
In the last decade, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has worked very closely with the European Union’s Member States IP offices to develop IT tools that help the offices work more efficiently and make IP information freely available to the public
Regional workshop on accession to the Banjul Protocol
The Banjul Protocol provides a centralised trade mark registration procedure. Applications for trade mark registrations may be submitted either to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) or the Intellectual Property office of a Member State.
IP Awareness Sessions on Patents and Innovation for ARIPO Countries
Universities, research and development (R&D) institutions and other innovation associations increasingly leverage their intellectual property (IP) internationally, as they diversify their contributions beyond just imparting knowledge to their students.
Legal and technical assistance to the RECs for the Phase II negotiations on IPR
On 18-20 April 2022, a sub-regional workshop of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), together with the ‘Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa’ project (AfrIPI), was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Cong
Training on IPR examination practices
AfrIPI provides on demand technical assistance for examiners for trade marks, designs, patents, plant breeder’s rights through online training workshops on substantive examination practices, to meet this challenge, and to engage Member States to raise awareness on the protection of new plant vari
Promotional workshop on designs and utility models for ARIPO
On 27 and 28 April 2022, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and AfrIPI hosted a promotional workshop on Designs and Utility Models at ARIPO in Harare, Zimbabwe.
World IP Day in Cooperation with WIPO
World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every 26 April to increase intellectual property (IP) awareness.
Support to the development of national framework for copyrights in Equatorial Guinea
On 27 to 29 September 2022, a consultative workshop to support the reform of the legislative framework for protecting copyright and related rights took place in Equatorial Guinea. This event took place as a follow-up of the consultative workshop to support the est
Support for the establishment of university-private sector innovation platforms for OAPI countries
In support and appreciation of the production of inventions and institutional innovations for the benefit of enterprises, seminars involving universities, institutes and research centres were organised in the 17 OAPI member countries in three phases.
Expert support for the OAPI online master’s training programme
Expanding knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
Expert Support for the ARIPO Master’s Training Programme
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization, are delivering a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) Master’s Programme in English to three universities in Africa: the Africa Unive
Patent examination training programme (OAPI)
From 17 to 21 October 2022, four examiners from the African Organization of Intellectual Property (OAPI) attended a five-day study visit at the European Patent Office (EPO).
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in ARIPO countries
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) ad hoc working group on Geographical Indications (GIs) was held online on 22 March 2022 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Consultative roundtable on enforcement of IPR for North African countries
A consultative roundtable on the enforcement of IPR for North African countries was held on the 23rd – 24th of February 2022.
AfrIPI engages at the 7th edition of the EU-Africa Business Forum
The EU-Africa Business Forum 2022 (EABF22) took place from 14 to 18 February. This important event allowed public-private dialogue between the EU and Africa at continental level. It aimed to increase opportunities for sustainable economic cooperation.
Support for the digitalisation of the Nigeria IP Office: ‘Capture and Store’ of Trade Marks Paper Files
The Nigeria Intellectual Property (IP) Office has a vast quantity of paper-based trade marks that need to be scanned to migrate the data to the back office system (IPAS). As a result, it has been selected as the pilot office to give support for this digitalisation process.
Legal and technical assistance to the AfCFTA Secretariat for the Phase II negotiations on IPR
The AfCFTA Secretariat, the body in charge of the negotiations of the IPRs Protocol, is a new addition to the African Union system.
Support the registration at national level of GIs for OAPI countries
The Continental Strategy for geographical indications (GIs) in Africa (2018-2023) highlights the importance of the development and registration of GI products as pilots and drivers for rural and sustainable development to provide learning and demonstrative effects.
Support for the Setup and Strengthening of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) in ARIPO member states
In 2022, AfrIPI carried out a twofold action to help set-up and develop Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) for literary and artistic works in Member States of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).
ARIPO IP Awareness Campaign
Although the African Regional Intellectual Property Office (ARIPO) has existed since 1976, not many citizens from its 22 member states understand its core business and the benefit of filing through the ARIPO system.
Development of patent examination guidelines for OAPI
In accordance with the Patent Examination Training Program, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the European Patent Office (EPO), and the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) Project worked together to provide OAPI examiners with a comprehensive compet
GI awareness
A geographical indication (GI) is a distinctive sign used to identify a product whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are related to its geographical origin.
Support to the screening of GIs in Chad
In 2021, at least six geographical indications (GIs) were registered regionally in the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) region, with other applications pending.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in OAPI countries
Outcome 2 of the action plan of the Continental Strategy on Geographical Indications aims to create an enabling environment at the legal and institutional level for Geographical Indications (GIs) in African countries.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in other countries
On 17 and 18 February 2022, the National Conference on Creating Legal and Institutional Framework for Geographical Indications in Nigeria was held.
Africa IP SME Helpdesk
The Africa IP SME Helpdesk supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs') from the European Union (EU) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property (
OAPI Trademarks examiners training
On 30 November and 1 December AfrIPI is organising a training for trademark examiners.
Consultative roundtable on enforcement of IPR for North African countries
A trend for increasing proliferation of counterfeit and illegal goods (ranging from medicine and food to pesticides) has been observed on the markets in North African countries.
Workshop on international frameworks (The Hague) for examiners
OAPI accessed the Geneva Act of The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs and this became effective on 16 September 2008.
Conference on Geographical Indications for ARIPO countries
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is organising a Regional Conference on Geographical Indications (GIs) in collaboration with AfrIPI (African Intellectual Property and Innovation) from 10 to 12 November 2021 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Regional Workshop on the Arusha Protocol
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is organising a virtual Regional Workshop on the Arusha Protocol in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation Project (AfrIPI) on 9 November 2021.
Innovation Day
This activity aims to get together, in OAPI 17 Member States, all innovation actors (academia, businesses, and public research bodies) in order to create long-term exchange platforms and establish common working plans.
Regional Seminar on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
The AFRIPI project in partnership with the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) is organising a regional seminar on the enforcement of intellectual property rights from 20 to 21 October 2021 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Cooperation Liaision Meeting on Africa
On 18 October, the AfrIPI project will be presented at the EUIPO 17th Liaison Meeting on Cooperation. Main topics will include the launch of the first Africa IP SME helpdesk.
Patent Examination Training
In view of the implementation of the substantive examination of patent and utility model applications scheduled for January 2022, the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) plans, among other things, to strengthen the capacities and to tra
Meetings on the TF in Nigeria
The objective is to follow-up on the capacity-building workshop organised by AfriPI in April 2021 (in Abuja) and support the work of National Task Force created at this occasion with a view to suggest a draft law and a plan of action for GIs in Nigeria.
Create an African SME learning tool
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are important drivers of growth in economies across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for up to 90 % of all businesses in these markets.
AfrIPI project launch event
In orde
Support to the Kampala diplomatic conference on voluntary registration of copyrights and related rights
The voluntary registration of copyrights and related rights regulations provide means of presumption as to the authorship/ ownership of rights, offering a proof of ownership document.
Support to the design and delivery of online training at the ARIPO master’s programmes on IP
Expanding the knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
GAP analysis on international agreements
International IPR agreements are key facilitators of international trade in the globalised economy. In many African countries the absence of a consistent and coherent national policy on intellectual property (IP), which is in line with those international IPR agreements, creates issues.
Harmonisation Workshop in ARIPO
AfrIPI is organising a workshop for ARIPO member states on the methodology used to achieve harmonisation in trade mark and design registration practices in Europe in the last decade.
Nigeria’s Trade Mark examiners workshop
Strengthening national and regional IP offices is one of the four main pillars of the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) Project.
Judges colloquium on enforcement – initiating the creation of an online accessible case-law database
ARIPO is making vast efforts to set-up a regional case-law database on intellectual property rights (IPRs). To achieve this high-reaching objective, the establishment of a network or platform to link IPR judges would be needed.
Trade Marks Examiners training for Morocco
AfrIPI delivered on-demand training activities that were tailored to the specific needs of public officials in the field of intellectual property.
Vienna Classification System Trainings
The AfrIPI project seeks to promote the African IPOs’ awareness of the advantages of the existing international system of IP.
Regional workshop on accession to the Banjul protocol
The Banjul Protocol provides a centralised trade mark registration procedure. Applications for trade mark registrations may be submitted either to the ARIPO Office or to the industrial property office of a member state; and must designate the member state(s) where registration is sought.
Capacity building workshop on geographical indications for public sector/policy makers in Nigeria
22 April 2021 is the date chosen for a workshop on geographical indications (GIs) in Nigeria. The main thrust of the workshop will be to discuss how best to prepare the public sector in promoting GIs in Nigeria (capacity building).
Awareness raising on the advantages of international systems on IP
In general, in Africa there is a low participation in international agreements in IP. This activity, focused on OAPI member states, will aim to promote accession to all international treaties that the gap analysis will present useful in facilitating international trade for these focus countries.
Regional workshop on the Arusha protocol
Plant variety protection (or plant breeders’ rights (PBRs)) is an IPR granted to farmers or breeders of new plant varieties.
Conference on geographical indications for policymakers for ARIPO countries and panel on legal framework
Geographical indications (GIs) have become one of the important key drivers for social and economic development in many countries. ARIPO has created a draft legal framework.
Support to IP Academies network
The Nigerian and Ethiopian intellectual property offices (IPOs) held an online workshop with the EUIPO Academy on 24 March 2021, to exchange best practices on how to set up their own IP Academies.
Development of common guidelines for ARIPO member states
In the globalised world, where more and more businesses operate across national borders, regional harmonisation of IP soft law is key to facilitate the use of IP rights by MSMEs.
Support to the reform of Angolan IP legislation
Today, technological innovation represents the economic segment that has grown the most and has greatly contributed to the economic development of countries.
Legal and technical assistance to AU Commission on IP
The main objective of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to create a single continental market for goods and services, with the free movement of people and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African Custo
Support to the development of national framework for copyrights in Equatorial Guinea
Effective protection of copyright and related rights ensures the contribution of the cultural sector to the economy through the emergence and development of the cultural industry. In this mechanism, the role of collective management is essential.
AfrIPI and the African IPOs: creating awareness
The European Intellectual Property Office EUIPO (represented by the AfrIPI PMT) together with the European Commission (DG DEVCO) will organise an online seminar on the EU partnership with Africa on Intellectual Property Rights, in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Technical support to the development of the legal framework for GIs
Having adequate legal frameworks in place is essential for protecting Geographical Indications (GIs).
Support to GI registration Cabrito de Tete
The AfrIPI project supports the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication (Mozambique). It does so by providing technical and logistical assistance in the commercial testing.
Patent examination training programme (ARIPO)
Inventors often favour the legal certainty of patents granted by patent systems with substantive examination. Due to a lack of resources and capacity, only a few countries in Africa conduct any form of substantive examination.
Training on IP to technical working group AfCFTA
As the AfrIPI project is designed to facilitate the ongoing negotiations (in particular Phase II, dealing with intellectual property rights) and later implementation of the AfCFTA, the project will provide technical assistance to the African Union and its member states in this regard.
Support to the intellectual property (IP) academies network
IP academies are important for raising awareness on IP and strengthening capacities related to IP knowledge.
Workshop to exchange best practices and identify actions on counterfeiting and piracy in specific industry sectors (pharmaceuticals)
African countries are a key destination for counterfeit goods such as pharmaceuticals, with the hazards and damage that this pose to consumers.
Webinar on licencing mechanisms
The international development community has set a clear goal of reaching universal health coverage by 2030 while leaving no one behind.
Support the registration of African GIs at national and/or EU level
The AfrIPI project supports the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication (Mozambique). It does so by providing technical and logistical assistance in commercial testing.
Development of the OAPI trade mark and designs examination guidelines
In order to enhance the quality, consistency and transparency of the examination of trade marks and designs in OAPI, it is important to have common guidelines for all examiners to use as a reference in their examination work.
Integration and implementation of IP tools
The activity aims to create awareness on the available IP tools and prepare the countries involved to integrate relevant EUIPN tools into their software. This integration process also includes the sharing of knowledge and experiences as well as technical hands-on sessions.
Expert support to the OAPI online master’s training programme
Expanding knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
AfrIPI feeding the GI Hub
Free access to information ensures transparency and promotes participation in public debate.
Trade mark and industrial designs guidelines: revision and technical working group participation (Egypt twinning project)
The twinning project ‘Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on January 2020 and is scheduled to be implemented over a period of 18 months.
Trade mark and Industrial Designs Guidelines: revision and technical working group participation (Egypt twinning project)
The twinning project ‘Trade marks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on the 20 January 2020 and is scheduled for implementation over a period of 18 months, with the objective of strengthening the protection of trade marks and industrial designs in Egypt.<Support the registration at national and/ or EU level of African GIs
The Continental Strategy for GIs in Africa (2018- 2023) highlights the importance of the development and registration of GI products as pilots and drivers for rural and sustainable development to provide learning and demonstrative effects.
Development of the Egyptian Trade mark and Industrial Designs Guidelines
The Twinning Project ‘Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on the 20 January 2020 and i
A new African GI manual coming soon
As stated in the continental GI strategy for Africa, the value of GIs needs to be highlighted through specifically supporting the effective progress of African geographical indications (GIs).
Integration and implementation of IP tools
Open access to the IP registers is expected to provide immediate tangible benefits to the users of the IP system in Africa, such as quality, reliability, and access to information.