Championing the digital future of South Sudan

ICT Society South Sudan (ICTSS) is a professional association (Technology Community) established to accelerate digital transformation and bridge the digital divide in South Sudan. We work across policy, capacity building, and connectivity to ensure no citizen is left behind in the information age.

Organizational Environment and Context

The Information Communication Technology Society South Sudan (ICT Society) is the only professional society for Information & Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in South Sudan. ICT Society was established in August 2014 under the provisions of laws of South Sudan to be a voice that represents the ICT sector needs, advocate for policies that support and develop the ICT sector in South Sudan, with a commitment to the larger community to ensure the beneficial use of ICT.

The Society establishment is credited to a group of young and energetic ICT professionals. The Society aims to conduct research and develop baseline data on ICT in South Sudan, maintain and promote a Code of Ethics for members of the Society, disseminate the knowledge and understanding of ICT in the wider community, promote the benefits of membership of the Society.

The members of the Society work in all sectors of the economy, from business and industry, to government and academia, to UN and NGOS, and are qualified and experienced ICT professionals committed to development of the ICT sector in South Sudan. The membership of ICT Society South Sudan indicates a commitment to professionalism and adherence to a Code of Ethics and Conduct, and continuing knowledge acquisition and skills development.

We have grown from a small advocacy group to a nationally recognized body with members across all ten states of South Sudan

Organizational Objectives

The Objectives of ICT Society South Sudan are as follows:-

1. To be a voice that represents the ICT sector needs
2. To advocate for policies that support and develop the ICT sector in South Sudan.
3. To develop and implement strong ICT standards.
4. To develop and monitor quality ICT trainings, certifications and accreditations.
5. To promote and encourage a strong Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in the ICT projects.
6. To create linkages with international organizations, societies, associations and accredited organizations to promote bilateral and multilateral ties in the ICT sector.
7. To create an understanding of the importance of ICT as an important enabling tool for socioeconomic development
8. To foster the adoption of ICT for development in South Sudan, i.e. e-learning, e-governance and ecommerce.

Membership

ICT Society South Sudan membership has numerous benefits, for both individual members, and organizations employing members of the Society. These benefits and rewards include professional development, career long support and technical resources, professional networking opportunities and a host of other cost saving initiatives such as discounts on professional trainings and prospects to enable an ICT professional keep abreast of latest developments and knowledge and trend, gain new skills, share ideas and concepts with professional peers in addition to developing and managing their work and career.

Dependent upon meeting the sets of criteria set by the society the major categories of membership within the ICT Society shall include:

1. Telecom Companies
2. ISP’s
3. ICT Companies
4. Academic Institutions/Departments
5. Organizations
6. Individuals

Organization Beneficiaries

Although the entire community of South Sudan is the ultimate beneficiary of ICT Society’s Programs and activities, the major one is on the groups that we envision should interact with technology the most, e.g. Students at all levels of learning institutions. ICT Society aims to serve communities in two ways, one directly working with communities at schools to build ICT capacity of young pupils, and the other way is to develop ICT capacities of organizations working for the betterment of technology penetration and use in South Sudan.

There will be Programs which cover in some way or another, the community as a whole; such as the interventions in the fields of ICT research and baseline development, community capacity building and youth development in ICT; offered to achieve over-all socio-economic transformation and designed to benefit the larger community, though in varying degrees, and thus to contribute to the well-being of the people at large.

Organizational Priorities

ICT Society South Sudan has identified priority areas that will enhance the development of the sector in the long term. One of the major priorities is the creation of ICT incubation centers, as currently there is hardly any research in ICT in South Sudan, and it is not a priority to the existing players in the industry. The incubation center will create the environment for ICT professional and students to develop tools and applications suitable for the context of South Sudan.

The second major priority of the Society is to facilitate the development and adoption of national ICT standards in South Sudan, in collaboration with the relevant authorities. Such a standard will prevent entry of sub-standard products into the market, and protect consumers and users of ICT services.

The third major priority of the ICT Society is to develop a social outreach strategy whose aim is to formulate activities that will actively engage the citizens through public lectures, television and radio programming amongst others. This is aimed at raising awareness, and advocating for the role ICT can play in fast tracking developmental activities and related efforts in South Sudan.

Organizational Culture

The vision of the Society is to make ICT the cornerstone of development in South Sudan. The mission is to contribute in creating conducive environment for innovation, excellence, growth and recognition of ICT sector in South Sudan by providing leadership, focus and collaboration with private sector, education sector, non-governmental and the government.

The ICT Society therefore aspires to create an organizational culture that represents a level of excellence, rigor, honesty and integrity to achieve competitive advantages for its members working in various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sectors of the economy, as well as to achieve a level of risk mitigation for individuals and organizations that employ ICT Society members.

The ICT Society aims to establish contacts with major international players in the ICT sectors to highlight and promote its vision for South Sudan through mutual partnerships and professional collaboration. In the same spirit the Society also shall develop policy and guidance geared towards adherence to international ICT standards and best practices to ensure that implementations of ICT solutions in the country are not only efficient but are sustainable and resilient to meet changing needs.

ICT professionals with the ICT Society South Sudan will comprise of those who have industry recognized qualifications and practical experience in ICT field. These qualifications and experience are verified by ICT Society in accordance to the membership eligibility criteria.

To actively promote and recognize the use of ICT in the country, the Society organizes an annual award ceremony highlighting the work of various actors who are using ICT to make an impact in the country.

Categories of this award include:

1. ISPs
2. Telecoms
3. Organization
4. Individual
5. Special category
6. etc...