New research conducted by World Wide Web Foundation and Open Data Institute finds African open data initiatives to have good intentions but limited reach and impact.

The 87-page Connecting Africa Main Report, launched by AfDB during the Transform Africa 2013 summit assesses goals set in 2007 and provides an updated outlook for African ICT development.

All eyes have been on Rwanda this week as Kigali hosts 1,200+ delegates and 7 heads of state at the Transform Africa Summit 2013. Up for discussion between leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs are Africa’s future with ICT and how the private sector can spur advancement.

CTO Forum 2013 served as another means of bringing together ministers, experts, and policymakers who have the ability to drive down internet access costs for African consumers.

The 2nd annual Arab Internet Governance Forum was recently held in Algiers, Algeria under the theme “Partners for Development.” Discussions focused on cyber security, freedom of the internet, the creation of infrastructure, and youth opportunities.

Of fourteen African nations surveyed from May 2012 through April 2013, only two (Kenya and South Africa) were found to have true online freedom. Sudan and Ethiopia were found to lack it.