On 16 June 2026, AfroLeadership officially launched the Africa Child Online Protection Programme (ACOPP), a pan-African initiative aimed at promoting a safer digital environment for children and young people. Held under the theme ‘Building a safer digital space for African children and young people’, this international online event brought together experts, technical partners, international organisations, researchers and civil society actors from across the globe to explore solutions for better protecting minors from the growing risks of the digital world.
Led by AfroLeadership, ACOPP is being developed in partnership with leading organisations, including UNICEF, IMPACT and ChildSafe.dev, with the support of partners such as Fujitsu Futures and Turing Space. This programme reflects a shared commitment to placing child protection at the heart of Africa’s digital transformation, by developing innovative solutions that enable young people to access the opportunities offered by digital technology whilst protecting them from inappropriate content, online violence, abuse, disinformation and other threats in the digital environment.
The discussions highlighted the role that emerging technologies – notably artificial intelligence, smart filtering mechanisms, parental control tools and secure educational platforms – can play in building a digital ecosystem that is more protective and better suited to African realities. Beyond technological solutions, speakers emphasised the need for a collaborative approach involving governments, international organisations, technology companies, schools, parents and communities in order to build a digital environment where every child can learn, communicate and thrive in complete safety.
The launch of ACOPP also featured a high-level international panel comprising Marcelle Ngounou, Global Programme Coordinator for ACOPP; Charlie Martial Ngounou, President of AfroLeadership; Paul Marie Petroch, Head of Social Policy at UNICEF Cameroon; Babette Ngene, digital rights specialist; Nnenna Nwakanma, a recognised figure in Internet governance in Africa, and Dr Loy Ehlers III, an international expert in innovation and digital transformation. The diversity of expertise brought together illustrates the programme’s international scope, as well as the growing interest in child protection issues in the digital space.
Beyond its launch, ACOPP aims to become a leading pan-African platform for the protection of children online. The programme will gradually provide governments, local authorities, schools, families and civil society organisations with digital tools, educational resources, prevention mechanisms and collaborative spaces designed to reduce digital risks and promote a safer internet for every African child.
Through this initiative, AfroLeadership is reaffirming its ambition to become a leading player in Africa in the field of online child protection. By developing innovative digital solutions and promoting research, capacity-building and international cooperation, the organisation aims to support governments, local authorities, schools and families in building a digital environment that is safer, more inclusive and more respectful of children’s rights. Ultimately, ACOPP aims to become a leading pan-African platform for online child protection, providing governments, schools, families and civil society organisations with innovative tools, resources and mechanisms to prevent digital risks and promote a safer internet for every African child. This initiative marks an important milestone in AfroLeadership’s contribution to the emergence of responsible digital governance, where technological innovation is harnessed to support the development, education and well-being of future generations.