About
The inception of DID:UNCONF AFRICA arose from the recognition that the SADC region holds immense potential yet faces unique challenges in digital identity. Our inaugural event emphasises the vast disparities in the digital identity ecosystem and offers a stage for groundbreaking solutions tailored to the African context. DID:UNCONF AFRICA brings together thinkers, leaders, and innovators who are transforming the digital identity landscape, both locally and internationally.
Inspired by the collaborative and dynamic format of the Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), DID:UNCONF AFRICA takes a more explorative approach, allowing participants to chart the course of discussions.
With esteemed facilitators like Kaliya Young and Heidi Nobantu Saul at the helm, and bolstered by the local expertise of DIDx, DID:UNCONF AFRICA has embraced the IIW's Open Space format, allowing participants to co-create agendas, ensuring the discourse remains current and relevant.
This UnConference breaks the mould of traditional events, creating a space where every voice can be heard, from startups to industry giants. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Cape Town, DID:UNCONF AFRICA not only explores the intricacies of digital identity but also works toward weaving a cohesive network of innovators in the SADC region and beyond.
Event Background
The DID:UNCONF AFRICA event is an Internet Identity Workshop Inspired™ Regionally Focused OpenSpace Unconference. The two facilitators and producers of IIW, Kaliya Young, also known as the Identity Woman, and Heidi Nobantu Saul collaborated with a local partner DIDx to host and produce this first edition of DID:UNCONF AFRICA in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2024.
The second and third days of the event will be hosted with the same Open Space UnConference format that the Internet Identity Workshop has used for the past 19 years.