Africa's First Harmonized Accessibility Standard for ICT  Products and Services

inABLE and African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO) have announced a landmark partnership to develop Africa’s first harmonized Accessibility Standard for ICT Products and Services at the Zero Project Conference 2026 in Vienna, Austria — a major step toward digital inclusion for more than 80 million Africans with disabilities.

The first stakeholder engagement will take place at the Inclusive Africa Conference 2026 (June 3-5, 2026, Nairobi). The Africa Accessibility Standard for ICT Products and Services, will directly impact financial services, healthcare, tech industry, employment, education and transportation sectors.

Supported by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the development process will include collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and various stakeholders. The standard will be developed by assessing and adapting global accessibility standards to the African context.

Partners, governments, private sector, and development organizations are invited to join this transformative continental initiative to establish accessibility as the foundation of Africa's inclusive digital transformation.

Advancing Africa’s Accessibility Leadership

This partnership builds on inABLE's continental leadership in accessibility policy and advocacy. The organization's annual Inclusive Africa Conference has become a catalyst for policy dialogue, bringing together governments, multilateral institutions, and disability organizations to advance accessibility frameworks across Africa. With 80 million people with disabilities living across Africa and the continent's rapid digital transformation underway, accessible ICT standards are essential for ensuring no one is left behind.

Why This Matters

Africa's digital economy is growing rapidly. A harmonized continental accessibility standard ensures this growth is inclusive.

Project Scope and Timeline

The project, funded through inABLE with project oversight and coordination support, includes:

1. 1 Adaptation of global accessibility standards to the African continental context
2. 2 Multi-stakeholder engagement across ARSO member states(45) and the international community
3. 3 Capacity building for national standards bodies
4. 4 Consultation with disability organizations across Africa
5. 5 Development and adoption of the harmonized African Standard
6. 6 Timeline : 24 months

The project aims to deliver a harmonized African Digital Accessibility Standard ready for adoption by ARSO's 45 member countries.

About the Partners

InABLE

Founded in 2009, inABLE is a Kenyan and US-based non-profit transforming the lives of African youth with disabilities through digital accessibility and assistive technology innovation. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a continental movement for digital inclusion, reaching thousands across Africa.

The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)

The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) was established in 1977 as the Continental Inter-Governmental Organisation for Africa by the African Union (formerly the OAU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Kenya Bureau of Standards

Since Kenya Bureau of Standards’ inception in 1974, its main activities have grown from the development of standards and quality control for a limited number of locally made products in the 1970s to the provision of more comprehensive standards development, Metrology, Conformity Assessment, Training and Certification services.

Join the Initiative