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DCA was founded in 2008 by [[Sophia Bekele]], who serves as Executive Director of the organization. Her intent, by supporting the .africa initiative, is to remove the internet policy divides in the African Region, and to support the region in catching up with the innovations of the worldwide Internet and Communications Technology industry. In 2009, the organization began its campaign to gather support for the .africa initiative by conducting forums in different universities and international conferences, among which were the Golden Gate University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Sacramento State University, the World Summit on the Information Society ([[WSIS]]), the United Nations Development of Economics & Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1103791866869.html The DotAfrica Issue, Thoughts from the Founder/Executive Director]</ref>

DCA was founded in 2008 by [[Sophia Bekele]], who serves as Executive Director of the organization. Her intent, by supporting the .africa initiative, is to remove the internet policy divides in the African Region, and to support the region in catching up with the innovations of the worldwide Internet and Communications Technology industry. In 2009, the organization began its campaign to gather support for the .africa initiative by conducting forums in different universities and international conferences, among which were the Golden Gate University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Sacramento State University, the World Summit on the Information Society ([[WSIS]]), the United Nations Development of Economics & Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1103791866869.html The DotAfrica Issue, Thoughts from the Founder/Executive Director]</ref>

The proposal to develop the DotAfrica TLD was first introduced by Sophia Bekele to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] and different African organizations of the ICANN community during the [[ICANN 28]] meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007. She emphasized the importance of the .africa domain name for the benefit of the African region’s internet development and how it could serve as global identity for African internet users, as [[.asia]] and [[.eu]] do for their regions. Bekele argued that the initiative was compliant with the objectives and policies of various international organizations aiming to strengthen Africa's ICT sector, including the [[WSIS]], the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref>

The proposal to develop the DotAfrica TLD was first introduced by Sophia Bekele to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] in 2006 <ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10916169-dotconnectafrica-lauched-its-official-africa-campaign-at-the-aitec-ict-summit.html DotConnectAfrica lauched its official ".africa" campaign at the AITEC ICT Summit]</ref>, and different African organizations of the ICANN community during the [[ICANN 28]] meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica Africa's Map in Digital Inclusion Presention to ICANN, Lisbon Canada]</ref>. She emphasized the importance of the .africa domain name for the benefit of the African region’s internet development and how it could serve as global identity for African internet users, as [[.asia]] and [[.eu]] do for their regions. Bekele argued that the initiative was compliant with the objectives and policies of various international organizations aiming to strengthen Africa's ICT sector, including the [[WSIS]], the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref>

During the [[ICANN 32]] International ICANN Public Meeting, Bekele officially announced her bid to apply for the .africa TLD through DotConnectAfrica.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2008/06/22-june-2008-paris-icann-dot-africa-initiative-announced-icann-paris-meeting/ 22 June 2008 – Paris ICANN: DotAfrica Initiative announced at ICANN Paris meeting]</ref>

During the [[ICANN 32]] International ICANN Public Meeting in Paris France, Bekele officially announced her bid to apply for the .africa TLD through DotConnectAfrica.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2008/06/22-june-2008-paris-icann-dot-africa-initiative-announced-icann-paris-meeting/ 22 June 2008 – Paris ICANN: DotAfrica Initiative announced at ICANN meeting in Paris France]</ref>

==Endorsements to DCA==

==Endorsements to DCA==