Sonia Jorge is Research and Consulting Director at Pyramid Research, Regulation and Public Policy Practice Leader. Ms. Jorge has close to 20 years of experience as an international consultant in communications policy and regulation, gender and development. Her recent work has focused on ICT policy and regulation, strategic planning for the sector, national ICT policy development, new regulatory frameworks (to address competition, interconnection, cost-based pricing, sector development, infrastructure sharing, convergence), universal access in the context of development, and gender analysis and awareness in the process of planning for information and communication technologies.
Recent projects include:
Mozambique (2012-2013): Responsible for managing a project to revise and update the legislative and regulatory framework in Mozambique, to develop cost models to aid the regulatory authority in their decision making process, and to develop a capacity building plan for the authority;
Latin America and the Caribbean (projects in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and the ECTEL states over a number of years): Responsible for developing detailed market analysis and identify key connectivity and access gaps to be addressed by private and public stakeholders. Developed policy statements, universal access/service guidelines and market strategies focusing on promoting development and growth in the sector, for both regulators and operators.
Mobile Applications for Development in Emerging Markets (2010-on-going research project): Coordinate and lead Pyramid Research’s initiative on mobile applications for development, focusing on documenting the experiences, assessing technology platforms, and developing innovative indicators to measure impact across sectors and population groups. This initiative includes the publication of research reports on mobile for development themes, such as mAgriculture, mHealth, mEducation, mMoney and mWomen.
Ghana (2009-2010): Part of a team of experts charged with the development of a strategic plan, institutional framework and capacity building plan for the National Communications Authority.
Liberia (2010): Responsible for the preparation of a rural connectivity development policy and action plan in the context of upcoming submarine cable capacity and the proposed Universal Service Fund for the Government of Liberia.
Mozambique (2009): Responsible for the development of a universal access strategy and implementation plan for the National Institute of Communications of Mozambique. This project included an assessment of universal access in the country, an evaluation of current projects supported by the Universal Access Fund, and the development of programs to expand access to and use of ICT in Mozambique.
Mozambique (2007-2008): Responsible for managing and executing a comprehensive consulting project for the National Institute of Communication in Mozambique, focusing on a detailed market analysis of the telecom sector (including stakeholder consultations, demand study, regional field visits and assessments), an organizational assessment of the regulator, advice for a new regulatory framework, and a capacity building plan for the regulator.
Ms. Jorge’s other recent projects include a review and assessment of the experience of Multi-sector Regulatory Agencies (MSRA) in five African countries, Cape Verde, Guine-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Niger, the development of universal service guidelines for the ECTEL member states (5 states of the OECS region), the rural ICT development policy for Indonesia, a region-wide study of universal access to communication in 19 Latin American countries where she coordinated the research for the REGULATEL/World Bank project on universal access, preparation of the UN-TFFM report on financing ICT for development, assessment of capacity needs and development of a capacity building plan for the Ministry of Communication and the regulator in Ghana, development of training materials on ICT Policy and regulation for various professionals, a gender and telecommunications policy curriculum for the ITU, and national sector strategies and policies in a number of countries (Ghana, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, South Africa).
Ms. Jorge has published widely and frequently presents various papers in international conferences. Ms. Jorge holds a Masters in Public Policy (Tufts University) and a BA/BS in Economics and Business Finance (University of Massachusetts). She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English, and has basic working knowledge of French. She is based in the company’s headquarters in Boston, MA.
Sonia’s recent speaking engagements and publications:
Panel Moderator: How to address the challenges of developing transparent policy frameworks to encourage growth, Africa Regional Summit, Ministerial Program, GSMA Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain, February 25-27, 2013
"Access to Broadband: Focusing on demand stimulation strategies," presented at the UN-Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Inter-sessional Panel, Lima, Peru, January 7-9, 2013.
Speaker at the Spectrum Summit, 4G World, Chicago, US, October 28-30, 2012.
"Regulators Hold the Key to Mobile Broadband Development in Africa," co-author (with Ronda Zeleszny-Green), Africa and the Middle East Insider Report, October 2012.
"Gender and ICT: Identifying sources of data and proposed indicators," presented at the ITU 10th World Telecommunications/ICT Indicators Meeting, Bangkok, September 25-27, 2012.
"m-Women: A Win-Win Opportunity for Mobile Operators," editor, Pyramid Research Global Insider Report, December 2011.
"National Broadband Plans Show a Diversity of Methods but a Unity of Purpose," Pyramid Research Latin America Insider Report, December 2011.
"Infrastructure Sharing: Is Tower Outsourcing and Sharing a Viable Business Model," presented at the Colombian Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Forum, Cartagena, Colombia, October 18-19, 2011.
"Moving Towards Healthy Coopetition in African Communications Markets," presented at the African Telecom Forum, Marrakech, Morocco, March 17-18, 2011.
"Engendering ICT Policy," Presenter and panel moderator, ICTD Conference, Royal Holloway, University of London, December 13-16, 2010.
"mHealth Gains Popularity and Complexity as Mobile Penetration Climbs in the AME," (with Badii Kechiche), Africa and the Middle East Insider Report, December 2010.
"Mobile Agriculture: A Development Imperative for MNOs and Farmers Alike," editor, Africa and the Middle East Insider Report, November 2010.
"New Undersea Cables Help Boost Africa’s Broadband Prospects: The role of African regulators to facilitate market development and ensure affordable prices," presented at the ITU Forum for Telecommunications Regulators in Africa, Banjul, The Gambia, July 12-14, 2010.
