Category

Digital Rights

Feb 19
0

Fatima Ahmed Sehure: With the Support and Motivation from the LIFE program, I am not Where I Used to be and I am Most Grateful for That.

By | AjegunleLIFE, Digital Rights, Echoes From Life, ICT Policy, ICTs, L.I.F.E.

I Am Fatima Ahmed Sekure, from Badawa layout, Kano. My brother told me about Paradigm Initiative’s Training after my NYSC in 2019. Since he is an alumnus, he told me how they support youths to achieve their goals, learn ICT skills, and become entrepreneurs, so I asked him to let me know when it was time to enroll.

What I heard about the program made me more interested in being a part of it. I heard it helped youths learn how to be self-reliant, it taught entrepreneurs how to boost an existing business, and that through the program young people are educated to become better individuals in society.

After the training, I enrolled in a tailoring school and Alhamdulillah the progress has been massive. I can now make simple gowns, facemasks, and bags.

I am growing in the business of bag making, as customers are trooping in especially those getting married. With the support and motivation from the LIFE Program and the trainers, I am not where I used to be, I am most grateful for that.

Feb 17
0

Media and Digital Information Literacy

By | Digital Rights, ICTs, L.I.F.E., Techtiary

How well do you understand the use of technology?
Do you know the limitations of technology?
Do you understand the dangers and precautions that the use of technology requires?

We all know that traditional literacy is the ability to read and write but in today’s digital world, being literate isn’t enough anymore as people need to be digitally literate as well. Digital literacy means having the technical skills to work and communicate in a society where there is the proliferation of information through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices.

With the advancement of technology over the years, we now live in a global world. The domination of technology in our everyday lives has proven the importance of digital literacy not just for adults but for children. A very important topic within digital literacy is Internet Safety.

The Digital world has created extreme benefits and advantages for everyone. Without proper use and understanding of these technologies, the digital world can be overwhelming and even dangerous.

Digital literacy can be either simple or complex. It can be as simple as the ability to use social media or send an email. However, digital literacy also refers to a deeper understanding of technology around us which can be practical software skills such as creating a website or an app.

Digital literacy is not just knowing how to check our social media handles. Internet safety or online safety is the act of maximizing a person’s awareness and personal safety to private information and property associated with using the internet.

Generally, the internet does not harm us until we choose to react to suspicious content and websites. The first reason for internet harm is when you don’t know what you are doing. The second is when other forces entice you to react or click on links such as attractive ads, infected software downloads, and fraudulent messages.

Safety tips for online safety

• First, remember never to share your personal information example home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room with unknown people.

• Never continue a chat with someone who makes you uncomfortable (always trust your instincts).

• Create a complex, unique, and strong password. Use upper, lower, and special characters (you can also have a password in your local dialect).

• Be a selective sharer.

• Always check website reliability.

• Always use two-factor authentication where available.

• Beware of free Wi-Fi and downloads.

• Most importantly remember to NEVER share your password(s) with anyone because that is your digital identity.

 

By Amina Ibrahim Idris

Feb 15
0

CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE GAP IN AFRICA’S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

By | Digital Rights, ICT Policy, ICTs, Internet Freedom

The world we live in is changing in ways we would not have imagined some years back and this change is being driven by Information and communication technology-enabled innovations. This has led to a race of who will blaze the trail in the digital economy of the world, as whoever wins the race will have major control over important dynamics that drive our world today.

While we see developed countries striving to increase their quest towards digital dominance, what we see in most African countries especially as it has to do with her underserved population is a continent that either has lost touch with what is happening around her or one that doesn’t care about the wellbeing of its underserved population, as we cant see the much that is being done towards closing the digital divide gap compare to other developed economies when it comes to her citizens who live below the poverty line.

To help us better understand this problem, Jakob Nielsen wrote an article in 2016 that analyzed the digital divide and classified it into three stages: the economic divide stage, the usability divide stage, and the empowerment divide stage.

In Africa, you will find most countries at the economic divide stage. The majority of the citizens do not have access to the infrastructure, devices, and tools that will enable their participation in the global digital economy. This can mostly be attributed to poverty, as a greater percentage of her population do not have what it takes to acquire even the world’s cheapest digital devices. The second reason here being, the inability of the government of these countries, to provide the infrastructure that will support access to the digital economy.

On the problem of the usability divide, we see where people have moved beyond the first stage to having access to digital tools and devices but not knowing how to use them. Here you see citizens acquiring computers just for recreational reasons (playing games and watching movies) or getting high-end smartphones for the sole purpose of making and receiving calls. The above is usually because they lack the skills and knowledge that can enable them to take full advantage of the capability of these digital resources.

At the third stage, which is the empowerment divide, the problem we see here in most African countries is that most people who have passed the first two stages by having access to digital tools and devices and the skills of using them most times don’t know how to convert that into opportunities that can empower them and their communities. The above situation is further exacerbated by repressive policies of most governments of the countries which have prevented most of its citizens especially those from underserved communities from taking advantage of their digital skills in empowering themselves. A typical example is a ban on the use of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria by her Apex financial institution the Central Bank of Nigeria which has led to many cryptocurrency exchanges doing business in Nigeria moving their businesses outside the shores of the country leading to the loss of opportunities for her teeming youthful population.

Having looked at the problem of the widened digital divide in Africa from the lens of these three stages, one will not help but ask what we can do to amend this situation so that Africa and its youthful population will not be left behind in the race for control in the emerging global digital economy. To close this widening gap in the digital divide among African countries, the following must be done:

There is the need for a homegrown solution to the problem of access to and affordability of digital tools and devices, as this will help reduce the cost and make them cheap enough that a greater number of citizens can get and use them.
African governments should take advantage of Public and Private partnerships to drive the acquisition of relevant digital skills that will help their people to be players in the emerging global digital economy.
Repressive government policies should be abolished, while good ones should be enacted to create the enabling environment for creative young people on the continent to be able to harness their digital skills towards creating opportunities for the continent and its people.

In conclusion, it is very important for policymakers in all African countries to understand the stages they are among these three stages of the digital divide as that will help them to know the appropriate policies to put in place to get their people to where they are supposed to be in the globalized digital economy.

By Ihueze Nwobilor

Feb 15
1

Paradigm Initiative Launches Call for Short Movie Production Proposals – LONDA

By | Advocacy, Digital Rights, ICTs

After the successful production and distribution of Training Day, an audio-visual presentation of PIN’s 2019 Digital Rights report. In this path, PIN recently announced an open call for proposals to a second short film of its 2020 Digital Report dubbed Londa: A Report on the State of Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa which presents the
state of digital rights in 20 African countries and makes key recommendations
for Digital Rights and Inclusion protection.

The production of the script is expected to take place in the last week of February with the actual production of the movie expected to commence on March 1, 2021. PIN expects a finalised film product by 20 April 2021. Londa is expected not to exceed twenty minutes, a motion picture that can be viewed and understood by all audience segments within Africa while using very simple, inclusive, and comprehensible language.

The call for proposals this year is targeting cutting-edge audio-visual companies to produce and distribute Londa. Because we understand that production and distribution consist of many elements, collaborative pitches of more than one applicant are welcome. The company will oversee the production and distribution of the movie within Africa and beyond.

Feb 12
0

Roselyn Ifeoma Micheal: The skills I acquired from L.I.F.E has set me on the path to success

By | AbaLIFE, Advocacy, AjegunleLIFE, Digital Rights, Echoes From Life, ICTs, L.I.F.E., Uncategorized

I got to hear about the training through a friend who graduated from the training earlier. The change I saw in her was what motivated me to join the training. I had my fears as I hadn’t touched a computer before, but she assured me that it would not be a problem as the instructors will guide me through the steps and processes. Based on her encouragement, I picked the form and passed through the selection process, and was among the selected few.

During the training, I was nervous when it came to handling the mouse or practicing what was taught. But thankfully, the trainers and officers at the center were so understanding and they helped me overcome my phobia which made the learning process easy.

I was impacted by the training in so many ways. Before the training, I believed acquiring digital skills was meant for extraordinary minds, but all those perceptions were changed during the training as I saw myself doing things I couldn’t have imagined doing before joining the training.

This was not only in digital skills, even the entrepreneurship skills classes exposed me to things I did not know about. Like generating ideas that can change my community, and then my social and communication skills were not left out as I have moved from a timid girl that I used to be to a bold person that can address any gathering comfortably now.

I am so grateful that the skills I acquired from this training have set me on the path to success since I left the training. I will proudly say that with the help of the skills I got, I now work as a secretary in a law chamber and the salary has helped me in contributing to the upkeep of my house making my family more proud of me.

Feb 10
0

Whitney Tony: My life is looking sharp; The L.I.F.E Program Enhanced my Knowledge to Identify New Opportunities

By | AbaLIFE, AjegunleLIFE, Digital Rights, Echoes From Life, ICTs, L.I.F.E.

Whitney Tony is a 22year old girl, the last child from a family of 5. According to her, growing up in Ajegunle was a tough one because of the notorious lifestyle of many young people within the slum. 

After she graduated from secondary school in 2015, Whitney joined the rat race to support her family financially. However, almost all of her salary could only cover transportation and feeding. This she did for 4 years after her graduation.

In 2019 she heard about the LIFE program from a friend, Moses Oghene, a graduate of the program. Whitney knew she had to benefit from the LIFE experience to gain the right skills if she wanted to pursue new opportunities.

At the AjegunleLIFE training center, “I equipped myself with digital skills, the facilitators encouraged us to push hard, my eyes were opened to lots of opportunities and I learned how to set realistic goals”, said Whitney.

After the program, Whitney volunteered to train secondary school students at Paradigm Initiative’s LIFE@School Program. Presently, Whitney runs two jobs as a digital marketer for The Choice Sanitary Wares LTD and Deluxe catering and event school.

According to her, “my life is looking sharp, I see myself ahead of most of my peers within my community because they do not know the things I know. Also, the skills received at the LIFE program help daily with my current job.”

Whitney aspires to further her education by studying Accountancy, she also plans to start a catering business. See

Feb 09
0

Asma’u Mu’azu: I am now Running my Business without Losing Money but Making a Profit.

By | AbaLIFE, AjegunleLIFE, Digital Rights, Echoes From Life, ICTs, L.I.F.E., Uncategorized

After secondary school, I attended vocational training where I learned how to make handbags. I had been making the bags for some time but I later realized that I was not making a profit. This was because I didn’t know how to properly run my business.

My sister advised me to join the DakataLIFE program at Paradigm Initiative. I joined the 2017C class where I learned how to use the computer. I liked the graphic design classes because I learned how to design logos and letterheads. The part of the training that really helped me in running my business was the Build Your Business (BYB) entrepreneurship classes.

Since finishing the program, I have continued with my bag-making business, and with the help of the knowledge I got from the program I am now running my business without losing money but making a profit. I now know how to advertise my bags online through WhatsApp groups. I used to think WhatsApp was only for Chatting but now I know how to use it to grow my business. The training has really made an impact on my life because I am now more self-confident to advertise my product. I am also making money so I can be self-reliant.

With the experience, I got during the training I can say “Always believe in yourself because if you don’t, then no one will believe in you”. Thanks to paradigm initiative.

Feb 08
0

PIN Joins Civil Society Organisations in Myanmar to say ‘NO’ to the current Internet Shutdown in the Country

By | Advocacy, Digital Rights, ICT Policy, ICTs, Uncategorized

Dear mobile operators and internet service providers in Myanmar, Right now, more than ever, the internet is integral to our survival. Without it we cannot stay connected with each other and the outside world, which heightens the risk for human rights violations against us.

Given this, we are writing with regards to your adherence to the shutdown of social media platforms. On February 3, 2021, mobile operators, international gateways, and internet service providers (ISPs) received a directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications to block Facebook; on February 5, 2021, an additional directive was received to block the social media platforms Twitter and Instagram.

These directives were given by an illegitimate authority body – by engaging in an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power, the military does not have the right to be recognized as the governing body of Myanmar. By complying with their directives, your companies are essentially legitimizing the military’s authority, despite international condemnation of this very body.

Further, the rights to freedom of expression and information are protected under general international human rights law. As evidenced in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, any restrictions to freedom of expression must be necessary and proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim. With COVID restrictions and ongoing security risks in the country, the people of Myanmar rely on social media platforms to share their voices with each other and the world. The blocking of social media platforms with the intent to silence Myanmar people’s dissent cannot be perceived as a legitimate aim.

We call for mobile operators and ISPs to take every action available to appeal the recent junta directives. Telenor has stated that the directive has a legal basis under the Myanmar Telecommunications Law but this is questionable. Section 77 of the Telecommunications Law authorizes the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MOTC) in case an “emergency situation arises to operate for the public interest,” to direct a telecommunications licensee to
suspend service or “intercept or not to operate any specific form of communication.” According to the International Commission of Jurists, Section 77 is incompatible with international human rights law and standards on freedom of expression and information, which in turn brings into question the validity of the MOTC order.

Additionally, we understand that telecom operators are required to report on requests for personal user data. We would like assurance that your companies are only disclosing information related to life-or-death situations. Facilitating the military’s surveillance of activists and journalists puts them at severe risk.

Finally, we would like to remind all operators that under the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights, you have a duty to not enable or contribute to potential human rights violations. Shutting down an important means for the nation to communicate with one another and bear witness is part of the military’s strategy to illegally retain power, and would thereby allow for potential human rights violations to take place with impunity. To uphold your duty:

  • Mobile operators and ISPs must prevent the military from accessing user data.
  • Mobile operators and ISPs must take every action available to appeal the recent junta directives.
  • Mobile operators and ISPs must develop plans in the event the human rights situation in Myanmar deteriorates.

Your services and actions are needed by the people now more than ever.

Regards,
Myanmar Civil Society Organizations working on:
Human Rights,
Peace and Federal Democracy,
Justice and Accountability

 

Feb 05
0

Fatima Saleh Abdulkarim: Thanks to the LIFE Program I Can Now Say I Run a Good Business.

By | AbaLIFE, AjegunleLIFE, Digital Rights, Echoes From Life, ICTs, L.I.F.E.

My name is Fatima Saleh Abdulkarim of Dakata quarters, Nassarawa local government of Kano state. I attended both primary and secondary school in Dakata, and now waiting for admission to further my education.

I joined Paradigm Initiative immediately after my 0 level exams where I started to learn so many things and was encouraged to be self-reliant and to have business skills, with this encouragement I began to think and started to develop ideas on how to develop my own business to help myself, family and my community at large. Coming from a low-income family where my mum is the sole breadwinner in the family looking after my three sisters ad myself since the passing on of our father. So with this initiative, I started having ideas on how to help myself and the family by applying what I was thought in the entrepreneurship class about business plans.

My mum used to bake cakes and petty snacks so I decided to continue baking to make it more successful and bigger by using social media to advertise and showcase my skills. I enrolled in some classes where I learned a lot and work hard to achieve my goal, with the assurance of my mum and countless advice from her, and with her encouragement and support from paradigm Initiative, I got where I’m now. Although I’m still pursuing because each step taken comes with new tactics to be learned.

With the skills acquired at Paradigm initiative during the LIFE program, I opened a business page on WhatsApp, Facebook and I created my logo and flyers without spending a kobo. Thanks to Paradigm Initiative I can now say I run a good business.

Feb 05
1

APPEL À PROPOSITION: Production d’un court métrage sur l’état des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique.

By | Advocacy, Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy, ICTs

 Introduction

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) est une entreprise sociale qui construit des systèmes de soutien basés sur les TIC et plaide pour les droits numériques afin d’améliorer les moyens de subsistance des jeunes Africains mal desservis. PIN a développé Londa: un rapport sur l’état des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique, qui présente l’état des droits numériques dans 20 pays africains et formule des recommandations clés pour les droits numériques et la protection de l’inclusion. Il capture entre autres, la fracture numérique aggravée par la pandémie du COVID-19. Le rapport met au jour des infractions dans différents domaines thématiques tels que la vie privée, l’accès à l’information et la liberté d’expression avec un contexte législatif et politique bien exposé.

Raison d’être et portée

PIN cherche à produire un court métrage, de 15 à 20 minutes, qui raconte l’histoire des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique. Le film doit faire ressortir un thème majeur dans les 20 pays rapportés à Londa. Le but est de présenter une production visuelle qui peut être vue et comprise par divers membres de la société africaine. Le langage utilisé doit être simple, inclusif et compréhensible pour atteindre un large public en Afrique. En tant que tel, le demandeur doit répondre en indiquant une stratégie de marketing solide.

 Chronologie

La production du scénario devrait avoir lieu au cours de la dernière semaine de février et la production réelle du film devrait commencer le 1er mars 2021. PIN s’attend à ce qu’un film finalisé soit produit d’ici le 20 avril 2021

 Attentes

PIN recherche une société de production pour faire ce qui suit:

Développer un scénario pour le film de Londa.

  • Produire le film en anglais et en français avec des sous-titres en swahili.
  • Assurer la diffusion du film auprès des publics et des parties prenantes anglophones et francophones, et doubler le film en version française en plus de la production originale anglaise.
  • La société de production de films doit disposer d’un équipement de production moderne et d’un personnel qualifié capable de rédiger des scénarios, de traduire en français, de produire des films et de doubler le film avec les conseils de l’équipe de communication interne de PIN.
  • La société de production cinématographique doit être ouverte à rencontrer régulièrement l’équipe PIN pour toute clarification et mise à jour.

Tâches de production

La société de production de films fera ce qui suit:

  • Développer le scénario anglais et la version française.
  • Produire un court métrage anglais et un doublage français, d’ici le 20 avril 2021.
  • Aligner étroitement la version doublée avec le style et le ton de l’original, tout en la maintenant parfaitement synchronisée avec les lèvres, les expressions et le langage corporel des acteurs.
  • Enregistrer et utiliser une narration française standard et préparez la musique de fond pour le film.
  • Finalisez la production originale en anglais et le doublage en français selon les commentaires fournis par Paradigm Initiative.
  • Finaliser tous types de données (scripts, images, clips, etc.) après consultation et approbation.
  • Utilisez le dernier logiciel de copie de haute qualité.

 Tâches de marketing et de distribution

Pour s’assurer que le film est largement distribué et promu sur les plateformes et canaux locaux et internationaux (en ligne et hors ligne), la société de production doit avoir la capacité de planifier et d’exécuter le marketing et la distribution du film. La société de production doit être capable de faire ce qui suit:

  • Développer un plan marketing complet de 3 mois (mai-juillet) comprenant le public, les médias, les canaux, les attentes et les coûts.
  • Développer et partager une stratégie complète de médias sociaux pour le marketing et la distribution du film.
  • Développer et partager un plan de relations publiques complet pour le marketing et la distribution du film.
  • Veiller à ce que le film soit correctement répertorié sur les plateformes de VOD et les programmes de médias traditionnels en Afrique et à l’étranger.
  • Assurer que le film soit répertorié dans toutes les bases de données de films internationales, les festivals pertinents et les encyclopédies.
  • Faire la publicité de spots, d’affiches et de teasers sur les médias traditionnels, notamment les journaux, la radio et la télévision.
  • Rédiger et produire un contenu et des critiques de qualité, en tenant compte des conventions et des limites des plateformes de médias sociaux.
  • Produire du contenu de haute qualité pour les plateformes de médias sociaux de Paradigm Initiative, notamment Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn et Instagram.
  • Créer et éditer des vidéos qui peuvent être publiées sur les plateformes pour promouvoir le film et le rapport sur les droits numériques en Afrique.
  • Partager régulièrement le contenu avec PIN.
  • Gérer et répondre aux commentaires dans les médias et les médias sociaux.

Qualifications, antécédents et expérience

L’entreprise idéale doit avoir une expertise et une créativité techniques / professionnelles de haut niveau en matière de rédaction, de production et de doublage de films. Le candidat retenu doit:

-Soumettre deux exemples de chacune des œuvres suivantes: Un film-scénario, un film et des productions de doublage vidéo en français directement produites par le candidat.

-Démontrer des compétences en scénarisation, production, développement et doublage de films / films en français. Le film produit doit être en anglais et doublé en français et le scénario doit être produit en anglais et en français.

Les accents français pris en charge incluent la France, la Suisse ou l’Afrique (Togo, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Congo, Bénin, Tchad, Cameroun, Gabon, RCA, Niger, Mali, Maroc, Tunisie, Algérie).

Soumission

La proposition doit fournir les informations suivantes:

  • Proposition technique: aperçu et méthodologie pour entreprendre la rédaction du scénario; la traduction du scénario; la production du film; le doublage vidéo; le plan de marketing et de distribution ainsi que le plan de travail détaillé montrant les activités importantes de la mission et les jalons.
  • Proposition financière: Inclure un devis détaillé pour la production indiquant tous les coûts nécessaires.
  • La proposition doit également inclure les coordonnées de trois(3) références. Veuillez soumettre la proposition avec le portefeuille de travaux tel que requis et mentionné dans la section qualifications ci-dessus.
  • Les soumissions doivent inclure les directives de sécurité COVID-19.

Si cet appel à proposition décrit vos capacités, veuillez soumettre votre proposition avant le 15 février 2021. Paradigm Initiative encourage les soumissions collaboratives de plusieurs candidats.

Veuillez soumettre vos propositions à rfp@paradigmhq.org avec comme “objet”: Production cinématographique: Londa

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