Category

Digital Rights

Oct 27
0

Comment les messageries privées permettent aux Nigérianes de prendre part aux mobilisations ?

By | Digital Rights

WhatsApp est de loin la première plateforme sociale dans plusieurs pays africains. Depuis plusieurs semaines, le Nigeria est secoué par des manifestations initiées contre les violences policières, qui se sont transformées, en une contestation inédite contre le régime et la mauvaise gouvernance. Ces manifestations sont inédites et attirent aussi autant l’attention du monde grâce à une campagne organisée et planifiée sur les réseaux sociaux.

Et à la tête de ces manifestations et du hashtag #Endsars, des féministes qui diffusent l’information, viennent en aide aux manifestants, alertent, grâce aux outils comme Whatsapp et Telegram.

Les femmes ont toujours pris leur part dans le changement politique au Nigeria. Figure importante de la lutte anticolonialiste, Funmilayo Ransome_Kuti, par exemple a milité pour l’émancipation et l’autodétermination des femmes dans son pays. En avril 1948, avec les femmes de son organisation, Abeokuta Women Union, elles obtiennent la suspension de la taxe imposée aux femmes et une amélioration provisoire de leur représentation politique. Et ces victoires, elles l’ont sans doute obtenu difficilement car on était encore loin de l’ère du smartphone et des réseaux sociaux. Désormais, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram mais surtout Whatsapp sont au cœur de nos vies. C’est sur cette dernière plateforme notamment que la campagne #Endsars se joue aussi. Les manifestants ont diffusé des informations capitales (lieu et date de rencontre, actualités en temps réel des marches, etc…) qui sont devenues virales grâce à des groupes populaires sur Whatsapp.

Utilisée par toutes les catégories de la populations (artisans, classes moyennes ou supérieures, jeunes ou vieux), les messageries privées permettent aux Nigérianes de s’informer.

“Depuis que les médias traditionnels du pays ont été réduits au silence par les règles réglementaires de la NBC, Whatsapp a été très efficace, en particulier pour atteindre toutes les générations au Nigéria.” affirme Blackdotmandy qui me confie qu’elle utilise surtout la fonctionnalité Status de l’application pour suivre l’actualité.

Whatsapp a aussi été une ressource importante pour les organisatrices de certains mouvements. “ En tant que co-organisatrice de Women for Nigerian Youths, je travaille avec des personnes que je n’ai pas rencontrées et que je ne rencontrerai probablement jamais physiquement. Pourtant, nous avons pu collaborer et nous déployer dans les rues de manière presque transparente. Ceci est particulièrement intéressant pour moi car je suis impliquée dans des mouvements et dans l’activisme social depuis environ 20 ans. Alors je connais la différence. C’est un moment historique.” me raconte Dupe Killa.

Cette présence sur Whatsapp est cependant bien pensée. “ La plupart du temps, nous nous organisons en groupes locaux pour intensifier les différents efforts et nous concentrer sur des problèmes particuliers. Les gens partagent beaucoup de contenu — actualités, articles, etc mais ils sont responsables des contenus qu’ils proposent.” précise Dupe.

Ces derniers jours, le gouvernement a accusé de jeunes manifestants Nigérians, d’utiliser les réseaux sociaux pour dissiper la désinformation.

“Je reçois pas mal de fausses informations sur Whatsapp. Quand j’en reçois, je réponds immédiatement à l’expéditeur pour lui apporter des éclairages”. me confie Seyi, une militante très active sur Twitter.

Du côté des principales organisations féministes, très actives au sein du mouvement #Endsars, il faut veiller à la sécurité des messages diffusés avant tout. Elles préfèrent donc échanger sur la messagerie Telegram. “De nombreuses conversations et des groupes se sont déplacés sur Telegram. Cette application a une meilleure réputation dans la protection des données personnelles des utilisateurs. Ce que nous remarquons aussi, c’est que sur Whatsapp, il y a énormément de fausses nouvelles pouvant accroître les tensions ethniques et religieuses.” affirme Fakhrriyyah, membre de la coalition féministe.

Pour Gbenga Sesan, directeur exécutif de Paradigm Initiative, une organisation, basée au Nigeria, qui milite pour le respect des droits numériques en Afrique, WhatsApp a servi de pont entre les médias sociaux traditionnels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) et le monde hors ligne. “ Le fait que l’application soit très simple et imite la simple messagerie classique, attire un groupe démographique qui n’est pas assez averti pour utiliser les médias sociaux traditionnels. Sa facilité de transfert d’informations vers les contacts, tout comme les SMS, mais associée aux fonctionnalités d’envoi audio, photo et vidéo en a fait un canal important pour diffuser l’information.”

Cependant, Gbenga reste prudent. Les qualités qui en font un canal pour populariser les usages, font aussi de cette messagerie, le lieu où les fausses informations ou la propagande se propagent rapidement.

Cet article a été rédigé par  Sinatou Saka, lauréate 2020 de la bourse Paradigm Initiative pour les droits numériques et l’inclusion

Oct 19
1

Call for applications to the 4th Edition of the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship

By | #PINternetFreedom, Advocacy, Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, DRIF, DRIMF, ICTs, Internet Freedom, Press Release

Fellowship period: 1 March 2021 – 30 June 2021

Application Period: 21 October 2020 to 12 November 2020

The application process is now open for the 4th edition of the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship (DRIMF). Through academic and practical learnings, Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion Media Fellowship 2021 seeks to embed media professionals within the digital ecosystem. Media Fellows will connect with PIN teams in Cameroon (Yaoundé), Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi), Nigeria (Aba, Abuja, Kano and Lagos), Zambia (Lusaka) and Zimbabwe (Bulawayo).

The fellowship seeks to expose media professionals to an underreported field of work at national and regional level, increasing reporting on digital rights and inclusion in Africa. Selected media professionals must be affiliated to media institutions within Africa and available to commence the fellowship from 1 March 2021 to 30 June 2021, to connect and collaborate mostly virtually, and where applicable, be present for in-person activities.

Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship is a 4-month program designed to immerse outstanding early career journalists in the digital ecosystem. Selected media professionals will work with Paradigm Initiative on various projects and contribute to improving public understanding of digital rights and inclusion issues in Africa. Applications are open to journalists working in Africa.

Components of the fellowship

  • Online Digital Rights/Inclusion academic training.
  • Interaction with PIN team members within Africa.
  • 4-month virtual mentorship and collaboration with Paradigm Initiative.
  • Fellowship may include fully-funded local and international travel to participate in and cover relevant events related to Digital Rights and Inclusion.
  • A monthly stipend and a one-time research grant during the fellowship period.
  • Paradigm will pair fellows with in-country mentors for the time of the fellowship who will meet the fellows at least twice during the fellowship.

Expectations

Fellows will dedicate a minimum of ten hours a week to fellowship-related activities. Each Fellow will be expected to participate in all scheduled activities and to publish, in their affiliated media (Print, TV, Radio, Online), at least 4 features/reports on digital rights and inclusion issues during the fellowship period. Fellows will retain full editorial direction on the stories that they publish in their affiliated media. In addition, each fellow will produce a research paper on a relevant topic with the guidance of the PIN Team of not more than 1500 words which will be published by PIN. Fellows will be expected to continue to provide coverage on digital rights and inclusion issues after their fellowship.

Requirements

The Fellowship is open to early career journalists with not more than 8 years’ experience in the media sector and affiliated with mainstream print and online newspapers in Africa. Interested candidates must have a relevant undergraduate degree and demonstrate previous coverage of human rights and/or tech issues and interest in advancing digital rights and inclusion.

How to apply

Kindly complete the form here

Oct 12
0

Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Academy 2020: Call for applications

By | Digital Rights

Applications are open for the Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights Academy 2020. This academy will be focused on understanding and navigating the policy and regulatory landscape related to digital rights and security, as well as capacity building in advocacy and engagement strategies for those who work or are interested in promoting and defending human rights online in Africa. 

 Objectives

The subject of human rights online has never been more important than it is now, with digitalization shaping the majority of  today’s economic and social activities. The subject is not only relevant to policy makers, advocates, and Civil Society Organizations who work around the theme of Human Rights online and ICTs for Development, but also  individuals and media institutions who are interested in and who rely heavily on the use of the internet for activism, advocacy or civil engagement. 

The objective of this academy is creating awareness on the issues surrounding Digital rights in Africa and capacity building for the participants in order that they are armed with the requisite knowledge to actively participate in digital rights advocacy. 

 The Academy will commence on the 9th of November, 2020 and end on the 13th of November, 2020. The Academy will take place online, in view of the Coronavirus (COVID 19). Further details will be shared with the shortlisted applicants. 

Eligibility

Open to individuals who live and work in Africa.

Selection will be based on best-fit considerations with a focus on the likelihood that the workshop will be useful to your ongoing work. 

 

How to apply 

Please complete the application form and submit it. The Deadline is Saturday, 24th of October 2020. 

Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date. 

Deadline: 24th of October, 2020.

 

 

Oct 05
0

Data privacy: Why you must care about who has your information

By | Digital Rights, Internet Freedom

That “data is the new oil” is simply to say, information is the new frontier of power and influence globally. One way or the other, we submit personal information – to known sometimes unknown collectors – for different reasons daily. There are the mandatory cases of submission through to the temporal instances. Applying for national or voter identification cards, for passports and even mobile phone SIMs fall in the former category.

Whiles in the latter, logging in to social media is one of the simplest means of submitting your identity and location to global multinational giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn etc. A recent media report disclosed how China – made mobile phones popular across Africa had preinstalled malware that was ‘stealing’ money of its users. But long since mobile phones arrived on the continent, an area of concern has been data security and privacy of users.

Jamii Forum’s Maxence Melo shares perspectives

Years on, there is a growing push for governments to do right by their citizens in the area of data privacy be it internally or externally. A strong activist in the area of data privacy is famed Tanzanian journalist Maxence Melo – a co-founder of the Jamii Forums platform. In an August 2020 interview with members of this year’s Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights Fellows, he stresses that politicians – for their own ends – and the populace – due to lack of knowledge – are at the heart of failure to better protect personal data. “People do not know their rights,” he said whiles adding that for governments, this aloofness on the part of the population serves their interests in the area of surveillance and (mis) use of data for instance for political reasons.

He warns that despite a lull in push for a data protection law in his country, if activists do not police the process well enough, Tanzania will potentially wind up with a good bad law. He avers that social media companies are “too powerful” in the area of data ‘harvesting’ and it is all due to lack of policy.

Asked about the example of a subscriber’s implied acceptance of “terms and conditions” once they buy a SIM, Maxence explains that the very contents of T&Cs need be scrutinized especially vis-à-vis privacy and data protection. He stresses that there is the need for African governments to step in with legislation and regulatory measures to protect consumers.

He argues further that there is the need for stringent laws on who gathers data on people and for what purposes they can keep, process and to who they can transmit same and under what circumstances.

Why you need to be worried about personal data merchants

In the light of transnational security challenges bordering on terrorism, cybercrime and money laundering among others, there is the need for collection of data by relevant authorities. Whiles most activists agree, they stress the need for privacy and data protection alongside. The global digital rights outfit, Internet Society, ISOC; quotes a definition of online privacy as: “the right to determine when, how, and to what extent personal data can be shared with others.”

Its October 2015 policy brief on privacy on the internet states: “Personal data has become a profitable commodity. Every day, users are sharing more personal data online, often unknowingly and the internet of Things will increase this dramatically.” The push for responsible collection of data rests on among others: collection limitation, data quality, consent of subject, purpose specification, security safeguards and openness.

Protections will for example bar a data collector / analyst from selling data collected for one purpose to be repurposed for an unrelated one. That data is collected at say a medical facility but retrofitted as list of political party supporters. ISOC stresses that “Privacy helps reinforce user trust in online services,” and also that “personal data has monetary and strategic value to others,” in the midst of this, robust national laws should look to protect citizens as best as possible.

Africa and the 2018 Cambridge Analytica exposé

In 2018, Africa was hit with one of its biggest cases of data manipulation when it emerged that Kenya’s 2017 presidential campaigns had been tampered with by a company, Cambridge Analytica. It meddled in the Kenya polls and earlier in Nigeria’s elections according to an exposé. It targeted people with campaign advertisements due to illicitly obtained data from social media giant, Facebook. Facebook is also on record to have confirmed that the company had improperly accessed data of about 50 million users in 2016 relative to the polls that brought Trump to power. Undoubtedly, a testament of data misuse at the pinnacle of global tech hub.

The growing penetration of internet use across Africa, the world’s continent, means that more needs to be done by governments – and fast. After a decade in the ‘works’ Nigeria has finally produced a draft data protection bill. Civil society groups like Paradigm Initiative and allies are reviewing it whiles encouraging the populace to take a seat at the table in an area that has affected their lives for long and will continue to in the future.

 

Some facts about data privacy in Africa – as of 2018

Over 123 million – number of people using Facebook in sub-Saharan Africa

2013 – South Africa drew up first data protection law on the continent

54 African countries – Over half of them have no laws on data protection

17 countries – Have enacted comprehensive data privacy laws, Bloomberg, 2016

10 years – duration for Nigeria to put together draft data protection law

2014 – ‘Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection’ a.k.a Malabo Convention passed by African Union

The writer Abdur Rahman Shaban Alfa is a 2020 Paradigm Initiative digital rights fellow and a former web journalist with Africanews.

Sep 17
0

Zimbabwe govt’s digital ‘warfare’: harassing social media voices

By | Digital Rights

Whiles some African countries continue in the area of conventional warfare seeking to combat terrorism and separatism or both, there is a new frontier that most African governments are struggling to get a grip on. It is the online landscape with its attendant ‘warheads’ of internet and social media. Different governments are grappling to contend with the power that social media – especially Twitter and Facebook – gives to opposition voices be they politicians, journalists, activists or members of the wider civil society. A routine measure to combat the ever rising voices on social media is blocking the internet. Be it total blackout as happened in Ethiopia in June 2020 following the assassination of a top musician or blocking of specifics platforms – Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

How Harare is hounding top journalist, his lawyer 

“Zimbabwe’s High Court has granted bail to investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono … but the reporter won’t be allowed to post on Twitter before his trial on charges of inciting public violence,” An AP report of September 2 read. As at end of August, the southern African country had been gripped with a case that was in many ways intriguing as much as it was worrying. At the time, the episode had travelled an arrest, thwarted protest, bail denials and banning of a top human rights lawyer. Journalist Chin’ono is a known face and voice. He has had major news hovering around him in the last few months. From a COVID-19 corruption expose, then being at the center of a press and human rights saga.

He was arrested in July, Gestapo-style at his residence in the capital Harare. He had seen it coming and will even tweet the events as operatives forced their way into his home. His Twitter account appears to have been compromised after the break in and arrest. Months on, the courts have barred him from the “crime scene” – Twitter. He is not to tweet before his trial – a key bail condition. Reason for arrest; joining a call for protests of July 31 against misrule of the country. His lawyers battled police for access to their client whiles he appeared in court with handcuffs and leg irons. The treatment which includes surviving on biscuits continues despite legal, press and human rights protests. Hopewell, through his hearings said he remained undaunted, ‘I will be strong. I am fine,’ he said from a prison van after a bail hearing in August.

Beatrice Mtetwa is one of Zimbabwe’s celebrated rights lawyer. She is the journalist’s lawyer at least till a court in August stripped her of that power – citing a Facebook post she did not author. One of Chin’ono’s lawyers Roslyn Hanzi summed up the court’s decision plus refusal to allow lawyers access to the client: ‘They are essentially stripping Hopewell Chin’ono of his right to legal representation at all levels.’  Commenting on the court’s decision on Mtetwa, the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, JSA; accused the judge of being arbitrary in his ruling and called for a review of what they called a questionable decision. “The allegation that Mrs Mtetwa has committed unethical conduct should be properly investigated in accordance with fair procedures for dealing with misconduct by legal practitioners,” the JSA statement stressed.

Breaking yoke of media dependency

 

If dissenters needed state-run media to be heard years back, that dynamic has drastically changed with social media. One tweet would attract retweets and one Facebook posts will attract mass sharing, same for forwarding on WhatsApp. These are playfields where government have very little control of. In the race to keep up with the ‘liberated’ opposing voices, a number of governments have employed drastic measures the likes of arrests, surveillance and blocking accounts even bugging communication.

“There are surveillance and privacy infringements by governments all in the name of protecting their own safety,” Adeboro Odunlami, a Nigerian lawyer observed in an interview, which action spans a number of African governments.

History of arrests, dismissal of human rights voices

Zimbabwe is no stranger to arrests of opposition voices – a trend that was pervasive under the Mugabe regime, carried over into the current one. An unresolved case being that of journalist Itai Dzamara dating back to 2015. Opposition activists, even lawmakers are not immune to such arrests. A star of sorts during the latter years of the Mugabe regime was Pastor Evan Mawarire who was routinely jailed over subversion charges. More recently a top author had tasted the arrest dose. With each arrest comes calls for immediate release and dropping of charges but Harare seems to have mastered dismissing such calls. In the case of Hopewell, press and net rights groups, the diplomatic community have routinely made the call much as Harare has dismissed same.The preferred protest arena is the streets experts insist but the online arena undoubtedly has proven a mobilizer that governments dread and one that gives dissident voices the leverage to score points against power of the state.

The writer Abdur Rahman Shaban Alfa is a 2020 Paradigm Initiative digital rights fellow and a former web journalist with Africanews.

 

Sep 04
2

Appel à co-auteurs

By | Advocacy, Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy, ICTs, Internet Freedom, L.I.F.E.

Un rapport sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion en Afrique

Contexte

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) est une entreprise sociale qui construit un système de soutien basé sur les TIC et milite pour les droits numériques afin d’améliorer les moyens de subsistance des jeunes mal desservis. À travers ses équipes, partenaires et réseaux à travers le continent africain, PIN surveille l’état des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique et intervient avec des programmes et des actions qui répondent le mieux aux défis. L’écosystème numérique en Afrique est marqué par des violations des droits numériques que PIN a bien identifiées dans ses rapports sur les droits numériques en Afrique et a fait l’objet de délibérations mondiales sur des plateformes régionales et internationales telles que DRIF, le Forum sur la gouvernance de l’internet et RightsCon.

Grâce à la communauté des droits numériques et de l’inclusion, les initiatives de plaidoyer changent le paysage numérique en garantissant que les meilleures pratiques sont adoptées dans les politiques et la législation en Afrique. Des progrès significatifs sont en cours dans certains pays africains pour combler le fossé numérique et méritent d’être reconnus. Dans ce contexte, il est pertinent que le PIN documente les droits numériques et les violations d’inclusion, souligne les jalons et formule des recommandations pour améliorer le paysage numérique en Afrique.

Paradigm Initiative sollicite les services de chercheurs sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion en Afrique pour être co-auteurs d’un rapport continental annuel sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion. Chaque chercheur retenu fera rapport sur un pays spécifique. Paradigm Initiative versera une allocation de 800 USD au chercheur pour un travail achevé et soumis de manière satisfaisante.

Justification et portée du rapport

PIN cherche à compiler le rapport annuel 2020 qui donne une analyse approfondie de l’état des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique en examinant les violations, les lacunes, en enquêtant sur l’utilisation et l’application des politiques et de la législation, ainsi qu’en formulant des recommandations clés pour faire progresser les droits numériques et l’inclusion en Afrique. Le rapport dégagera également des thèmes clés à débattre lors du prochain DRIF21 et mettra en évidence les domaines d’intervention exceptionnels.

Méthodologie

Le rapport comprendra des rapports spécifiques aux pays bien documentés qui sont référencés et soumis par les auteurs des membres de son équipe et de la communauté des droits numériques et de l’inclusion. L’étude des pays adoptera une approche multiforme, combinant des méthodes empiriques et de recherche documentaire pour évaluer à la fois les aspects quantitatifs et qualitatifs des droits numériques et de l’inclusion en Afrique.

Contenu attendu

Les rapports nationaux doivent inclure un contexte et un historique; identifier et discuter des domaines d’évaluation thématiques, se référer à tout cadre juridique, politique et institutionnel du pays et faire des recommandations. Les rapports nationaux peuvent inclure, sans s’y limiter, l’un des domaines d’évaluation thématique suivants;

  • Impact de la réglementation COVID-19 sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion.
  • Jouissance de la liberté d’expression en ligne en 2020
  • Protection des données, confidentialité, identifiants numériques et surveillance
  • Coupures d’Internet
  • Lois sur le discours haineux, la désinformation et la diffamation criminelle
  • L’exclusion numérique en Afrique et son impact sur les droits humains
  • Infrastructure numérique et hiérarchisation des TIC.

Expertise et qualification requises

  • Bonne connaissance du pays sur lequel portera le rapport ;
  • Un diplôme pertinent.
  • Expertise, connaissances et expérience des droits numériques et de l’inclusion.
  • Ligne directrice pour les articles
  • Longueur acceptable du rapport de pays : 1500 mots
  • Anglais ou français.
  • Les auteurs doivent s’assurer que tous les statistiques, faits et données sont correctement référencés.
  • Un seul rapport de pays par chercheur sera accepté.

Les candidats intéressés, veuillez soumettre une réponse accompagnée d’une copie de votre CV et d’un échantillon de travail écrit d’ici le 19 septembre 2020 ici. Les délais complets seront communiqués aux candidats retenus. Les réponses seront communiquées le 1er octobre 2020.

Sep 04
0

Call for Co-Authors

By | Advocacy, Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy, ICTs, Internet Freedom, L.I.F.E.

A Report on Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa

Background

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds an ICT-enabled support system and advocates for digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for under-served youth. Through its teams, partners and networks across the African continent, PIN monitors the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa and intervenes with programs and actions that best respond to the challenges.  The digital ecosystem in Africa is marked by digital rights violations which PIN has aptly captured in its Digital Rights in Africa reports as well as been subject for global deliberations at regional and international platforms such as DRIF, Internet Governance Forum, and RightsCon.

Through the digital rights and inclusion community, advocacy initiatives are changing the digital landscape ensuring best practices are adopted into policy and legislation in Africa. The meaningful strides being taken in some African countries to bridge the digital divide are worth acknowledging.  With this background, it is pertinent that PIN documents digital rights and inclusion violations, highlights milestones and makes recommendations for improving the digital landscape in Africa.

Paradigm Initiative seeks the services of researchers on digital rights and inclusion from within Africa to be co-authors of an annual continental report on digital rights and inclusion. Each successful researcher will report on a specific country. Paradigm Initiative will pay a stipend of USD $800 to the researcher for work satisfactorily completed and submitted.

Rationale and Scope of the report

PIN seeks to compile the 2020 annual report that gives an in-depth analysis of the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa by examining violations, gaps, investigating the use and application of policy and legislation as well as draw key recommendations for advancing digital rights and inclusion in Africa. The report will also draw key themes for deliberation at the upcoming DRIF21 and highlight outstanding areas for intervention.

Methodology

The report will comprise of well-researched country specific reports which are referenced and submitted by authors from its team members and digital rights and inclusion community. The study of the countries will take a multifaceted approach, combining empirical and desk-research methods to assess both quantitative and qualitative aspects of digital rights and inclusion in Africa.

Expected Content

Country Reports must include a context and background; identify and discuss the thematic assessment areas, refer to any in-country legal, policy and institutional framework and make recommendations. The country reports may include and not limited to any of the following thematic assessment areas;

  • Impact of COVID-19 Regulations on digital rights and inclusion.
  • Enjoyment of Freedom of Expression online in 2020
  • Data Protection, Privacy, Digital IDs and Surveillance
  • Internet Shutdowns
  • Hate Speech, Misinformation and Criminal Defamation Laws
  • Digital exclusion in Africa and its impact on human rights
  • Digital infrastructure and prioritization of ICT.

 Required expertise and qualification

  • Good understanding of the country to be reported on;
  • A relevant degree qualification.
  • Expertise, knowledge, and experience in digital rights and inclusion.

Guideline for Articles

  • Acceptable Length of Country Report: 1500 words
  • English or French.
  • Authors to please ensure that all statistics, facts and data are properly referenced.
  • Only 1 country report per researcher will be accepted.

Interested candidates, kindly submit a response together with a copy of your resume and sample written work by 19 September 2020 here. Full timelines will be communicated to successful candidates. Responses will be communicated on 1 October 2020.

Aug 31
0

Opportunity: Research & Project Internship – Abuja

By | Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a non-profit social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems for young people, in order to improve their livelihoods. Two of PIN’s programs focus on digital inclusion while the third focuses on digital rights advocacy. Paradigm Initiative’s digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in key regions of Africa. Our policy advocacy efforts include media campaigns, coalition building, capacity building, research and report-writing.

We are looking for a smart and brilliant individual with strong skills in research and project management. This internship opportunity is for three (3) months and the suitable candidate will support Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Policy Programs team. Interested persons with experience/interest/qualification in digital/tech policy should apply. The selected candidate will be expected to be available full time throughout the three months.

What you will do

  • Support research on/around Digital Policies
  • Project management tasks: planning, organising, budgeting, logistics, and reports
  • Reporting
  • Engage Digital Policy Process
  • Represent the Senior Program Manager at Meetings/Webinars
  • Document digital rights violations
  • Administrative/Secretariat support for strategic litigation interventions at PIN
  • Other assigned tasks by reporting authorities

What you will need

  • A first degree in Law, Policy, Social Sciences, project management and other related fields of study
  • A background in research and project management
  • Flair for and experience in budgeting, writing, and reporting
  • A legal background will be an added advantage.

What you will get

  • Compensation commensurate with experience
  • Hazard allowance for remote work
  • Workplace experience and exposure to Africa’s Digital Policy Community
  • Acknowledgment for Research Contributions (i.e your contribution to the research you work on and contribute to will be duly referenced and acknowledged.)

For the purpose of gender balance, a female candidate will be preferred. Candidates should not be above 30 years old. You will report to the Senior Programs Manager.

NB: Paradigm Initiative teams are currently working remotely. However, if physical work resumes before the end of the internship, the selected individual will be required to report to Paradigm Initiative’s Abuja office daily.

Do not apply if:

  • You are currently employed
  • You are actively pursuing an academic qualification within the specified period
  • You are not an excellent writer, planner and time manager
  • You are not available for a full-time position

How to apply

Send a one-page statement of Interest and links to articles/reports/paper/essay you have written in the past, with your recent CV attached to hr@paradigmhq.org. The application closes on September 11, 2020, but the position will be filled as soon as we find the right fit. If you think you are the right fit, do not delay in sending in your application.

 

 

 

 

Aug 28
0

Paradigm Initiative organisera DRIF21 en tant que festival multi-pays en avril 2021

By | Digital Rights, Press Release

Lagos, Nigéria – [28 août 2020] – Paradigm Initiative (PIN) est ravie d’annoncer la tenue de la 8e édition du Forum sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion (DRIF) prévu du 12 au 30 avril 2021.

 DRIF21 sera un festival multi-pays auquel les communautés peuvent se joindre à la fois en présentiel et en ligne. Cette édition débutera par une journée portes ouvertes virtuelle le 12 avril 2021, suivie de réunions dans plusieurs pays à travers l’Afrique.

DRIF est une plateforme importante où sont formulés les débats sur les politiques publiques en matière du numérique en Afrique ainsi que les orientations politiques et partenariats pour leur mise en œuvre. Il est également l’espace d’expression de diverses compétences et capacités pour renforcer les droits numériques et l’inclusion sur le continent africain et au-delà.

En tant que plateforme phare de Paradigm Initiative pour les communautés numériques, DRIF continue de donner le ton en tant qu’espace d’échanges sur les défis mondiaux concernant les droits numériques, la confidentialité, l’accès, les outils numériques, les violations, l’autonomisation numérique pour les communautés mal desservies et des thèmes similaires – en particulier en Afrique – et de consolidation des points de vue de la société civile, des entreprises technologiques, des gouvernements, des universités et d’autres parties prenantes.

Selon « Gbenga Sesan, Directeur Exécutif de PIN, « l’équipe de Paradigm Initiative est honorée une fois encore de rassembler la communauté des droits numériques grâce à un mélange d’interactions virtuelles et physiques, car comme nous l’avons vu dès les premiers jours de la pandémie mondiale, les violations des droits des citoyens se sont poursuivies – et dans certains cas, se sont intensifiées. »

 Pour Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, Directrice des Opérations de Paradigm Initiative, « Il est important de discuter des leçons tirées de la manière dont les différents pays répondent aux défis de la gouvernance des données pendant les moments de crise, de la manière dont la liberté d’expression évolue face à une désinformation dangereuse et comment l’espace civique pourrait prospérer au milieu des verrouillages. Nous attendons avec impatience les débats multi-pays de la 8e édition de DRIF et nous avons hâte de travailler avec les partenaires et les participants sur les opportunités d’action identifiées ! »

Les éditions précédentes ont eu lieu en présentiel dans un seul pays et ont connu la participation de divers membres de la société civile, la communauté technique, le monde universitaire, des acteurs étatiques et le secteur privé pour des engagements communs.

« Accueillir DRIF21 dans un certain nombre de pays africains sera une excellente occasion de célébrer la diversité qui accompagne un réseau croissant de défenseurs des droits numériques et de l’inclusion. Le modèle DRIF21 offrira une série de conversations enrichies qui décortiqueront les problèmes et aideront à façonner les stratégies d’amélioration du paysage numérique en Afrique », a déclaré Thobekile Matimbe, Chargé des Communautés à PIN.

« Nous sommes ravis de présenter DRIF à nos communautés cette fois-ci, apportant littéralement le Forum à nos partenaires et participants alors que nous poursuivons les conversations importantes autour de la politique numérique sur le continent », a ajouté la directrice des opérations, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu.

PIN a lancé un appel à propositions de sessions et exhorte les parties prenantes et les partenaires intéressés à soumettre des propositions qui contribueront à améliorer l’écosystème numérique.

 

 

 

Aug 28
0

Paradigm Initiative to Host DRIF21 as a Multi-Country Festival in April 2021

By | Digital Rights, Press Release

Lagos, Nigeria – [August 28, 2020] – Today, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is thrilled to announce the upcoming 8th edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) taking place between the 12th and the 30th of April 2021. DRIF21 will be a distributed multi-country festival of in-person convenings that communities can join virtually. This edition will kick off with a virtual open day on the 12th of April 2021 followed by in-country day convenings across Africa.    

DRIF is an important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa are shaped, policy directions debated and partnerships forged for action. It hosts diverse skills and capacities for enhancing digital rights and inclusion on the African continent and beyond. As PIN’s flagship platform for communities of practice around digital policy, DRIF continues to set the tone as the arena for tough topical global issues around digital rights, privacy, access, digital tools, violations, digital empowerment for underserved communities and similar themes — especially in Africa — and consolidating views from civil society, technology companies, government, academia and other stakeholders. 

According to ’Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director at PIN, “the Paradigm Initiative team is excited about the opportunity to bring the digital rights community together through a blend of virtual and physical interactions, because as we saw from the early days of the global pandemic, violations of citizen rights have continued—and in some cases, heightened.”

Commenting on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu said: “It is important to discuss lessons from how various countries respond to data governance challenges during moments of panic, how freedom of expression fares in the face of dangerous disinformation and how the civic space could thrive in the midst of lockdowns. We look forward to the multi-country conversations at the 8th edition of DRIF and can’t wait to work with partners and participants on identified action opportunities!” 

Past editions have been held at a single location attracting diverse members of civil society, the technical community, academia, government and private sector for shared engagements. 

“Hosting DRIF21 in a number of African countries will present a great opportunity for celebrating the diversity that comes with a growing network of digital rights and inclusion advocates. The DRIF21 model will offer a series of enriched conversations that will unpack issues and help shape the strategies on improving the digital landscape in Africa,’” PIN’s Community Manager, Thobekile Matimbe, said.

“We are excited to take DRIF to our communities this time around, literally bringing the Forum to our partners and participants as we continue the important conversations around digital policy on the continent,” added the Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu. 

PIN has put out a call for session proposals and urges interested stakeholders and partners to submit proposals that will help enhance the digital ecosystem. 

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