The shrinking of civic space, the decline in digital funding, and the erosion of legitimacy are not just abstract concerns; they are existential threats to Africa’s promising digital future. Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, asserts this in a recent piece published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

In this compelling write-up, ‘Gbenga challenges policymakers, tech stakeholders, and global development actors to rethink Africa’s digital transformation through the lens of digital rights. With the global shift in funding of advocacy work, digital rights advocacy is among the sectors bearing the brunt. To make matters worse, this comes at a time of increasing dependence on digital tools and innovation.

This creates a management gap, with the need to ensure these new technologies are put to positive use and harnessed for the good of mankind. Emphasising the urgency of the moment, ‘Gbenga situates the global stage and the civil society sector at a crossroads where digital funding models must be matched with deliberate action to reimagine funding models for sustainability.

Read the full article here.