The Africa-China Reporting Project (the Project), in collaboration with Paradigm Initiative, a pan African social enterprise, participated in the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF 22) in Lagos, Nigeria, 27-28 April 2022.

The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum is an important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa are shaped, policy directions debated and partnerships forged for action. The Africa-China Reporting Project participated in this hybrid event, with a panel of four Nigerian journalists who are previous recipients of reporting grants awards and participants to training workshops by the Project. The journalists presented the impact of their published investigations, and a robust discussion was held during the QnA session on the contents of their reportage and the conducted fieldwork. The Project also presented the impact of its partnerships, in advancing media support to reporting on Digital identity systems, good ID, data and technology in Africa.

Session title: Journalists investigations and impact on digital identity, data and technology in Africa
Moderator: Khadijah El-Usman, Program Officer, Paradigm Initiative
Speaker 1: Bongiwe Tutu (The impact of the Africa-China Reporting Project’s collaboration, partnerships and support for journalism on Digital identity, data and technology in Africa)
Speaker 2: Michelle Agoh (The use and ownership of double or multiple permanent voters card and its threat to democracy)
Speaker 3: Ifedayo Ogunyemi (Persons with disabilities suffer compulsory NIN enrolment at NIMC personnel facilities)
Speaker 4: Temitope Obayendo (How Nigerian health workers violate patient’s rights with impunity)
Speaker 5: Tunde Omolehin (Data for fraud: How biometric system exposes Nigerians to cyber thieves)

In 2021, the Africa-China Reporting Project awarded 10 reporting grants to journalists in Nigeria to investigate the complex issues and developments to Digital identity, data and technology in Africa. The selected 10 journalists also participated in the Journalism Workshop on Digital Identity, Data & Technology in Africa, 23-26 August 2021, Abuja, Nigeria for capacity building and upskilling in the Digital Journalism Workshop and the Digital Academy.  Ahead of this, in 2019, the Project supported 9 journalists in the form of reporting grants awards and skills training workshops on the specific elements to understanding and reporting on Digital identity systems, good ID, data and technology in Africa.  These journalists received training in their participation to the Journalism Workshop on Digital identity, data and technology in Africa, 28-31 October, Johannesburg, South Africa.   A book publication encompassing of all the investigations, workshop reports and vast journalists resources was produced at launched at the DRIF22. See below videos of the Forum, Journalists resources and the book publication.

WATCH: Highlights – The ACRP in the DRIF22, 27-28 April 2022, Lagos, Nigeria.

WATCH: Full video – The ACRP in the DRIFF22, 27-28 April 2022, Lagos, Nigeria.

See more:

• NEW BOOK: Digital Identity, Data and Technology in Africa by the Africa-China Reporting Project, 2022
• REPORT: Journalism Workshop on Digital Identity, Data & Technology in Africa, Abuja, Nigeria, 23-26 August 2021
• REPORT: Workshop on Digital Identity, Data & Technology in Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 28-31 October 2019

Resources:

2021 Journalism Workshop on Digital Identity, Data & Technology in Africa resources:

• Digital Rights 101
• Introduction to Digital Rights – Digital Policy advocacy
• Privacy Rights in the Digital Age (Global, Regional and National)
• Women’s Rights Online
• Effective Advocacy Communication
• Global Disinformation Index – Media Market Risk Ratings: Nigeria
• Developing Issues on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
• Business and Human Rights in the Digital Environment
• Collaborative Intervention for Digital Rights Violations
• Digital Rights Academy – Digital Security
• Data Protection and Digital Identity in Nigeria
• Digital Rights Activism – The Role of Legislation, Litigation and Judiciary
• Legal Landscape for Digital Rights in Nigeria
• Litigating Digital Rights Using Regional and Sub Regional Systems
• Digital Inclusion for Disadvantaged Groups (Persons with Disabilities)
• Digital Inclusion for Disadvantaged Groups (Persons with Disabilities) II
• Digital Rights Academy banner

2019 Journalism Workshop on Digital Identity, Data & Technology in Africa resources:

• Digital Identity, Data and Technology Workshop – Full Programme
• Yu-Shan Wu – Main themes: Open Forum – Key Voices on Digital Identity and Data Privacy in Africa
• Thea Anderson, Policy Director, Omidyar Network – Omidyar Network Unpacks Good ID
• Kim Dancey, Head Payments Risk, FirstRand Rest of Africa and India – Knowing Me
• Professor Keith Breckenridge, Wits Institute For Social & Economic Research – Colonial rule, the registration deficit and the promises and perils of digital identity
• Grace Mutung’u, Associate, Kenya ICT Action Network – Datafication in Africa – Social progress or controls?
• Professor Jonathan Klaaren, Wits Institute For Social & Economic Research – Ten Legal Tools for Reporting on Digital Identity
• Grace Mutung’u, Associate, Kenya ICT Action Network – Digitalisation in Africa
• African Union – Draft Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030)
• Dr John Carneson, Former head of policy, strategy, planning and evaluation at South African Home Affairs – Case study: Department of Home Affairs Repositioning White Paper