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25Mar

CIPESA-Run ADRF Awards USD 140,000 to Eleven Digital Democracy Non-Profits Amidst Funding Cuts

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By Ashnah Kalemera |

With many funders shifting their funding priorities about human rights, governance and livelihood issues, African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), human rights defenders and activists have been severely impacted. As a result, critical programming on civic participation, tech accountability, digital rights and digital inclusion, which was scoring wins in the face of growing authoritarianism on the continent, has been crippled. 

In response to this changing funding landscape, the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF) managed by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has awarded USD 140,000 to eleven non-profit organisations as bridging funds. The discretionary awards are aimed at bridging the gap in operations and programming faced by CIPESA’s past and present partners and subgrantees. The funds bring to USD one million the total awarded by CIPESA under the  ADRF initiative since its launch in April 2019.

According to CIPESA’s Executive Director, Dr. Wairagala Wakabi, “anchor institutions such as CIPESA have lost funding and that means many crucial but smaller actors across the continent have equally been affected”. Nonetheless, CIPESA is committed to “defending digital democracy amidst the steady  democratic regression we are witnessing, and the cruciality of funding organisations that are battling rising authoritarianism cannot be overemphasised,” said Wakabi.

The recipient organisations work on various digital democracy issues in 10 countries – Cote d’Ivorie, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. These organisations work on catalytic issues in difficult contexts and have established track records. The selection of beneficiaries was guided by a survey on the impact of funding termination by the United States (US) government. 

Round Nine ADRF Beneficiaries:

  1. Action et Humanisme – based in Cote d’Ivoire, the organisation works to advance digital accessibility for persons with disabilities. 
  2. Agora, an online activism initiative focused on social accountability in Uganda.
  3. Bloggers of Zambia, whose motto is “Keeping Online Spaces Open” and is pushing for progressive legislative reforms in Zambia.
  4. Digital Rights Frontlines (formerly DefyHateNow), which is at the frontline of countering hate speech and disinformation online in South Sudan.
  5. Digital Shelter, a Somali group working to advance the digital civic space.
  6. Forum de Organizacoes de Pessoas com Deficiencia – FAMOD, which works to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Mozambique, including the right to information through web accessibility and inclusion through affordable access to technology.
  7. Inform Africa, a media integrity hub in Ethiopia.
  8. Jonction, a Senegalese digital rights advocacy organisation.
  9. Thraets, a tech research lab focused on elections integrity and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated content.
  10. Rudi International, a Congolese digital rights advocacy and digital literacy organisation.
  11. Tanda Community Network, based in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya, the community network is championing work against Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) alongside efforts to bridge the digital divide.

The survey revealed that following the suspension and eventual termination of U.S. funding, many organisations had reduced the scope of their activities, scaled back staff salaries and benefits, and in a number of cases laid off staff. Over 90% of the organisations surveyed  were uncertain about their ability to maintain operations beyond two months. Only one of the surveyed organisations said it would remain fully operational if it did not receive additional funding.

A staggering 92% of respondents had reduced programming scope and one in three respondent organisations reported that they had slashed staff. For one recipient, over 60% of the team was “not able to continue working in any capacity going forward”. The percentage of US funding was between 20% and 60% of the annual budgets of the organisations surveyed.

Even in the face of a grim funding future, civil society organisations that face harassment and operate in volatile political environments remain resilient. As the head of one of the grant beneficiary organisations stated: “Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury to cease activities”. The same unwavering commitment to continue operations was demonstrated by the DR Congo-based recipient whose digital literacy training centre was robbed during the January 2025 rebel attacks in Goma.

The ADRF provides financial support to organisations and networks to overcome barriers to accessing funding and building a stronger movement of digital and human rights advocates in Africa. The Fund has also built the capacity of initiatives in advocacy, public communication, research and data-for-advocacy. Supported initiatives commend the ADRF as a unique funding initiative that has broken ranks with traditional funders’ structure. See previous ADRF recipients here.

The discretionary round of the ADRF was supported by funding from the Skoll Foundation, the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund and the Ford Foundation. Other supporters of the ADRF in the past include the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the German Society for International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the Omidyar Network, the Hewlett Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and New Venture Fund (NVF).

24Mar

Advancing Advocacy and Awareness on Digital Rights for Businesses in Uganda

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Nadhifah Muhammad and Tendo Racheal |

Imagine running a business in today’s fast-paced digital world, where almost everything from customer data, marketing to financial transactions happening online. Now, imagine having little or no knowledge on how to protect that data, relevant laws and regulations or worse, unknowingly violating digital rights. That is the reality for many businesses in Uganda today. 

Data protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and surveillance are not just techy buzzwords, they’re essential to building a safe and inclusive digital economy. Yet, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 90% of Uganda’s private sector, either do not fully understand responsible digital practices or lack the tools to do so.

That’s where the Advancing Respect for Human Rights by Businesses in Uganda (ARBHR) project comes in. With support from Enabel and the European Union, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is co-implementing this project which seeks to reduce human rights abuses connected to business activities in Uganda, particularly those impacting women and children. 

Among others, CIPESA is working to raise awareness on digital rights in the business context. As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies to operate and innovate, their role in upholding digital rights becomes paramount. Yet many Ugandan businesses, particularly SMEs, lack a comprehensive understanding of digital rights principles and their obligations in upholding them. 

Early this year, CIPESA published a call for applications to the Civil Society (CSO) Fund for entities interested in championing digital rights in the business sector. Six CSOs were selected under the competitive process and, together with four innovation hubs, SME, employer and employee associations, will be supported to implement awareness-raising activities. These include Evidence and Methods Lab, Boundless Minds, Wakiso District Human Rights Committee, Media Focus on Africa Uganda, Girls for Climate Action, Recreation for Development and Peace Uganda, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Federation of Uganda Employers and The Innovation Village.

To ensure that the partners effectively undertake their interventions, CIPESA convened a three-day bootcamp on March 4–8, 2025 aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in implementing awareness raising and advocacy campaigns as part of advancing the business and human rights agenda. The bootcamp brought together 35 participants. 

Key topics of discussion included Trends in Business and Digital Rights in Uganda, such as Privacy and Data Protection, Cybersecurity, Inclusion and Labour Rights; Impact Communications and Storytelling for Awareness and Advocacy; as well as Digital Content Creation.

The discussions were framed under the Uganda National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR), which seeks to protect human rights, enhance corporate digital responsibility to respect human rights, and ensure access to remedy for victims of human rights violations and abuses resulting from non-compliance by business entities in the country.

The project is very timely to create more awareness on business and human rights issues especially in regards to labour rights, effective redress mechanisms for BHR [Business and Human Rights] violations and engendering of digital rights. –  Training Participant

Uganda’s ARBHR aligns with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which outline the corporate responsibility to respect, protect, and remedy human rights abuses in business operations. By equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools to integrate digital rights into their policies and practices, the ARBHR project is contributing to a global movement that ensures businesses operate ethically, respect fundamental freedoms, and uphold human dignity in the digital space. 

For Uganda’s business sector to thrive in a digitally connected world, businesses must align with these principles, creating a culture where human rights are not an afterthought but a core business responsibility. 

Therefore, as partners roll out their awareness raising action plans over the next eight months, it is envisaged that over 200,000 individuals will be reached in the regions of Albertine, Busoga and Kampala Metropolitan. Through radio talk shows, skits, social media campaigns, community meetings, capacity building trainings, visualised Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) products, and digital clinics, these stakeholders will have enhanced appreciation of digital rights protection to foster a more informed and active community of advocates for rights-respecting practices among businesses in Uganda. 

So, if you’re a business owner, a CSO representative, or just someone passionate about digital rights, this is your chance to be part of something bigger. Join the conversation, and let’s build a digital future we can all trust.

21Mar

NEW BRIEF: Policy Considerations for Enhancing Digital Trade in East Africa

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Lillian Nalwoga |

The East African region is on the cusp of a digital revolution, with significant strides being made in digital trade and payments. This is driven by remarkable growth in internet penetration, mobile money services, and the adoption of emerging technologies like 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Further, initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community (EAC) e-Commerce Strategy are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital economy. The World Bank projects digital services exports from Africa to reach USD 74 billion by 2040, highlighting the immense opportunity at hand. Despite these strides, there are several key challenges that need to be addressed to fully unlock the region’s digital potential.

In this brief, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) outlines barriers to digital trade and presents key policy recommendations for promoting a human rights-based digital economy in the region.

According to the brief, the key barriers hindering the advancement of digital trade in East Africa include:

  • Limited Digital Infrastructure and Internet Access: While mobile internet penetration is growing, issues like internet subsea cable cuts, network disruptions, low digital literacy, and low affordability persist. Uneven distribution of infrastructure, high deployment costs, and slow adoption of new technologies further exacerbate the digital divide.
  • Fragmented Approaches to Digital Economy Taxation: Differing digital service taxes (DST) across countries create complexities and may impede innovation and cross-border trade. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all levy DST, with Kenya’s rate being the highest in the region.
  • Data Governance and Privacy Concerns: While some countries have adopted data protection laws, harmonise action is lacking. Issues like data localisation requirements and the need for a comprehensive regional approach to data privacy and management remain.
  • Limited Local Data Centres: The region has a limited number of data centres, which hinders data localisation efforts and the advancement of AI and other data-intensive technologies. Restrictive regulatory frameworks in some countries further complicate the use of cloud solutions.
  • Rising Cybersecurity Threats: Cyber risks are a major concern, with increasing cyber attacks targeting various sectors. Cybercrime laws, while necessary, sometimes contain vague provisions that can be used to curtail online freedoms.

To overcome these challenges and fully leverage the digital economy, the policy brief offers several key recommendations:

  • Embrace Digital Transformation and Connectivity: Invest in robust networks, backup systems, and address single points of failure in internet connectivity.
  • Implement Robust Cybersecurity Frameworks: Prioritise investments in cyber infrastructure, skilling, and awareness.
  • Recognise Data as a Trade Enabler: Ensure trade agreements prevent unnecessary restrictions on data flows and adopt balanced data localisation policies.
  • Harmonise Data Protection Standards: Reduce compliance costs and build trust by harmonising data protection standards across the region.
  • Build Robust Digital Infrastructure: Focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), data policy, privacy, and protection.
  • Speed up the Adoption of the EAC Data Governance Policy Framework: Secure resources for its implementation.
  • Assess and Address the Impact of Emerging Technologies: Ensure policies foster innovation while addressing ethical and legal challenges.

The East African region has the potential to become a major player in the global digital economy. By addressing the existing barriers and implementing these recommendations, the region can create a thriving digital ecosystem that benefits all its residents.

Read the full brief here.

Surveillance
12Mar

The Surveillance Footprint in Africa Threatens Privacy and Data Protection

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Edrine Wanyama 

Digital and physical surveillance by states, private companies that develop technology or supply governments and unscrupulous individuals globally and across Africa is a major threat to the digital civic space and operations of civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights defenders (HRDs), activists, political opposition, government critics and the media. The highly intrusive technology, which is often facilitated by biometric data collection systems such as for processing of national identification documents, voter cards, travel documents, mandatory SIM card registration and the installation of CCTV cameras for “smart cities”, adversely impacts the digital civic space. 

Given these developments, the Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA), a network of CSOs, media, lawyers and tech specialists from across Africa that seeks to champion digital civic space and counter threats to digital rights on the continent, recently held a learning session on “Understanding Surveillance Trends, Threats and Challenges for Civil Society.” The Alliance was created by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) in response to rising digital authoritarianism. It currently has members from more than 12 countries, who collectively conduct research and advocacy and share experiences around navigating digital threats and influencing strategic digital policy reforms in line with the alliance’s outcome declaration. 

The virtual learning session built capacity among the Alliance members to better understand digital surveillance and the related threats facing democracy actors. Discussions delved into the nature of surveillance, the regulatory environment, and strategies to navigate and counter surveillance risks and threats. The threats and risks include harassment, arbitrary arrests, persecution and prosecution on trumped up charges. 

While emphasising the need to understand emerging surveillance technologies, ecosystem and deployment tactics, Richard Ngamita, the Team Leader at Thraets, highlighted the huge investment (estimated at USD 1 billion annually) which African governments have made in acquiring surveillance technologies from China, Israel, the United States of America and Europe. Ngamita urged CSOs, HRDs and other actors to build digital security capacity to protect against illegal surveillance.

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, while referencing the  Proliferation of Dual-Use Surveillance Technologies in Nigeria: Deployment, Risks & Accountability – Spaces for Change report, highlighted weak regulation and unaccountable practices by states that facilitate unlawful surveillance across the continent and their implications on rights. According to the report,

“The greatest concern around surveillance technologies is their potential misuse for political repression and human rights abuses. Surveillance practices also undermine the citizens’ dignity, autonomy, and security, translating to significant reductions in citizens’ agency. Agency reductions are magnified by the state’s power to punish dissent. This creates a chilling effect as citizens self-censor or avoid public engagement for fear of being surveilled or punished. The citizens have little agency to challenge or resist the state’s surveillance because of low digital literacy, poverty and broader limitations in access to justice.”

Michaela Shapiro, the Global Engagement and Advocacy Officer at Article 19, United Kingdom, discussed the governing norms of surveillance globally while paying particular attention to the common gaps that need policy action at the country level in Africa. Recalling the intensification of digital and physical surveillance as part of state responses to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the absence of clear oversight mechanisms, Michaela emphasised the role of CSOs in advocating for data and privacy protection. 

To-date, the leading instrument of data protection on the continent, the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection has only 16 ratifications out of 55 states, while only 36 states have enacted specific laws on privacy and data protection rights.

Surveillance in Africa generally poses a major threat to individuals’ data and privacy rights since governments exercise wide access over the data subjects’ rights. National security and the loopholes in the laws are usually exploited to abuse and violate data rights. While there are regional and international standards, these are often overlooked with governments taking measures that are not provided for by the law, rendering them unlawful, arbitrary and disproportionate under human rights law. 

By way of progressive actions, speakers noted and made recommendations to States and non-state actors to the effect that:

States and Governments 

  • Address surveillance and bolster personal data and privacy protections through adopting robust legal and regulatory frameworks and repealing restrictive digital laws and policies.
  • Promote and enhance transparency and accountability through the establishment of independent surveillance oversight boards.
  • Strictly regulate the use of surveillance technologies by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to ensure accountability.
  • Collaborate with other countries to develop harmonised privacy standards within the established regional and international standards to have settled positions on cross-border controls on surveillance.

Civil Society Organisations

  • Build and enhance capacities of HRDs and other players in data governance and accountability to equip them with knowledge to counter common data privacy threats by governments and corporate entities.
  • Push for ethical and responsible use of technology to prevent and minimise technology-related violations. 
  • Challenge all forms of unlawful use of surveillance practices through legal action by, among others, taking legal actions.

Tech Sector

  • Conduct regular audits and impact assessments to address potential privacy breaches and enhance accountability and transparency. 
  • Prioritise privacy and integrate privacy protections into their products and services including data collection minimisation and establish strong security measures for privacy.
  • Prioritise ethical considerations in the development and deployment of new technologies to guarantee strong protections against potential violations.

04Mar

Kenya’s Digital Crossroads: Surveillance, Activism, and the Urgent Fight for Digital Rights in 2025

Author Brian Posted on

Victor Kapiyo |

In East Africa, Kenya has over the years been regarded as a model of excellence in digital rights. However, more recently, the country has been plagued by alarming practices that threaten its standing. These include a heightened crackdown on activism, including the abduction and intimidation of activists and journalists, politically motivated internet censorship, rising disinformation, cyber threats and data breaches, and a media decline. Nonetheless, it has not been all doom and gloom as there are glimmers of hope aided by increasing internet use and a population that has displayed remarkable resilience and pushback against continued threats to digital rights.

In this brief, The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) explores these trends and presents some recommendations for consideration by stakeholders. 

The key trends that the brief highlights include the following:

  1. Increased Internet Usage: Kenya’s internet and social media usage has been on the rise with 22.7 million internet users, of which 13 million are active on social media. Likewise, cellular mobile connections stood at 66 million in 2024. However, digital access remains uneven across the country, with urban areas reporting the highest adoption, and affordability being the main barrier to access.
  2. Growing Crackdowns on Activism: The #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests were met with excessive force, arrests, abductions, and crackdowns on organisers and participants. The government also invoked various laws and deployed sophisticated digital tools to monitor protestors without adequate oversight.
  3. Spiralling Censorship of Online Speech: The government imposed a nationwide internet shutdown during the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests and later blocked access to Telegram for two weeks to prevent cheating during the national examination period. Further, government officials issued several warnings to the public over the “irresponsible use of social media” and threatened to regulate social media platforms and block websites.
  4. Disinformation Persists: Kenya’s disinformation enterprise remains sophisticated, lucrative and largely funded by political actors that exploit the divisions around ideological, ethnic, economic, and demographic lines while harnessing the power of social media. However, government responses to disinformation through the enforcement of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018) continue to raise concerns about censorship due to the misapplication of the law to muzzle legitimate speech.
  5. Gaps in Access to Information: Access to information about key government projects has remained inconsistent, with widespread secrecy, delays or outright refusal characterising projects. However, the delivery of government services online through the eCitizen portal has facilitated enhanced access to information and services even as the digital divide expands.
  6. Growing Data Breaches and Cyber Threats: As the population embraces the digital economy, the number of cyber threats recorded increased in 2024, with the majority being system vulnerabilities, malware and brute force attacks. Also, there are concerns over unchecked state surveillance, and the adequacy of safeguards to protect citizens’ data amidst rising data breaches.
  7. Media under Siege: Kenya’s media rankings have declined, with the Media Council of Kenya reporting a total of 74 cases of press freedom violations in 2024. The violations included cases of harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests of journalists, particularly those reporting on politically sensitive topics such as corruption, protests, and human rights abuses.
  8. Change of Guard at the MoICDE: William Kabogo was appointed as the third Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MoICDE) in a span of two years. The billionaire politician announced his readiness to regulate social media and shut down the internet if national security is threatened. 

In conclusion, the brief calls for continued vigilance and action to stem the downward spiral. 

Summary of Recommendations:

  1. The government should commit to maintaining free, open and secure internet access by international human rights standards.
  2. The government should take measures to expand ICT infrastructure in rural and underserved areas.
  3. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act should be amended to narrow its scope and ensure that response measures comply with the three-part test and the law is not used to censor or suppress digital rights.
  4. The capacity of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner should be strengthened to ensure compliance of all government online services and digital initiatives to the Data Protection Act.
  5. Kenya should address its cybersecurity constraints.
  6. Stakeholders should work to strengthen legal protections for journalists and media outlets.
  7. The government, including at the county level, should continue to invest in the digitisation of public records and services to facilitate efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Read the full brief here.

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