FIFAfrica |
In the lead-up to the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25), a series of pre-events will set the stage for engaging discussions and actions. These sessions set to be held between September 22-24, 2025, serve as a build-up to the Forum by creating avenues for deeper engagement with critical themes that resonate with the content of the Forum. This year, a diverse range of partners have established a series of pre-event sessions focused on various aspects of digital rights, governance, and advocacy across Africa with the goal of addressing the evolving digital landscape. Several common themes emerge from the upcoming pre-event sessions, which are by invitation or by registration.
Find the full list of Pre-events below (Some limited slots are open for registration) | Find the full FIFAfrica Agenda here
Various pre-event sessions include inter-organisational collaboration and capacity building within African networks. These include meetings to be hosted by the African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA), Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA), and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
Some sessions place a significant focus on understanding and influencing digital rights and data governance. This includes training National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human rights, preparing them for regional consultations on protecting digital civic space from human rights harms. Meanwhile, a session on the “United Voices: Media & Civil Society for African Data Governance” will address how the pervasive nature of datafication has fractured the symbiotic relationship between media and civil society. A session on “Gender Transformative Data Governance in Africa” will highlight the need for a gender-responsive approach to data governance, built upon addressing the minimal representation of diverse gender perspectives and the dominance of private sector interests.
A series of litigation surgeries hosted by Media Defense will be dedicated towards building expertise and capacity among lawyers across Sub-Saharan Africa to protect and advance freedom of expression. Participants will receive expert-led training on international and regional legal frameworks, engage in collaborative case analysis, and strengthen their ability to litigate before national courts and international human rights bodies.
Some pre-events are dedicated towards amplifying the achievements of leveraging advocacy and international mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to advance digital rights. These sessions hosted by the Civil Alliance for Digital Empowerment (CADE), Small Media, and CIPESA, aim to build the digital advocacy capacities of civil society and policymakers in Africa. These efforts are also extended to the youth and will see the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) host an advocacy training for young activists on the African Union system.
An Africa Regional Consultation on Global Policy and Legal Action, collaboratively hosted by the Danish Human Rights Institute, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and CIPESA, aims to provide clarity on state obligations and company responsibilities regarding digitally mediated human rights harms, supporting civil society advocacy against disinformation and the shrinking of democratic/civic space. The “Spaces of Solidarity (SoS) Forum”, hosted by DW Akademie, also focuses on compiling and updating advocacy positions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including the impact of shrinking international funding. The “African MILE Production” workshop, also hosted by DW Akademie further promotes open exchange on media production, digital campaigning, and cross-border collaboration to strengthen regional media impact.
FIFAfrica25 will also be the home for a “Digital Rights Academy” hosted by NamTushwe and Paradigm Initiative (PIN). The Academy aims to raise awareness and knowledge of digital rights and inclusion, enhancing stakeholders’ capacity to foster inclusive and rights-respecting legislation in their countries.
Digital resilience is a key component of the Forum and also features as a key component of several pre-event sessions including the “Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy Workshop” hosted by the Internet Society (ISOC) a “Digital Security and Localization Workshop” hosted by the Localization Lab. Both sessions are aimed at enhancing digital skills and practices amongst various stakeholders. There is also a led session on “From Harm to Justice: Reimagining Digital Safety for Women and Girls in Africa,” which explores the increasing incidence of online gender-based violence (TFGBV), including image-based abuse and algorithmic amplification of harmful content, and how systemic inequality and weak legal enforcement contribute to these harms.
| Line-up of Pre-Events at FIFAfrica25 (Full details can be found in the Agenda) | |
| September 22, 2025 | |
| Pre-Event Name | Host/s |
| Litigation Surgery | Media Defense |
| Safety of Voices Meeting | Association for Progressive Communications (APC) |
| United Voices: Media & Civil Society for African Data Governance | Data Governance in Africa Research Fund, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Namibia Media Foundation and DW Akademie. |
| September 23, 2025 | |
| NHRI Training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Rights | Danish Human Rights Institute and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available) |
| Litigation Surgery | Media Defense |
| Digitalise Youth Project: Advocacy Training | European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) |
| Annual Convening and Capacity Building | African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA) |
| Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy Workshop | Internet Society (ISOC) |
| Spaces of Solidarity Forum: Strategic Dialogue on the Policy Agenda in Southern Africa | DW Akademie |
| From Harm to Justice: Reimagining Digital Safety for Women and Girls in Africa | Equality Now (Register – limited slots available) |
| Africa Members Meeting | Association for Progressive Communications (APC) |
| Amplifying Achievements of Digital Rights Advocacy through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Testimonies from our Partners | CADE, Small Media and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available) |
| Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA) Member Meeting | International Centre for Non-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and CIPESA |
| Digital Security and Localization Workshop | Localization Lab, the Digital Society of Africa and NamTushwe |
| September 24, 2025 | |
| Africa Regional Consultation on Global Policy and Legal Action | Danish Human Rights Institute, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available) |
| Litigation Surgery | Media Defense |
| Digitalise Youth Project: Consortium Meeting | European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) |
| Annual Convening and Capacity Building | African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA) |
| Africa Cybersecurity Advocacy Workshop | Internet Society (ISOC) |
| Digital Rights Academy | NamTushwe and Paradigm Initiative (PIN) |
| Gender Transformative Data Governance in Africa | Pollicy |
| African MILE Production: Putting the Advocacy Message into Practice! | DW Akademie |
| AFEX Member Meeting | Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) |
| Amplifying Achievements of Digital Rights Advocacy through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Testimonies from our Partners | CADE, Small Media and CIPESA (Register – limited slots available) |
| Digital Rights Alliance Africa (DRAA) Member Meeting | International Centre for Non-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and CIPESA |
