We’ve put together a list of opportunities, news, resources, and events that you may be interested in. We would love to hear from you. Should you have any opportunities, news, resources, and events you would like to share with the African civic tech community, please email Nkosinathi Mcetywa at nkosinathi.mcetywa@wits.ac.za
Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
Open Call: You are invited to exhibit at the #AfricaFlows conference this October
The Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN) and Jamlab Africa will be hosting their annual joint CTIF/Jamfest conference between the 16th and 19th of October 2023. You are invited to exhibit various civic tech and media innovation initiatives virtually and in person throughout the month of October. This year’s exhibition’s primary focus is to showcase African civic tech and media innovations that demonstrate African ingenuity and adaptability in difficult climates. In line with this year’s conference theme, the exhibition will focus on innovators who are helping Africa #Flow. For the showcase, we are inviting civic tech innovators who have something exciting to share which may include: Impact Stories, Newbie Stories, Cutting edge projects, Change-makers, Ecosystem supporters and enablers, and Theme related initiatives…read more
Deadline: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africa Leaders
Apply for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders today. This fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Since 2014, nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Fellowship. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries…read more
Deadline: Tuesday, 12 September 2023
InspiringFifty AFRICA 2023
EQL:HER is excited to announce the launch of InspiringFifty Africa 2023, a free to apply prestigious initiative aimed at recognising and celebrating the incredible achievements of women in tech across the African continent. As a part of this exciting journey, they invite you to play a vital role by nominating the exceptional women you believe deserve to be honoured as part of the Top Fifty Women in Tech! InspiringFifty is a global initiative run by EQL:HER, dedicated to increasing diversity in the tech industry by amplifying the visibility of women role models. By shining a spotlight on their accomplishments, they hope to inspire more girls and women to pursue tech careers and become future leaders and entrepreneurs. This is an opportunity to nominate the exceptional women you believe deserve to be honoured as part of the Top Fifty Women in Tech!…read more
Deadline: Friday, 22 September 2023
COMMUNITY NEWS
Technology Can Be Transformative for Refugees, but It Can Also Hold Them Back
There is a simple narrative that digital technology makes migration easier for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. Indeed, smartphones, computers, and social media enable migrants to gather information and establish relevant networks that guide their migration and offer support as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of life in their host society. Humanitarian agencies have framed refugees’ digital inclusion as a fundamental human right and an essential tool to promote access to education, health care, social connections, income, and skills development. Yet while these technologies can assist decision-making, they do not always improve migrants’ lives…read more
Working Together: The role of partnerships in civic tech and media innovation
Episode 14 of the Digital Dialogues Series, a collaborative event planned by the Civic Tech Innovation Network and the International Civil Society Centre, took place on the 6th of July 2023, and explored the role of partnerships in strengthening the impact of civic tech in different contexts. The discussion highlighted the wins of successful partnerships alongside unpacking the risks, challenges, and obstacles associated with partnerships. This article first provides a summary of the talking points and secondly, reflects on the combined discussion points between panelists and an engaged audience…read more
Breaking Boundaries: Uganda Set To Soar With Its First Digital Transformation Roadmap – A Game-Changer For Inclusive Progress!
The Digital Transformation Roadmap represents a moment of pride and optimism for Uganda, as it aims to leverage digital technology as an equalizing force between rural and urban citizens. With a strong focus on inclusivity and empowerment, the roadmap seeks to bridge the digital divide that has historically hindered opportunities for marginalized communities. By embracing the potential of digital technology, Uganda aims to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to participate fully in the digital economy and access essential services to improve livelihoods. The Digital Transformation Road was designed by UNDP Uganda, with technical support from Centenary Technology Services, the technology company of Centenary Group…read more
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Anfani: Connecting the Invisible Dots
For journalists, activists, and accountability NGOs, Anfani is a powerful beneficial ownership transparency platform that helps you connect the budget, contract, audit data, and corporate sector actors. It is an innovative platform that links public procurement data from the federal and state governments with beneficial ownership information of government contractors. The platform’s unique name is from the Yoruba word for ‘benefit,” and it is designed as an open-source platform to help journalists, civil society, and anti-graft organisations follow the money and investigate the political and financial connections existing within the public procurement and audit processes across different levels of government…read more
Interactive tool: Mapping the African Governance Architecture
The African Governance Architecture (AGA) is a dialogue and coordination framework among various African Union recognised institutions and instruments working on governance. It was established in 2011, following the adoption of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) in 2007, in light of the rising number of constitutional amendments for presidential term extension on the continent. This interactive tool is also available in French…read more
Explore the interactive tool here
Podcast: Informing and Influencing Tech Policy in North Africa
Yosr Jouini is an interdisciplinary researcher studying emerging technologies and their social implications in the global South. She is the director of Technoloxia, a technology & innovation centre based in Tunis. She is also the host of the ‘Digitally Yours podcast‘, which specialises in digital rights. Technoloxia is a North African-based collective with a mission to provide community-centered perspectives on the region from the region. Technoloxia is the newest member of the Regional Ambassador Programme (RAP). The Regional Ambassadors Programme (RAP) founded in 2022, is a programme aimed at strengthening regional connection and participation in the civic tech space. In this episode, Yosr Jouini joins Nathi Mcetywa to talk about the growth of civic tech in Tunisia and more generally in North Africa. She reflects on the impact that collaboration has had for North African civic tech organisations in Tunisia. She also reflects on another level of accessibility that innovators need to think about and what that means for innovators…read more
Listen on Spotify
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Media in Elections Training Workshop
SAEditorsForum – SANEF and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) are bringing their Media in Elections training workshop to Cape Town next month, ahead of the national and provincial elections in 2024… read more
Date: Monday, 7 September 2023
Time: 10 am – 4 pm (CAT)
RSVP with dzudzie@sanef.org.za
Save the Date: CTIF & Jamfest Conference 2023
CTIN’s annual conference, Civic Tech Innovation Forum (CTIF) is intended to enable the civic tech community and ecosystem actors to engage face-to-face (and virtually!), learn about innovations, tools, and techniques, share experiences, and meet potential collaborators. It presents an opportunity to gain an overview of what is going on in the sector in Africa and the world. The conference also provides an opportunity for the Civic Tech Innovation Network to consult with network members to inform the design of future activities. Jamfest, organised by Jamlab Africa is a conference that brings together journalists, media managers, and other stakeholders across the African continent to talk about innovations, content, and audience analytics, among other conversations. These two events make up the joint conference, CTIF, and Jamfest. The CTIF and Jamfest is an opportunity to showcase innovators in media and civic technology who are helping move Africa forward; innovators who are tributary streams, unclogging the continent’s rivers of possibility and letting them flow…read more
Date: 16 – 19 October 2023
Save the Date: Privacy Symposium 2023
Privacy Symposium Africa offers a unique platform for thousands of individuals in Africa as well as across the content to meet, connect, discuss, and exchange ideas on the subject of data protection and privacy. Join their global community of privacy experts, policymakers, business leaders, and individuals from across the continent to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the field of privacy and data protection…read more
Date: 7 November – 9 November 2023