The project seeks to strengthen the capacity of regulators and civil society in South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia to shape a digital ecosystem that protects human rights, promotes accountability, and fosters inclusive governance. Anchored in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms and the Internet for Trust (I4T) global process, this initiative positions Southern Africa at the forefront of rights-based, multistakeholder digital platform governance.
Research objectives
As digital platforms accelerate the flow of information, they also intensify risks, disinformation, online harms, hate speech, and polarisation, threatening democratic resilience. A global consensus is emerging: digital governance must be transparent, accountable, and grounded in international human rights standards. This project answers that call by equipping key actors with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative frameworks needed to strengthen information integrity and advance the commitments of the Global Digital Compact. Together with UNESCO, RIA will help chart a path toward a safer, more inclusive, and rights-respecting digital future for Southern Africa. It will:
- Develop a sub-regional toolkit that guides regulators, civil society, and other actors in applying human rights-based, transparent, accountable, and multistakeholder approaches to digital platform governance.
- Build the capacity of regulatory authorities and civil society through a structured workshop, addressing issues such as disinformation, linguistic diversity, online harms, gender considerations, youth vulnerabilities, and crisis preparedness.
- Integrate lessons learned into the I4T Knowledge Network to inform similar initiatives globally and strengthen UNESCO’s commitments under the Global Digital Compact, the Medium-Term Strategy (2022–2029), and the Windhoek+30 Declaration.
Methodology
Implemented under the EU-funder initiative Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, the project combines four strategic components:
- Mapping regulatory and policy landscapes;
- Designing a sub-regional toolkit;
- Delivering targeted capacity-building for regulators and civil society; and
- Driving a regional communication and dissemination campaign.
The project uses a mixed methodology that combines regulatory and contextual mapping, stakeholder engagement, and iterative co-creation to capacitate institutions for effective digital platform governance. It begins with a review of regional legal frameworks and digital governance practices to assess alignment with UNESCO’s Guidelines and identify gaps and opportunities. Consultations with regulators, civil society, election bodies, information regulators, media, academics, youth groups, and regional organisations inform both the needs assessment and the design of a practical sub-regional toolkit. This toolkit is refined through feedback loops and aligned with the I4T global methodology. A two-day capacity-building workshop provides applied, context-specific training that informs the final tools. The project concludes with a communication and dissemination phase, ensuring that findings and resources are accessible and widely shared across Southern Africa.
