On 23 and 24 July 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia, the Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in collaboration with the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) will be convening a regional capacity building workshop on the information ecosystem and elections in Africa.

The workshop is anchored on the African Union framework on freedom of expression and access to information and other relevant instruments. These include the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa (2017) and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa  (2019). The African Association of Electoral Authorities also adopted the Principles and Guidelines for the use of Digital and Social Media in African elections in February 2024.

The workshop is targeting Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in Southern Africa and Election Observer Missions (EOMs). Some of the regional election observer missions that are represented include the ECF-SADC members, the East African Community Observation Mission (EACOM), the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), and Namibian-based election observers and monitors. Participants will also include academic experts and democracy practitioners.

The workshop is aimed at promoting dialogue with EMBs and EOMs on information rights in electoral processes to enable them to fulfill their obligations of promoting the integrity of elections in Africa. Participants will share insights, challenges, and opportunities to enhance the state of electoral transparency and integrity on the continent. Specifically, the workshop will focus on several key objectives, including:

• Deliberating on strategies to support EMBs and EOMs in fulfilling AU obligations regarding freedom of expression and access to information.
• Advocating and promoting compliance with AU norms during elections to promote a conducive information ecosystem during elections.
• Encouraging effective implementation of the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.

Some of the intended outcomes of the workshop include:

1. Enhanced understanding of information ecosystem dynamics. It is anticipated that participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the information ecosystem operates during electoral processes, including the roles of traditional media, social media, and digital platforms.
2. Improved capacity to monitor and respond to misinformation and disinformation. EMBs and EOMs develop strategies and tools to effectively monitor and counter misinformation and disinformation that may affect electoral integrity.
3. Strengthened collaboration between EMBs and EOMs. The workshop promotes better collaboration and coordination between EMBs and EOMs in identifying and responding to challenges related to the information ecosystem during elections.
4. Development of guidelines or best practices. It is envisaged that participants will work together to develop guidelines or best practices on managing information in the context of elections, which can be adapted and implemented in their respective countries or missions.
5. Actionable recommendations for policy and practice. The workshop participants will generate actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners in EMBs and EOMs to improve their approaches to handling information during electoral periods, ensuring transparency, fairness, and credibility.

The initiative is supported by the Open Society Foundations.

 For more information contact:

The Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit