After what has felt like an eternity for us at Paradigm Initiative (PIN), we are excited to reconnect and share updates on the incredible work we’ve been doing and how your continued support is driving our mission forward across the Global South. From Dakar to Nairobi, Geneva to Lagos, the echoes of our collective effort continue to resonate. They remind us of why we do this work and how a single action can spark meaningful change in many lives.
In this edition, we spotlight our key moments from the past month and offer a glimpse into what’s next.
Key Highlights
• LIFE legacy launched in Uganda
• PIN launches new digital rights board game
• Clicks that hurt: Survivors’ approach to understanding TechnologyFacilitated Gender-Based Violence
• Opinion: Digital rights reckoning demands more than infrastructure
LIFE legacy launched in Uganda
Paradigm Initiative has launched LIFE (Life skill, ICTs, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship) Legacy initiative in Uganda, extending the reach across 12 African countries. In partnership with the Maendeleo Foundation, Paradigm Initiative is bringing the flagship digital inclusion programme to empower underserved youth with digital skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills. The programme’s comprehensive curriculum will provide participants with in-demand ICT skills, financial literacy training, crucial life skills, and the entrepreneurial knowledge needed to launch and sustain their own businesses or secure meaningful employment in the digital economy. Already transforming lives in 11 other African countries, the LIFE Legacy initiative is now here to unlock opportunities for Ugandan youth and close the digital divide. See details.
PIN celebrates historic ruling by Malawi court
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has commended a decision by the High Court of Malawi, sitting as the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), which finds that section 200 of the Penal Code of Malawi, criminalising defamation, is unconstitutional. The decision by the three-
judge bench concludes a case brought by Joshua Chisa Mbele against the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, where the latter levelled charges against Mbele for alleged defamatory statements made regarding a public official in Malawi. In its commendable ruling, the ConCourt upheld the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Malawian Constitution and described the punishment of imprisonment, as outlined in Section 200 of the Malawi Penal Code, as having a “chilling effect on public discourse and democratic participation.” PIN celebrates this win, having expressed concerns in the past over Malawi’s repressive laws through the Londa report on the state of digital rights and inclusion in Malawi and a joint advocacy statement calling for the repeal of laws infringing on freedom of expression. See details
Remarkable Impact in Kondoa, Tanzania
In October 2024, Paradigm Initiative, in collaboration with Kondoa Community Network launched LIFE @ School Programme to serve two high schools in Kondoa District. The community is currently reaping the benefits of the transformative power of digital connectivity. Dr. Jabhera Matogoro, who is the Mentor and Project Advisor said that following the installation of Internet at Amani Abeid Karume School, the number of students using the institution’s computer laboratory
has doubled. “This is a testament to the transformative power of digital connectivity. Sincere thanks to UNICEF Tanzania and Paradigm Initiative (PIN) for supporting this important initiative. Together, we are expanding learning opportunities and empowering the next generation,” Dr. Jabhera said. The initiative is aimed at equipping students with LIFE skills, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills, Financial literacy and Entrepreneurship skills. Targeting 1,500 students annually, the programme seeks to close the digital divide and usage gap in the under-served region.
Now streaming: Whispers in the Wires
Paradigm Initiative’s 5th short film, Whispers in the Wires is now streaming on YouTube. First premiered at the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum, the short film is inspired by the 2024 Londa report on digital rights and inclusion in Africa. It features celebrated actress, Tina Mba who plays the role of Mama Bibi, a retired nurse. After facing unprecedented internet fame, she is pushed to the fore of advocating change in her community. Stream Whispers in the Wires in English or French.
Events
PIN launches new digital rights board game
In July, Paradigm Initiative piloted the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), a gamified way of introducing digital literacy among young Africans across the continent. The pilot was rolled out at the University of Lagos, Nigeria on July 15th. Within the same week, on July 17th and July 18th, the game was piloted at the Dakar American University of Science and Technology (DAUST) in Dakar, Senegal and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, respectively. Built with the support of the Open Society Foundations, the board game aims to build digital literacy, deepen understanding of online safety, and introduce young individuals to the organisation’s tools of impact in a fun way. Do you want to DRIBLE with us? Keep an eye on our social media handles as we may soon be coming to a university or hub near you.
Paradigm Initiative present at the Benin Youth Internet Governance Forum
On July 19, Paradigm Initiative’s Programmes
Officer for Francophone Africa, Moussa Sene, participated in Benin’s Youth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Cotonou, Benin. He delivered a Keynote on the theme “Giving the youth a digital future,” where he advocated for more inclusion of the youth in the African continent’s digital progress. He equally hosted a Londa Pulse session featuring our latest report on digital rights and inclusion in Africa, and presented our Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), which was recently launched.
Connecting the dots at the World Systems on Information Society (WSIS) Summit
From July 7 to 11, 2025, PIN was at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. We were represented at the UN-led process focused on advancing digital governance and
cooperation for inclusive, people-centred, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies, by our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Senior Manager for Partnerships and Engagements, Thobekile Matimbe, and Partnerships and Engagements Officer, Bridgette Ndlovu. The team joined stakeholders to discuss advancement of multistakeholder engagement and integrating human rights into tech standards, as well as a range of other digital rights issues. At the following session, ‘Let’s build a peoplecentred, rights-respecting information society, PIN was represented by Senior Manager for Partnerships and Engagements Thobekile Matimbe. Catch up with our team’s contribution in Geneva.
Addressing digital rights and policy in Togo
On July 2, 2025, we hosted a Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES) in Lome, Togo where we exchanged with legal experts, public institutions, and civil society. Coming at a time when concerns around digital rights in the country are growing, the exchange hinged on the country’s “Togo Digital 2025” strategy. It was followed on July 3, 2025, by our Digital Rights Academy, where we unpacked the country’s freedom of expression standards, building capacity of media, civil society and digital actors.
new members
On July 30 and 31, Paradigm Initiative attended the Sahel Governance Forum, which was organised by the UN Development Programme for West and Central Africa, represented by Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu. The forum was a high-level, multi-stakeholder platform for advancing a holistic yet tailored governance approach in the Sahel, benefiting its governments and people. It was conceived as a one-stop forum bringing together governments, political leaders, technical experts, citizen and community leaders, private sector, and international partners from the Sahel to address governance challenges in the region. The Forum also served as a platform for launching the first edition of the Future of Governance in the Sahel Report to which our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan contributed.
Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum: Call for vendors
Ahead of the 2026 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Paradigm Initiative is seeking bilingual vendors to render quality services to us. The categories include photography, rapporteuring, translation services and flight ticketing. If you fit any of these criteria, put in your application now or share with anyone you know does. Entries close on August 31, 2025.
Thought Leadership
Shrinking digital rights funding: Modern challenges require modern solutions
The shrinking of civic space, the decline in digital funding, and the erosion of legitimacy are not just abstract concerns; they are existential threats to Africa’s promising digital future. Our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, asserts this in a recent piece published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In this compelling write-up, ‘Gbenga challenges policymakers, tech stakeholders, and global development actors to rethink Africa’s digital transformation through the lens of digital rights. Read the full article here
How do we build for the Global South?
We live in a world of digital divides. The Global South represents 88 percent of the world’s population and has a higher number of internet users, yet it remains under-served by digital technology. While digital experiences should be available to all, a sizable portion of people remain offline, particularly in lowincome countries, where only 27 percent of the population is connected to the Internet, compared to 93 percent in high-income countries. Paradigm Initiative’s Programmes
Officer for East Africa, Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru, teamed up with Researcher, Ava Haidar, and Data Privacy Brasil’s Louise Karczeski & Jaqueline Pigatto, to explore the importance of meaningful Global South participation and getting more than just a seat at the table. Read the full article here.
Reconciling government and Big Tech in the Global South
Digital platforms have evolved into modern public spheres, wielding unprecedented influence over global discourse and information flow. As these virtual communities expand in scale and reach, they increasingly blur the boundaries between private enterprise and public governance. This shift has positioned private corporations as de facto global regulators, raising critical questions about public interest, accountability, and regulatory oversight. Industry self-regulation has effectively conferred upon big tech firms a quasi-governmental role, allowing them to shape societal norms, control access to information, and dictate digital interactions through proprietary policies and algorithms, Paradigm Initiative’s Programmes Officer, Sani Suleiman, argues in this new article.
Opinion: Digital rights reckoning demands more than infrastructure
In East Africa today, the digital rights conversations are getting more relevant than
Help build a safer internet
Clicks that hurt: Survivors’ approach to understanding Technology-Facilitated GenderBased Violence
Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is not just an online problem. Its damage is real, and its negative consequences are long-lasting. It could range from threats in your inbox, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, location tracking, impersonation and public shaming on social media. Paradigm Initiative has launched a research campaign to collect TFGBV survivor stories across six countries (Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), as we believe data should reflect lived truths. Have you been a victim before or do you know any? Take the survey and share with them too.
Have your say on digital rights in Nigeria
Are you a Nigerian? Do you feel your digital rights are protected enough? We are conducting a short survey to assess the need for a National Action Plan on Digital Rights in ever. But beyond fancy speeches, there is need to match words with action. PIN Communications Manager, Judith Ogutu, explores why East Africa’s digital rights reckoning demands more than infrastructure. Describing digital rights governance in the region as a litmus test for democracy, she prescribes transparency and consistency as essential starting points. Read the full piece.
Nigeria. Your input will help shape policies that safeguard freedom of expression, privacy, access to the internet & more. Take the survey now
Media Corner
• Advocating for Internet Connectivity across Nigeria with USPF: Nigeria’s Federal government has been tasked to utilise the Universal Services Provision Fund (USPF) to build key network infrastructure across the country in order to provide Internet connectivity. The call was made by PIN’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, who argued that state governments must attract Internet access to their states by making lane cable cheaper. The federal government on its part, he urged, must invest in providing critical infrastructure for internet connectivity in the country. This Day Live tells the story
Weekend Read
In Kibera and across Africa, dreams are turning into digital breakthroughs.
On July 15, we joined the international community to mark this year’s edition of World Youth Skills Day. It was an opportunity to reflect on how Paradigm Initiative’s LIFE Legacy programme is empowering youth in some of Africa’s most underserved communities, from Kibera to Tana River, Ajegunle to Dakar, with ICT skills that open doors to opportunity. Paradigm Initiative’s Partnerships and Engagements Officer, Bridgette Ndlovu in a blog post, explored how digital skills are reshaping futures and closing the gender digital divide across 11 countries. Want to partner with us to do more? Start by reading the full article.
We hope you enjoyed reading.
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Paradigm Initiative has been a driving force for positive change in African communities since 2007. With our roots in Nigeria and operations across Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and beyond, we have impacted the livelihoods of more than 150,000 under-served young Africans through digital opportunities and protection of their rights online. Our vision towards a rightsrespecting world is resolute, and so is our focus on influencing policies in digital rights and inclusion while advocating for a free and affordable Internet. Visit our website to learn how you can support us.
