The intersection of technology and civil society in West Africa will take center stage at the upcoming West Africa Civil Society Week (WACSW) 2024 scheduled to hold on October 29-30 in Abuja, Nigeria. Organized by Spaces for Change | S4C and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) under the auspices of the Civic Space Resource Hub (CSR-HUB) with support from the Ford Foundation, this event promises to be a pivotal moment for civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers, FinTechs, companies, policymakers, regulators, and tech innovators across the region to explore the transformative potential of digital innovations in driving social change and protecting civic freedoms in West Africa. The theme of the conference, “Leveraging Technology for Civic Engagement and Social Change in West Africa,” already gives hint of the intent to hold deep conversations about how technology is facilitating activism, policy reform, and public accountability in an era of rapid digital advancement.
Over the two days, eight different sessions hosted by an array of civil society organizations in West Africa will unite stakeholders to reflect on how digital tools have been utilized to address complex issues such as artificial intelligence, national security, climate justice, election transparency, human rights, and economic accountability. These discussions will not only highlight the successes, but also examine the other side of technology, particularly online harms and the implications on the civic space. At these sessions, stakeholders will delve deeper into the ethical and operational challenges associated with leveraging technology for public good.
The event will bring together leaders from across sectors—government, policymakers, private corporations, regulators, tech innovators, donor agencies, civic actors, and the diplomatic community—creating a unique platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Participants will have the chance to engage with pioneering CSOs who are at the forefront of deploying tech-driven solutions to advance human rights and increase public participation in governance. They will also share their own experiences, offer practical insights, foster meaningful partnerships, and create a blueprint for a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable digital landscape in the subregion.
Spaces for Change will also launch its new report, The Proliferation of Dual-Use Surveillance Technologies in Nigeria: Deployment, Risks, and Accountability which explores internal and external accountability pathways for the misuse of dual-use surveillance technologies in Nigeria. As West Africa continues to experience the dual-edged impact of emerging technologies, WACSW 2024 pools stakeholders to collectively reimagine a future where technology serves as an enabler of civic empowerment.
