West Africa Civil Society Week 2024 (WACSW 2024) organized by Spaces for Change │S4C in conjunction with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), brought together over 140 participants from West Africa, comprising civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers, regulators, law enforcement agencies, tech innovators and companies, in Abuja, Nigeria, from October 29–30. This year’s theme, “Leveraging Technology for Civic Engagement and Social Change in West Africa,” provided a powerful lens for examining how digital tools are impacting governance, policy reform, and accountability across the region.
WACSW 2024 proceeds upon the premise that technology is a “double-edged sword” with immense potential for good and the bad. Over the two days, nine (9) sessions led by different civil society organizations across West Africa and 58 speakers provided deep insights into the ways civic actors are leveraging technology to enhance civic participation, promote open societies and reclaim civic spaces. Across the various sessions, stakeholders discussed the technological progress the country has recorded across sectors such as space research, geospatial data collection through remote sensing, aerial photography, geocoding, and surveys, social media usage, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, broadcasting and the media. These tech-enabled advancements have resulted in the increased mobilization power of civic groups, streamlined election processes, decentralized the press while enlarging the pathways to fiscal transparency and accountability. On the flip side, technology has also facilitated digital authoritarianism, surveillance, misinformation, and suppression of civic rights, especially the freedom of expression, assembly and association.
What was fascinating about WSCSW is that it allowed various sectors—governments, corporations and civil society—to speak to one another, explain and clarify the rationale behind policy, regulatory and corporate actions that have been perceived as restrictive. Policy makers and law enforcement agencies clarified policies and administrative measures designed to ensure ethical use of technology such as the “End User Certificate” regime, import and export controls, data protection regulations and the recourse mechanisms in place to address breaches. This conversation also provoked debates about the role national security plays in facilitating and justifying human rights derogations. This prompted calls for transparency when invoking the national security mantra and striking a healthy balance between security considerations and civic freedoms.
Another session explored the conception of risks and the geopolitical complexities associated with the technological dependency between the global north and the global south. Risks vary from country to country. Risks will differ between a country returning from war and another country fighting an insurgency, or a country with a vibrant political opposition and civil society. The question is which risks warrant a significant level of concern for the state to take action to regulate. In relation to global geopolitics, African countries have not demonstrated capacity to negotiate types of technology that can be imported into their countries. This has made made many African countries a dumping ground for various types of technologies, including harmful ones. Reliance on foreign-made digital tools can create dependencies that compromise local control over sensitive data. Of course, this has implications for regional security due to reliance on foreign technology providers exposing critical infrastructure to potential vulnerabilities, including data leaks and external influence. Therefore, Africa must be intentional about building its technological capabilities and developing strong standards for mitigating the risks posed to the continent.
CSOs deploying tech-driven solutions to advance human rights, improve governance, and engage citizens in decision-making processes showcased some of their inspiring work. These trailblazing organizations shared their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the need for a rights-centered approach to digital governance. While technological tools can enhance governance, it was emphasized that technology alone cannot solve the region’s challenges. Instead, CSOs must remain true to their watchdog role, continuing to demand accountability and actively participate in the solutions that will drive social change in the region.
Tech companies and innovators walked participants through the various policies and processes they have put in place for the governance of digital and content moderation platforms. Corporations talked about their commitments to user groups and platform-based groups and content protections. This stirred a debate about the extent human rights principles, including culture and languages of diverse contexts, were incorporated into these corporate policies and mechanisms for enhancing data privacy, free speech and safety on digital platforms. These conversations became necessary in light of the frequency of hate speech, discrimination, online censorship and internet shut downs in the subregion. Another issue explored is the role artificial intelligence plays in expanding service delivery or causing harms online as well as how legal frameworks are addressing that. It was clear from the conversations that technological innovations are running faster than the development of legal rules even though the governance frameworks determine the extent AI poses threats or opportunities. Nonetheless, EU’s General Data Protection Regulations have inspired legislations across the world, including Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023. It requires that privacy must be baked into technological innovations and usage and not just as an afterthought. This is a central rule that corporations across the globe have consciously started subscribing to.
During the last session, beneficiaries of the Civic Space Resource Hub (CSR-Hub) shared stories of impact and resilience after participating in one or all of the Hub’s five strategic pillars. The CSR-Hub is an initiative launched on May 12, 2022, co-implemented by S4C and WACSI as part of the Weaving Resilience Initiative in the Global South, with support from the Ford Foundation. This five-year project aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of CSOs, media organizations, and civic actors in West Africa to sustainably fulfill their mandates, consolidate democracy, and drive lasting social change in the region through group trainings, organizational mentorships, and didactic convenings. Over the past two years, 470 organizations across Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal have benefited from the project. Organizational leaders at this session shared testimonials of the monumental impact their participation has had on their internal systems and structures, which better positioned them to achieve their institutional mandates.
Also making the special feature’s list was the unveiling of Spaces for Change’s new report, The Proliferation of Dual-Use Surveillance Technologies in Nigeria: Deployment, Risks, and Accountability. This report is a resource for CSOs, policymakers, and tech companies to improve the safeguards for the importation and deployment of dual-use surveillance technology in Nigeria. It sheds light on the associated risks and emphasizes the need for robust accountability measures to prevent misuse and repurposing.
As the event drew to a close, the emphasis on transparency, human rights, and context-driven technology remained at the forefront. The conversations at WACSW 2024 stressed the point that technology should be an enabler of civic empowerment and respect for local customs, beliefs, and ways of life. Ultimately, the consensus was clear: building a responsible digital future for West Africa will require collective efforts, continued dialogue, and an unwavering commitment to protecting civic spaces and empowering communities across the region. WACSW 2024 was organized under the auspices of the CSR Hub with support from Ford Foundation, Fund for Global Human Rights, and New Venture Fund.
