Directorate for Technology and Human Rights (DTHR)
Vision: To harness technology as a force, good for human rights, ensuring equitable, ethical, and inclusive digital transformation across Africa.
Addressing the critical intersection of technology and human rights in Africa
Our Strategic Objective
Promote Rights-Respecting Technology Policies: Develop and advocate for policies that integrate human rights into technology governance, collaborating with African governments, the African Union, and tech companies to ensure compliance with international standards like the UNGPs.
Enhance Digital Inclusion and Equity: Empower marginalized communities, particularly women, youth, and rural populations, through capacity-building programs that promote access to technology and digital literacy while safeguarding their rights.
Strengthen Accountability Mechanisms: Establish frameworks to monitor and address human rights violations caused by technology, such as surveillance, data misuse, and algorithmic biases, ensuring remedies for affected communities.
DDG Programs
Digital Rights Advocacy Network
A pan-African network of civil society organizations, tech experts, and human rights defenders to advocate for policies that protect digital rights, focusing on privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from online violence. The program will include workshops, policy briefs, and campaigns to influence national and regional tech regulations.
Outcomes: Strengthened regional advocacy, adoption of rights-respecting tech policies in at least five African countries, and increased collaborations.
Tech for Justice Initiative
Train community-based paralegals and activists to use technologies like satellite imagery, AI, and secure databases to document human rights abuses, such as land rights violations or gender-based violence, and support strategic litigation.
Outcomes: Empowered 1,000+ community actors with tech skills, successful litigation in at least 10 high-impact cases, and improved access to justice for marginalized groups.
Ethical AI and Data Governance Program
Develop guidelines and training for African governments and tech companies to implement ethical AI and data practices, addressing risks like algorithmic biases and digital forced labor. The program will include human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) and stakeholder consultations.
Outcomes: Adoption of ethical AI frameworks by at least three African tech hubs, reduced instances of algorithmic discrimination, and enhanced corporate accountability.
Digital Empowerment for Women and Youth
A program to provide digital literacy and cybersecurity training to women and youth in rural and underserved areas, focusing on safe online participation and protection from digital harms like online harassment.
Outcomes: Train 20,000+ women and youth, increased safe digital participation by 20%, and reduced reported cases of online violence by 15% in target communities.
