Strengthening Civil Society’s Role in Advancing Tech Accountability in West Africa
The rapid evolution of technology has profoundly reshaped societies, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for innovation, connectivity, and economic growth. In Africa, over 160 million individuals gained broadband internet access between 2019 and 2022, while Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a 115% increase in internet users from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, 191 million more people made or received digital payments between 2014 and 2021, highlighting the region’s embrace of digital transformation. However, these advancements come with complex challenges, including the spread of misinformation, data privacy breaches, and algorithmic biases. In West Africa, the relationship between building civil society capacity and advancing tech accountability is critical to addressing these challenges effectively. Strengthened civil society organisations (CSOs) can advocate for responsible technological practices, hold corporations accountable, and mitigate the socio-economic consequences of unchecked technological growth. This article explores how capacity-strengthening efforts within civil society in West Africa can promote tech accountability, using practical examples from the region to demonstrate this interplay.
The Role of Capacity Strengthening in Civil Society
Capacity strengthening involves equipping organisations with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to achieve their missions sustainably. For CSOs, it spans areas such as governance, financial management, and programme implementation while integrating responses to emerging issues like digital rights and tech ethics. In West Africa, institutions like the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) lead localised capacity strengthening initiatives tailored to regional realities. For example, WACSI strengthens grassroots organisations by enhancing their digital literacy, enabling them to integrate technology into their advocacy efforts and monitor its effects on communities. This foundational knowledge helps CSOs address specific issues like digital exclusion and the misuse of surveillance tools.
Why Tech Accountability Matters for Civil Society
Tech accountability ensures that technology companies operate ethically, transparently, and in a manner that respects human rights. This is particularly critical in West Africa, where the impacts of tech misuse can be amplified by factors such as weak regulatory frameworks, limited public awareness, and socio-political vulnerabilities. CSOs are uniquely positioned to influence this space through advocacy for regulatory reforms, raising public awareness, and pushing for greater transparency from tech companies. For instance, during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, civil society groups like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) leveraged technology to monitor the spread of misinformation, advocating for stronger accountability mechanisms from social media
Strengthening Civil Society for Tech Advocacy
Digital Literacy and Advocacy Training: CSOs require technical expertise to understand the societal impact of technologies like artificial intelligence, algorithms, and data practices. Developing these skills allows organisations to participate in policymaking and challenge harmful practices.WACSI has delivered digital literacy advocacy workshops to grassroots organisations in Ghana and Nigeria, enabling them to use technology for electoral monitoring and to challenge disinformation campaigns.
Coalition Building and Networking: Tech-related challenges often transcend national boundaries, necessitating cross-border collaborations. Building coalitions allows CSOs to pool resources, share knowledge, and amplify their voices on issues of regional and global concern.The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms is a coalition-driven framework adopted by CSOs across the continent to advocate for equitable Internet access and digital rights. In West Africa, organisations have leveraged this framework to push for national-level reforms.
Governance and Strategic Leadership: Effective leadership is crucial for CSOs navigating the intricacies of tech accountability. Strong governance structures enable organisations to align their missions with the broader societal goals of transparency, equity, and justice. WACSI’s leadership programmes emphasise developing resilient governance frameworks, equipping CSO leaders in Nigeria to engage policymakers on pressing issues such as internet censorship and digital privacy.
Access to Technology and Resources: Improving access to affordable technology is essential for CSOs to track and address tech-related abuses effectively. Digital tools empower organisations to collect and disseminate evidence, fostering public engagement and influencing policy. For example, the Paradigm Initiative in Nigeria equips CSOs with affordable tools and training to document human rights abuses related to digital surveillance. Through its Digital Rights and Inclusion programme, the initiative has enabled organisations to monitor government policies on internet shutdowns and raise awareness about the socio-economic impact of such actions, driving advocacy for inclusive digital policies.
Innovations for Enhancing Civil Society’s Role in Tech Accountability
| Innovation | Description | Example |
| Digital Literacy Mobile Apps | Mobile apps tailored to grassroots organisations to enhance digital literacy and advocacy skills, enabling better engagement with tech issues. | Digital literacy workshops can be expanded through mobile apps to reach more grassroots communities. |
| Virtual Cross-Border Tech Advocacy Networks | Online platforms that facilitate real-time, cross-border collaboration among CSOs, enhancing regional solidarity and amplifying advocacy impact. | Virtual forums that allow West African CSOs to coordinate tech accountability efforts in real-time. |
| Blockchain for Transparency in Tech Contracts | Blockchain technology enhances transparency in CSO-tech company contracts by creating secure, verifiable records and automating compliance through smart contracts. This ensures accountability in areas like payments and data sharing. Effective implementation requires training CSOs in blockchain use and collaborating with tech experts to tailor solutions. | Implementing blockchain to track and audit agreements between CSOs and tech companies on ethical data usage. |
| Tech Accountability Dashboards | Real-time dashboards for monitoring tech companies’ practices and their societal impact, providing transparent, up-to-date data for advocacy and public awareness. | Dashboards that track social media platforms’ responses to misinformation and their policies on data privacy. |
| Digital Information Credibility Dashboards | Real-time dashboards are designed to monitor electoral processes and practices, providing transparent, up-to-date information to promote public awareness. | These dashboards track online data related to electoral events, helping to detect and regulate misinformation, disinformation, and harmful information during election periods. |
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite significant strides, civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa face formidable challenges in advancing tech accountability. These challenges not only hinder their impact but also limit their ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Limited Funding and Sustainability: Many CSOs operate on restricted budgets, making it difficult to invest in advanced digital tools, long-term capacity strengthening, or strategic advocacy campaigns. The lack of sustainable funding models exacerbates dependency on short-term projects, undermining their ability to address systemic issues.
Inadequate Technical Expertise: While technology’s influence continues to grow, many CSOs lack the technical expertise needed to address issues such as algorithmic biases, data privacy, or the misuse of artificial intelligence. This knowledge gap restricts their ability to advocate effectively for tech accountability.
Restricted Access to Decision-Making Platforms: CSOs often struggle to influence policy due to limited representation in policymaking spaces. Governments and private sector actors tend to dominate discussions, sidelining civil society voices in critical debates on digital governance.
Fragmentation of Efforts: A lack of coordination among CSOs across the region leads to duplicated efforts and weakened advocacy impact. Limited coalition-building and networking opportunities prevent a unified approach to tackling transnational tech challenges.
Weak Regulatory Frameworks: Many West African nations lack comprehensive legal and regulatory mechanisms to ensure ethical technological practices. This regulatory void makes it challenging for CSOs to hold corporations accountable or safeguard public interests.
Public Awareness Deficit: Low levels of digital literacy among the general population hinder CSOs’ efforts to mobilise communities around tech accountability issues. Without public support, CSO advocacy struggles to gain traction or influence policy changes
Conclusion
In conclusion, civil society plays a pivotal role in shaping a technological landscape that is both ethical and transparent. Strengthening the capacity of CSOs ensures they are well-equipped to advocate for digital rights, hold companies accountable, and drive policy reforms that promote tech accountability. With the right tools such as digital literacy, coalition-building, and strategic leadership, CSOs can effectively challenge harmful practices and foster a more inclusive digital environment. To move forward, it is crucial for policymakers, tech companies, and civil society organisations to collaborate, invest in capacity development, and prioritise ethical technology practices. The time to act is now, ensuring that technology serves the interests of all communities and promotes a just, transparent digital future.
