Fellowship Overview:
The Africa Fact-checking Fellowship – Ethiopia (AFF-ETH) is aiming to develop a network of citizen fact-checkers that can recognize and combat false information in Ethiopia. Having successfully gone through the fellowship, alumni will be more knowledgeable content producers who will share their knowledge with coworkers and peers. As a result, people will feel more motivated to develop and spread verifiable information as they become more aware of the negative repercussions of misinformation. They will work to improve online information’s integrity and veracity (based on facts) as well-known advocates for digital rights.
The fellowship is designed to help individuals and organizations working in media, peace-building, civic engagement, conflict resolution and diaspora or refugee Ethiopian community engagement better understand hate speech and how it can be mitigated in Ethiopia. The fellowship will gather multipliers of active influence in the community on combating hate speech and creating counter-narratives for awareness-raising against hate speech. The fellows will represent various societal stakeholders, notably youth movements, educational organizations, local authorities, equality bodies and human rights CSOs.
Expected impact of the fellowship:
AFF-ETH ‘Alumni’ will become better-informed content creators in Ethiopia, bringing their expertise back into their working and peer environments. As a result, users’ ownership increases in understanding the effects of disinformation and taking decisive action to create and promote verified information. As recognized digital rights defenders and part of the newly created network of local fact-checkers, they will work to contribute publicly to information accuracy and media literacy by enhancing the quality and health (fact-based) of information shared online.
The fellowship will result in building digital resilience as the fellows and the people they reach after the training will have a deep understanding of the effects of online propaganda, fake news, fear and hate speech, which will, in turn, enable them to employ counter-strategies which will foster digital democratic resilience.
Timelines:
April, May, and June 2024
Methodology
The fellowship will adopt a hybrid approach, featuring weekly two-hour online sessions and several in-person sessions during the fellowship duration. Accepted fellows will engage in a virtual learning environment, utilizing resources shared on Google Classroom and participating in ongoing fellowship mentorship through a dedicated Telegram group for team updates outside of session hours.
Virtual sessions throughout the fellowship will be held in English and the local language specific to each region, facilitated via Zoom.
Ideal fellow
The fellowship targets young content creators with an influential presence in traditional media and/or Social Media Activists, community leaders, Journalists, lawyers, and artists. Individuals are willing to work towards creating positive societal change through digital media and advocacy.
Target Audience
- Students
- Content Creators (Bloggers, Journalists, social media influencers, artists)
- Civil society activists
- Community leaders
- Academia (Teachers and Researchers)
Who can apply
- Age should be 18 – 35
- Basic skills in computer
- Possession of a smartphone, personal computer or both with regular internet access.
- Digital presence with at least two social media profiles
- Fluent in English and at least one Ethiopian native language.
- Demonstrable experience and expertise in media, peacebuilding, civic engagement and conflict resolution
N.B.: Selected applicants will be notified by email of their selection for the program by April 18th, 2024
About #defyhatenow
The #defyhatenow initiative in Ethiopia aims to foster civic engagement and digital initiatives as proactive measures to address the pervasive issues of hate speech and the incitement of violence online in Ethiopia.
This includes;
- Digital Initiatives for Positive Change.
- Combating Online Hate Speech.
- Addressing Online Incitement to Violence
- Online Ethics and Responsible Digital Citizenship
- Civic engagement and capacity building to promote resilient behaviour change.
- Collaborative Approach
