InfoLisango

Strengthening media outlets and citizen engagement in Congo

For the past decade, people in the Democratic Republic of Congo have enjoyed increased access to internet, thus opening up new arenas for citizen communication and participation. But the people are also more exposed to misinformation and cyber bullying. Launched in 2024, the InfoLisango project supports the Congolese media, young people and civil society in the production and publication of well-balanced news. It supports them as they advocate for human rights, and push back against violence against women and young girls.

Calendrier

March 2024 – February 2028

Budget global

€1.1 M

Democratic governance Gender equality Misinformation The French-speaking world Young people

In 2024, the editorial managers of 10 private media outlets in Brazzaville, the political and administrative capital, and Pointe-Noire took part in a 3-day seminar to raise awareness of the fundamentals of journalism, the specific features of online news and journalism in sensitive contexts, to prepare for the 2026 presidential elections.

Designing MIL training tools

Infolisango also focusses on media information and literacy (MIL) to push back against information manipulation and hate speech. During the first months of the project, ten people from two Congolese Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were given basic training and learned to design MIL training tools, to become trainers themselves in order to support young leaders, influencers and bloggers producing and publishing content on social networks to raise awareness with a view to pushing back against disinformation and hate speech.

Lastly, also in 2024, ten trainers had more in-depth training to sharpen their knowledge of cybersecurity at two CSOs specialising in human rights.

“The training addressed the theme of digital security from both theoretical and practical angles. The seasoned trainer had a firm grasp of their subject and remit. I was able to hone my knowledge of cutting-edge software, to effectively strengthen security in our organisations.”
Franck Loufoua-Bessi, member of the NGO Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l’Homme (Meeting for peace and human rights – RPDH)

A project