Magamba Network, a leading African creative and digital media organisation, has launched Nafasi, a three-year African-led initiative aimed at protecting and strengthening digital civic space across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (DefendDefenders) and the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Meaning "space" in Swahili, Nafasi will operate in 30 African countries, equipping young people, civil society organisations, digital communities, women human rights defenders and content creators with the skills, tools and knowledge to foster safe, inclusive and accessible online spaces.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the shrinking of digital civic space across Africa, driven by the spread of misinformation and disinformation, unequal internet access, and the misuse of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. AI-generated deepfakes, weak content moderation in African languages and technology-facilitated gender-based violence continue to undermine safe online participation, particularly for women and girls.
Nafasi will address these challenges by protecting digital rights defenders while supporting the development of African-owned digital infrastructure and trusted information ecosystems that reduce reliance on external platforms.
The programme is built around three strategic pillars: Policy and Governance, which strengthens advocacy for data protection and platform accountability; Digital Resilience and Truth, which equips civil society, human rights defenders and young people with cybersecurity and fact-checking skills; and Network Power and Sustainability, which connects youth-led digital hubs across the continent to promote collaboration, resource sharing and coordinated responses to emerging digital threats.
Over the next three years, Nafasi will deliver digital skills training, support the growth of independent African digital platforms, strengthen fact-checking initiatives and promote informed engagement with internet governance and digital policy.
Magamba Network Creative Director Samm Farai Monro said the initiative comes at a critical time as online civic space continues to narrow.
"The online space is such an important arena for Africa's Gen Z to express themselves and organise around their vision of a better tomorrow. But we are seeing that space shrinking consistently. Nafasi couldn't come at a more crucial time. We have built an amazing Africa-wide network of digital rights activists, techies and civic innovators committed to protecting the online space and building a future where digital democracy thrives. Together we need to hold the space," he said.
Magamba Network will host the initiative, while DefendDefenders will coordinate activities in East Africa and RFLD will lead implementation in West Africa and Lusophone Africa.