Disrupt & Innovate

Every year, we bring together leaders from civil society and other sectors to discuss key civic space issues, build connections, and identify opportunities for collaboration at the International Civic Forum (ICF). This year we focused on how digital technology is transforming civic space and explored the implications of digital advancement for civic and civil society operating space.   

 

 

Collaborating with our partner, the Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN), with whom we run our Digital Dialogues event series, we built on synergies and teamed up for their annual conference Civic Tech Innovation Forum (CTIF). At CTIF we hosted a masterclass on how strategic foresight can be applied by civil society to address misinformation and disinformation. The ICF took place immediately following the CTIF, fostering connections between the two events and providing a unique platform to share knowledge and insights.  

During the ICF, we examined how digital trends – ranging from digital authoritarianism and disinformation to the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) – are reshaping civic space. Participants explored the challenges and opportunities that technology presents, shared experiences and best practices, and engaged in a foresight exercise to prepare for possible civic space futures. 

 

 

Key Learnings and Reflections from the ICF 2024

1. Impact of digital technology on (shrinking) civic space

Civic space is increasingly under threat, with the rise of government surveillance, internet shutdowns, and restrictions on digital freedoms. Digital technology plays a dual role – it can contribute to the erosion of civic freedoms but also provide new tools for civil society to fight back. 

For example, technology can help expose human rights violations, amplify voices, and facilitate global advocacy and coalition-building. However, it also opens the door for new forms of digital repression, such as targeted disinformation campaigns and government surveillance. As we move forward, civil society organisations must engage with technology critically and actively manage its risks, while recognising its potential to drive positive change.

 

2. The need to prioritise and upskill on cybersecurity

Civil society organisations are now among the most targeted groups for cyberattacks. Whether large or small, they must prioritise cybersecurity to protect sensitive data and safeguard digital infrastructures. They need to stay informed about emerging digital threats and continually upskill staff to address them. This is not just a technical issue – it’s a fundamental aspect of protecting the work we do and the communities we serve. 

3. Bridging the digital divide and enabling accessibility

While digital technology offers incredible opportunities, we cannot overlook the global digital divide. Over 3 billion people remain offline, and many others face restrictions due to financial barriers or internet shutdowns. For civil society organisations looking to use technology to support and expand civic space, it is essential to ensure that digital solutions are inclusive and accessible. This includes offering offline versions of apps, ensuring data protection, and providing access to free tools like VPNs to overcome censorship. 

 

 

4. Need for collective learning and collaboration

A central theme throughout the ICF was the importance of collaboration. Technology is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of emerging trends requires continuous learning and knowledge-sharing. This way, we can build on each other’s efforts instead of reinventing the wheel. From managing digital risks to understanding the impacts of AI, civil society organisations must take collective responsibility for building a more tech-savvy and resilient sector.

5. Artificial intelligence (AI) as a double-edged sword

AI has significant potential to support human rights and democracy, but it also comes with considerable risks. From privacy violations to the amplification of disinformation, the ICF underscored the need for vigilance. Civil society organisations must explore AI’s potential, for example for fact-checking and verifying information. At the same time, they must actively mitigate its risks, such as biased algorithms, and ensure that its deployment promotes fairness, inclusivity, and respect for human rights.

 

 

6. Anticipating possible futures for civic space

Strategic foresight helps civil society organisations anticipate and prepare for a range of future scenarios, allowing them to navigate potential changes in civic space more effectively. By exploring scenarios for 2030 – from civic space collapse to its transformation – participants identified first steps that civil society can take to respond to emerging digital trends. This proactive approach enables civil society organisations to strengthen resilience and adaptability, ensuring they are ready for multiple possible futures and can safeguard civic freedoms in an ever-changing environment. 

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Final thoughts

In conclusion, the ICF emphasised that civil society has a responsibility to engage with digital technology and critically assess its impact, both positive and negative, on civic space. The digital tools we engage with should be used to amplify voices, protect human rights, and strengthen civic space. By understanding the digital landscape, advocating for responsible use of AI, strengthening cybersecurity, and closing the digital divide, civil society organisations can ensure technology remains a force for positive change, rather than one that undermines civic space. Through ongoing exchange, upskilling, collaboration, and strategic foresight, civil society can adapt to the digital age and continue defending and expanding civic space for a fairer and more resilient future. 

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Photos by Zibusiso Manzini-Moyo

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International Civic Forum 2024 Graphic Illustration Recording

Day 1

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Day 2

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• civic space
• Digital
• Digitalisation
• Foresight
• Futures
• InternationalCivcForum
• SANE
• Solidarity Action Network (SANE)

In today’s rapidly evolving information ecosystem, misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation poses significant threats to civil society organisations (CSOs). Recognising the urgency of this issue and the specific ways CSOs are impacted and targeted by polluted information, the International Civil Society Centre launched: Insights and Foresights Learning on Mis-, Dis-, and Malinformation. It examines current and emerging challenges facing civil society, implications from new digital technologies, as well as exploring new approaches and opportunities for CSOS to tackle mis, dis, and malinformation.   

Focusing on current insights and learnings on the information ecosystem, the series raises awareness of this growing challenge and the multifaced ways it affects civil society along with suggesting effective approaches for the sector to tackle these challenges. The project used strategic foresight methods to delve deeper into the issue and to look ahead to possible futures on misinformation, disinformation and malinformation and what that could this mean for civil society organisations. Asking questions, mapping trends, emerging signals and posing alternative scenarios.    

 Watch our explainer video here: 

This series of pieces showcases the scope of the project’s findings, including:

• Pioneering Approaches: Four case studies from CSOs tackling misinformation and disinformation.
• A Futures Approach to Tackle Mis-, Dis-, and Malinformation: Exploring the importance and methodology of foresight to combat false information.
• Trends Mapping: Analysis of political, economic, social, and technological trends in mis-, dis-, and malinformation, from current realities to future developments.
• Scenarios: Four future scenarios for 2030, based on varying levels of regulation and CSO engagement.
• Video Explainer: A visual summary of the effects of mis-, dis-, and malinformation.
• Malinformation Article: Malinformation: A Nuanced and Critical Concern for Civil Society.
• OECD Elections Article: The Stakes for Democracy: Tackling Disinformation and Promoting Electoral Integrity, highlighting the effects of mis-, dis-, and malinformation on democratic systems.
• Islamic Relief Article: Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Strategic Response to Tackle Mis-, Dis-, and Malinformation, highlighting the organisation’s experiences with these threats.
• Wikimedia Article (upcoming): Wikimedia’s Approach to Generative AI and Misinformation.

With this series, the Centre provides a comprehensive guide for CSOs navigating the complex and dynamic threats of mis-, dis-, and malinformation in the digital age.

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View the series resource page here 

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Watch our session at Global Perspectives 2024 introducing the series

• Digitalisation
• Disinformation
• Foresight
• Futures
• malinformation
• misinformation

In mid-November 2024, Medellín, Colombia, played host to the fifth United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF). Themed “Datutopia,” the Centre’s Leave No One Behind Partnership attended the Forum alongside over 2,000 participants, including representatives from national statistical offices (NSOs), academia, civil society, and global data partnerships. Over the course of four days, the forum tackled pressing questions about how to create an innovative and inclusive data ecosystem to support sustainable development. 

Citizen Data: A Cornerstone of Sustainable Development 

 
One of the event’s standout themes was the transformative potential of citizen data in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Citizen data, a form of crowdsourced information often contributed by individuals through community initiatives, digital platforms, and mobile devices, has proven to be an indispensable complement to traditional statistics. It has become particularly effective in shedding light on the realities of marginalised and underrepresented communities. 

Examples of its impact abounded. From mapping pollution in urban areas to capturing the social dynamics of hard-to-reach populations, citizen science projects were lauded for addressing gaps where official data sources falter. Crucially, the forum highlighted how such initiatives empower communities to shape their narratives and reclaim agency over how their realities are represented. 
 
Integrating citizen data into official statistics, panellists argued, could revolutionise decision-making and contribute to a broader “data commons,” a shared and open-access repository that fosters greater inclusivity. 

A Pivotal Role for the Collaborative on Citizen Data

Among the key players at UNWDF 2024 was the Collaborative on Citizen Data, a coalition dedicated to advancing the role of citizen-generated data in achieving the SDGs. The Collaborative, co-chaired by the Centre’s Leave No One Behind Partnership, was instrumental in guiding discussions on how citizen data could be effectively harnessed. 
 
Through its presentations, the Collaborative showcased the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, which serves as a roadmap for implementing such initiatives. Practical examples came from country coalitions of the Centre’s Leave No One Behind Partnership, which illustrated how citizen contributions to the data value chain—from collection to analysis—can address challenges and ensure data reflects society’s diversity. 
 
Speakers emphasised that mainstreaming citizen data into global and national practices is essential for inclusive development. Their message was clear: sustainable development cannot succeed if it leaves marginalised voices unheard or unrepresented. 

Innovation and Inclusivity in the Data Landscape 

UNWDF 2024 was not short on forward-looking ideas. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and geospatial data into the broader data ecosystem took centre stage too, with examples of how these technologies can accelerate analysis and reveal actionable insights. Yet, caution was urged. With AI’s rapid proliferation, participants stressed the importance of adhering to strict ethical standards to ensure transparency and fairness. 
 
Building a universally accessible data commons also garnered significant attention. Panellists underscored that bridging the gap between technical experts and local communities requires a shared and inclusive language. This vision, though ambitious, is pivotal for ensuring that data-driven decisions genuinely reflect the lived realities of people worldwide. 

Trust, Ethics, and the Role of Partnerships

The forum grappled with the thorny issues of data ethics and trust. As citizen data becomes integral to global development strategies, safeguarding privacy and maintaining ethical standards are paramount. Stakeholders debated the responsibilities of governments, private sector, and civil society in ensuring transparency and accountability within this burgeoning ecosystem. 
 
Equally, many participants rightly championed partnerships as the backbone of a robust data system. Successful collaboration between governments, academia, and grassroots organisations can help avoid duplication, maximise impact, and ultimately build a more equitable data ecosystem. Calls to involve youth more actively in data initiatives reflected a broader ambition to future-proof this movement. 

Shaping the Global Data Ecosystem: The Road Ahead

The Medellín Framework for Action, UNWDF 2024’s key outcome document, sets a course for adapting the Cape Town Global Action Plan to the realities of an evolving data landscape. It envisions a future where citizen data, geospatial intelligence, and traditional statistics work in tandem to address global challenges effectively. 
 
The next forum, scheduled for April 2026 in Saudi Arabia, promises to continue this momentum. With a focus on improving data quality and accessibility, it will include training sessions and competitions for small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative data solutions. 
 
As the curtains closed in Medellín, one lesson stood out: citizen data is no longer a peripheral consideration. It is a cornerstone of modern development strategies, bridging the divide between abstract statistics and the lived realities of individuals. In doing so, it ensures that the often-repeated mantra of the SDGs— “leave no one behind”—becomes a promise fulfilled. 

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Related content

• Listen to our recent podcast on citizen data 
• Watch our discussion on citizen data at the International Civil Society Centre’s 2024 Global Perspectives 
• Leave No One Behind website: Making Voices Heard and Count 
• Commitment to data at the 2024 UN World Data Forum
• Data4SDGs

 

• citizendata
• civic space
• Civil Society
• Leave No One Behind
• Making Voices Heard and Count