Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is giving an opportunity to stakeholders in the digital rights and inclusion space to advocate and shape policy development in the Global South.
This is in preparation for the 12th edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25) scheduled to be held in Lusaka, Zambia from April 29th to May 1st, 2025.
The call for session proposals which should demonstrate tangible outcomes and be innovative was made in a press release on Friday November 15, 2024.
DRIF25 will be celebrated under the theme “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology”, which calls for inclusive and collaborative approaches to advancing digital rights and inclusion across the Global South.
During the event, Paradigm Initiative will provide delegates with an opportunity to support Digital Rights and Inclusion efforts by purchasing tickets for the events. However, it does not deny delegates the opportunity to register, and attend the event for free.
The sessions at DRIF25 will include: Panel sessions, lightning talks, pre-event workshops, exhibitions, launches, world café, workshops, tech demos and fireside chats.
The thematic areas to be covered will span across tracks such as: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Trust and Accountability, Data Protection, Privacy and Cyber security, Digital Inclusion and Marginalized Groups, Digital Security, Human Rights and Freedoms.
According to PIN’s Senior Manager, Partnerships and Engagements, Thobekile Matimbe said in an era where technology profoundly shapes societies, DRIF25 is a call to action for advocates to champion and drive meaningful change in the Global South.
“This platform is not just about conversations but also pioneering solutions that reflect collective accountability and solidarity. By contributing to this event, participants lay building blocks for a more inclusive and responsive digital landscape. The journey to shape digital rights and foster unity in technological approaches has continued to gain momentum over the years,” she added.
Enter DRIF
Every year, leading pan-African non-profit Organisation, Paradigm Initiative works in collaboration with partners to bring together representatives from government, non-governmental organisations, academia, media, funding partners, the United Nations, technical community, and the private sector within the digital ecosystem.
The event fosters collaboration across sectors, encouraging input from relevant stakeholders. Since 2013, PIN and partners have successfully held 11 DRIF editions, with 2025 being the 12th edition.
DRIF it must be said has grown significantly over the years, evolving into a premier platform for dialogue on digital policy, rights, and inclusion, accommodating views and opinions from civil society, technology companies, government, academia, and other stakeholders.
In 2023, DRIF held in Nairobi, Kenya was attended by 601 participants drawn from 54 countries across the world and hosted 70 sessions.
And in 2024, the event took place in Accra, Ghana and witnessed an increase as they hosted over 80 sessions, after receiving 245 session proposals.
The 11th edition attracted 1,044 registered attendees and delegates from 61 countries across the world. DRIF24 in Ghana combined a host of panel discussions, tech demos, pre-event workshops etc. key among its activities was the exclusive premiere of PIN’s fourth short film ‘Undersight’, and the launch of the Organisation’s annual digital rights and inclusion report Londa, and digital toolkits, Ayeta, and Ripoti.
About PIN
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) connects under-served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures digital rights for all. They have worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007 and across Africa since 2017, building experience, community trust, and an organisational culture that positions them as a leading non-governmental organisation in ICT for Development and digital rights on the continent.
They promote a rights-respecting continent through their team in sub-regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Their interventions are spread across more than 27 African countries. Paradigm Initiative pushes for an Internet that is open, accessible, and affordable to all.
Their programs include a Life Skills, ICT Skills, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship (LIFE) Training Programme, a digital readiness workshop for youth, and a Life at Schools Club Programme. PIN has also built online platforms such as Ayeta and Ripoti that educate and serve as safe spaces for reporting digital rights violations.