Attending the Civic Tech Innovation Forum 2024 and Reflecting on Elections in Africa
Nov 10, 2024
Attending the Civic Tech Innovation Forum (CTIF) in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 28-31, 2024, was a remarkable opportunity to connect with Africa's civic tech community. Hosted at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, CTIF this year adopted the theme "#UnderTheHood"—a concept that invited the African civic tech ecosystem and its supporters to consider the times and opportunities we are in to look #UnderTheHood of:
- Technology: Examining the “black box” of emerging technologies, focusing on transparency, equity, and Africa’s potential for self-determined tech development beyond being mere consumers.
- Community: Harnessing local creativity and resources to build community capacities, empowering civic tech efforts through collective strengths rather than external dependence.
- Self: Uncovering personal talents and passions within Africa’s civic tech community, redefining potential from the grassroots to drive positive global change.
With a variety of sessions, workshops, and panel discussions, the forum provided a collaborative space for civic tech leaders, innovators, and advocates to reflect on progress, share insights, and strategize for impact. Under the overarching theme of #UnderTheHood of Democracy and Governance: Are We Making Any Progress?, one compelling session, "Election Reflection: Are We Achieving Anything?", brought together Wanjiru Nguhi, Fumbua Program Manager - Baraza Media Lab and Habib Sheidu, Project Director - Advokc Foundation (one of the grantees of the African Union Civic Tech Fund) to explore pressing questions around democracy, governance, and the role of digital tools in shaping Africa’s electoral landscape.
Session Deep Dive: "Election Reflection: Are We Achieving Anything?"
Is AI Use in Elections Overhyped?
AI's promise in enhancing transparency and efficiency in elections is widely discussed, but this session spotlighted critical gaps, especially in Africa. Many citizens lack access to digital tools or even basic internet, limiting AI’s reach and actual impact. As a result, some panelists argued, AI can sometimes appear overhyped when the benefits do not reach the grassroots level, leaving substantial portions of the population excluded from digital advancements in civic processes.
Additionally, the debate touched on AI’s potential for misuse. Social platforms often exploit virality through misinformation and disinformation to drive ad revenue—a practice known as “rage farming” or “emotional harvesting.” This undermines the electoral process and threatens to amplify societal divisions for profit, raising questions about ethical AI use in African elections.
Citizen Apathy and Strategies for Active Participation
The low voter turnout in Tunisia (28%) and similar trends in other countries indicate a growing citizen apathy towards elections. This session discussed ways to transform apathy into active participation, emphasizing the need to build civic trust. Investing in meaningful citizen education and agency is crucial to enabling people to hold leaders accountable and to view elections as a tool for change rather than a hollow exercise.
Some suggestions included re-imagining civic education initiatives and using more accessible digital tools to mobilize young people. Empowering citizens with knowledge and tools to challenge disinformation and understand their rights could be vital for restoring faith in democratic processes.
Wanjiru Nguhi - Source
Elections in Africa: Performative or Legitimate?
A noteworthy discussion centered on the “performative” nature of elections across parts of Africa. Panelists argued that many elections serve more to showcase a semblance of legitimacy than embody democratic values. Examples include theDemocratic Republic of Congo’s upcoming December 2024 elections, projected to cost around $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion, an expense that has raised concerns given the country’s fiscal challenges and ongoing instability in its eastern regions. This hefty price tag reflects the logistical challenges involved, including transporting materials and securing voting areas affected by conflict. Observers have noted that these costs could widen the country’s fiscal deficit, adding pressure to the Congolese franc’s devaluation. The financial strain could also impact the government’s ability to fund critical areas like security and public services during this election period. Kenya’s 2017 election cost $500 million—only for the election to be nullified. To date, the only election in Kenya’s multi-party era that has not faced validity challenges was the 2002 election, as the patterns of 1992 and 1997 have been repeated in every election since.
This issue often manifests in the disconnect between democratic ideals and ground realities. Participants noted that democracy is more than an electoral event; it’s a continuous process that should be accountable and responsive. There’s a need for systems that prioritize meaningful representation over costly, performative acts of democracy.
Innovation vs. Invention: Homegrown Solutions in Civic Tech
The conversation highlighted the importance of innovation through adaptation. The Gambia removed a dictator using iron boxes and marbles (a 55-year-old voting system)—demonstrating that effective innovation often builds on existing, locally trusted systems.
Civic tech doesn’t always need to “reinvent the wheel.” Instead, integrating local practices with modern tech can yield more inclusive and culturally relevant solutions, bypassing dependency on foreign models that may not resonate with African realities.
Investing in Citizen Agency for Democratic Accountability
For democracy to thrive, citizens must be empowered to demand accountability from leaders. This panel emphasized the need to foster active citizen agency, a critical countermeasure to corruption and political manipulation. Leaders’ promises should function as social contracts, not just manifestos—binding them to their commitments to the electorate.
Participants called for strategic investment in civic education and community programs, reinforcing that “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance—generally ascribed to Thomas Jefferson.” By fostering citizen agency, Africa can cultivate a more engaged, politically aware population, leading to stronger, more representative democratic institutions.
Reflecting on Democracy and Governance in Africa
The "Election Reflection" session provided valuable insights into the complex intersections of civic tech, governance, and citizen engagement. Africa’s democratic journey, though fraught with challenges, is marked by resilience and an enduring desire for progress. Technology offers promising tools, but the emphasis must remain on inclusivity, accountability, and local solutions that resonate with African citizens.
As we continue our work with the AUCTF and its grantees, it is clear that civic tech can play a transformative role in building a democratic future for Africa—one where citizens are empowered, governments are accountable, and technology serves the people. The CTIF provided a unique opportunity to assess these dynamics, pushing us to envision a future where every African citizen has a voice and every election reflects genuine democratic values.