Jamii Forums core program support 2022 - 2024
Contribution ID : SE-0-SE-6-14861This website displays open data about Swedish aid, which shows when, to whom and for what purpose Swedish aid is paid out, as well as what results it has produced. This page contains information about one of the contributions financed with Swedish aid.
JAMII FORUMS (JF) is a Non-Governmental Organization registered under Tanzania NGO act, that advocates and promotes Civil and Digital Rights, Social Justice, Accountability, Democracy and Good Governance. JF operates JamiiForums.com, Tanzania’s most visited Swahili citizen-journalism content platform that was founded in 2006 to fuel a socio-political movement ...
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JAMII FORUMS (JF) is a Non-Governmental Organization registered under Tanzania NGO act, that advocates and promotes Civil and Digital Rights, Social Justice, Accountability, Democracy and Good Governance. JF operates JamiiForums.com, Tanzania’s most visited Swahili citizen-journalism content platform that was founded in 2006 to fuel a socio-political movement to empower the youth, give voice to the voiceless and champion the fight against corruption in Tanzania. It reaches around 3 million people on a daily basis (as of June 2021). It is the only locally developed and operated digital platform over 15 years of experience with daily users online discussing issues that affect their every day life. The existance of Jamii Forums is found on the belief that information is power and is a public good that has to be freely accessed by any citizen in the world and in the United Republic of Tanzania. It is also imperative to understand that Freedom of Expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This comes along with freedom of information, press freedom and freedom of expression. The Tanzanian constitution, Article 18, explicitly guarantees that everyone has the freedom to communicate, including the right to protection from interference with communications as well as a right to be informed at all times of various important events of life and activities of people and of issues of importance to the society
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Result
The are three levels of Jamii Forums impact and each of the level has specific interventions to be delivered to achieve interconnected results. At level ' A' as stated in Jamii Forums strategy document, Jamii Forums intends to have a strong infrsastructure on its platforms to improve user accessibility, comfortability when online but also to have a well secured platform relatively free from threats. The JamiiForums platform comprises the following main components which are integrated to provide the existing functionality: Database housed in secure cloud-based servers, Content Management System (CMS), User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). A primary objective of this strategy is to make sure the platform is fully functional at all times. Jamii Forums plans to invest significantly in making sure that it anticipates and successfully responds to any malicious attacks, interference from any authority, periodic or permanent surges in traffic growth, human (staff) error and skillset, technological obsolescence (servers, software updates) and other challenges. The ultimate aim is to maintain and enhance the implicit trust of JamiiForums users in the safety and security of their online engagement on our platform. On the way to achieve its long term impact on the platform infrastructure, the following will also be achieved; established strategic partnerships with major digital platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Cloudflare on amplification of citizen voices. A well functioning news-verification tool (false news/information) on the platform that will be a center for citizens to verify stories easily. An upgraded CMS with a secure and state-of-art system that will last long and Web Servers that will be able to handle heavy traffic, expected attacks during elections and a team of Server Security Experts. Level 'B' to have citizen voices amplified. A primary reason for JamiiForums popularity and reputation are because it provides citizens with uncensored ways to express themselves. While in the past, the publishing of traditional media content was the preservation of trained journalists working for established media houses, JamiiForums is a powerfully democratic space for all citizens/users to exercise their fundamental freedom of expression, and to engage directly in open discussions about matters that are important to them individually and collectively. JF amplifies the voices and views of ordinary citizens (the voice of the voiceless) to a wider range of its online audience of over 12 million followers. While amplifying the voices, the following will as well be achieved; a reliable content management system and content management team that ensures enhanced quality content output, to have informed citizens who will make informed decisions when it comes to the civic space in the country, a sustained Jamii Forums archive for future references, research and with reliable records of Swahili content in all varieties and to have a team of experts in Value addition to content generated by citizens that will promote and instill critical thinking and accountability amongst citizens. Lastly level 'C' where Jamii Forums would want to see policies related to freedom of expression are changed or djusted. JamiiForums will engage in policy advocacy at two levels. The first is general advocacy for a range of issues that are driven by the context and user content. Jamii Forums will also assist public bodies to raise awareness about policies or administrative initiatives requiring citizen knowledge and action (e.g., anti-corruption, public health, etc). This level will focus on advocating for a free and secure digital space that respects the digital/data rights of citizens, while securing the space for free expression. Within level C, other achievements to be noted are; Strict laws limiting Freedom of Expression, association, and peaceful assembly are repealed, amended or prevented from being passed in the future. Article 18 of the Tanzanian Constitution is exercised and safeguarded. Digital citizens are free to discuss and share their opinions without fear and Legal protections for whistle-blowers are strengthened and enforced. Lastly establishment of an independent body and/or the courts to handle appeals for any refusal to disclose information and amendment of bad laws (e.g. Cybercrimes Act) to comply with freedom of information principles
Firstlly Jamii Forums will invest in improving its platform security and operating environment. The JamiiForums platform comprises the following main components which are integrated to provide the existing functionality: Database housed in secure cloud-based servers, Content Management System (CMS), User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). This platform is the foundation of the organization and that is the reason why it needs to be fully secure, operational and with guaranteed optimization. A primary objective of this strategy is to make sure the platform is fully functional at all times. Jamii Forums plans to invest significantly in making sure that it anticipates and successfully responds to any malicious attacks, interference from any authority, periodic or permanent surges in traffic growth, human (staff) error and skillset, technological obsolescence (servers, software updates) and other challenges. The ultimate aim is to maintain and enhance the implicit trust of JamiiForums users in the safety and security of their online engagement on our platform. In modern online industry, moderation tools are key to a fluid digital citizen engagement. Poor functioning tools pose as obstacle to content quality control. Over 80% of Jamii Forums audience visit the platform via mobile phones. According to Jamii Forums, the trend shows that the young adults are interested in services with sites which have modern mobile apps (Android and iOS); It is considered that a defective JF Mobile app will affect clients in terms of User Experience (UX) while engaging on discussions. Jamii Forums reports that its current User Interface (UI) was introduced in 2014, updated in 2016 and needs to be updated as most browsers do not render the site as expected. An Upgraded Web Servers including circumvention tools to the latest technology and availability of experts to oversee operations to ensure Jamii Forums keeps up with technological changes, have multiple secure backups for the platform and advocate for Civic Education strategy on Personal Data Protection will have a huge positive impact not only on Jamii Forums capacity but overal freedom and access of information agenda. Secondly amplifying citizen voices through content management, curation and value addition. Unlike many other existing platforms in the country, the basic ingredient of JamiiForums is user-generated content in the form of threads and comments that engage with those discussions. A primary reason for JamiiForums popularity and reputation are because it provides citizens with uncensored ways to express themselves. With ambition to increase followers from existing 12m, Jamii Forums will focus more on value addition initiatives. According to Jamii Forums, a key new initiative will be to add value to JF through internally generated content. This echoes the Netflix strategy of commissioning original content for its movie platform. Jamii Forums considers that, with a daily rate of over 15,000 posts from registered users on the platform, there is an increase demand for content quality control. The same applies for Jamii Forums Social Media outlets. Jamii forums assesses that due to strict laws over Online contents; there is a danger of facing lawsuits if content is not reviewed on time. JamiiForums views itself as an archive for future generations, if content is not well monitored and organized; there is a huge possibility of misleading the public at large. Jamii Forums has a special policy on content management (Editorial Policy); Is a tool that guides the team in decision making while a public accessible guideline for citizens on community engagement (Community Engagement Guidelines) helps in making sure that the public is aware of how their content is processed in order to foster transparency. At the same time Jamii Forums is planning to formulate a new strategy for Amplification of Citizen Voices especially on stories that are in the lines of Good governance, Accountability and Transparency Engage and cooperate with public officials, public and private institutions to participate in discussions raised by citizens to promote accountability and transparency. Jamii Forums will also strengthen citizen journalism in text, audio & video format (Value addition). JF will Promote textual and non-textual content by commissioning and curating photo, video and infographic content. This initiative will attract the young adult demography. Third and last area of focus for Jamii Froums is influencing policy and advcocacy. JamiiForums will engage in policy advocacy at two levels. The first is general advocacy for a range of issues that are driven by the context and user content. Jamii Forums will also assist public bodies to raise awareness about policies or administrative initiatives requiring citizen knowledge and action (e.g., anti-corruption, public health, etc). This level will focus on advocating for a free and secure digital space that respects the digital/data rights of citizens, while securing the space for free expression. Jamii Forums assessment is that it is becoming widespread for many countries across the globe including some democratic states to try to control freedom of expression not only in ordinary life but also in a digital sphere. Protection of 'national security or anti-terrorism is the favorite tool. Governments have mastered the art of tracking down their citizens to control what is said, watched and shared online. Dissents who refuses to play along, find themselves in trouble always. It is assummed that Tanzania as well is not exempted from those practices. It is essential protecting the necessary breathing space for the fruitful exercise of article 18 of the constitutional rights.
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