African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Digital Blogging for Development (D4D) Competition for Bloggers (Fully Funded to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Application deadline: October 7, 2022

The African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Digital Hub for Development (D4D) invites bloggers from Africa and Europe to participate in its first blogging competition: How Africa and the Europe work together to fight disinformation and protect human rights in the digital age? ?

Terms

• The competition is open to all bloggers interested in freedom of expression, disinformation, the open internet, and digital rights and principles.
• D4D is looking for blogs that feature original perspectives on how to counter online disinformation through human rights-based action, raise awareness of the issues at stake, and foster new avenues of collaboration Africa-Europe on the ground.

The context

The AU-EU D4D Hub is organizing a public debate during the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which will be held in Addis Ababa from 28 November to 2 December 2022. The objective of the panel is to exchange experiences , ideas and best practices. in Africa and Europe on how to tackle online disinformation through human rights-based solutions.

The purpose of this blogging contest is to promote a broader debate on this issue and set the stage for the IGF Town Hall debate.

How to participate
Entrants are invited to submit a blog post based on the following guiding questions:

• What are the most effective measures against misinformation? How can these measures be reconciled with the protection of fundamental rights, such as the right to freedom of opinion and expression?
• How can different actors (including the private sector, governments, civil society, academia and experts) contribute to countering the spread of disinformation? What type of multi-stakeholder collaborations can be considered good practice?
• How can Africa and Europe cooperate to fight disinformation? What are the similarities and differences between the two continents regarding disinformation, digital rights and the best approaches? What types of collaborations can be considered best practices?

Terms

• Only a submission per blogger is accepted.
• Blogs should be maximum 1200 words long.
• Entries in English and French are accepted.
• The deadline to participate is October 7, 2022.
• Participants must be citizens of a member state of the African Union or the European Union.
• Entrants must be regular bloggers through their own blogs or as guests in external publications.
• Participants must speak a good level of English (B1) and have a valid passport until July 2023.
• All entries must be original content, not published elsewhere. The best blogs will be published on the AU-EU D4D Hub website.
• Blogs should focus on showcasing best practices and solutions and offering new ways to counter misinformation.

Price:
The author of the best blog will be invited to travel to Addis Ababa from November 28 to December 2 to attend the IGF 2022. The costs to be covered by the AU-EU D4D Hub project include:

• Return economy class ticket from the country of origin to Addis Ababa by the most direct route.
• Tourist visa fees.
• Mandatory COVID-19 tests.
• Accommodation (for five nights).

In the event that international travel or in-person meetings are not possible due to COVID-19 or other unforeseen situations, the AU-EU D4D Hub project will find an alternate arrangement with the winning blogger.

Selection criteria
The winner will be selected according to the following criteria:

1. Objectivity: The blog cites several reliable sources and considers different angles. It is based on solid facts and research.
2. Originality: The blog presents innovative solutions and fresh ideas that can have a positive impact on society.
3. Clarity: The blog is well structured and communicates a concise message.
4. Human-Centered Principles: The blog demonstrates its commitment to countering misinformation while protecting and promoting human rights in the digital environment.

For more information:

Visit the Official D4D Blog Contest Webpage