Learn more about our work and our impact.

Our work.

You are here: Our work. Learn more about our Advisory, Strategy, Media, and Legal services.

Our impact.

— Why our work matters.

What makes us an authentic social enterprise
In working with our partners to co-create the pre-conditions to free human potential, we operate as a social enterprise by:

Pursuing an explicit social aim and delivering our advisory services in pursuit of this aim (learn about the seven pre-conditions to free human potential that we work on);

Generating revenue from the sale of our advisory services, a portion of which we reinvest into public interest projects and litigation (learn about the private-public interest law model (PPILM) below); and

Ensuring accountability, participation, and transparency in our management and operations.

This distinguishes us from both traditional civil society organisations, which rely primarily on donor funding, and pure for-profit businesses, which pursue profit as their primary objective: unlike the former, we generate our own revenue; unlike the latter, profit is not our defining purpose.

We exist at the intersection of the two: authentically pursuing a social purpose while seeking to make a “reasonable” profit, which funds the PPILM, properly remunerates, supports, and grows our team, and ensures shareholder and stakeholder value over time.
The private-public interest law model (PPILM)
In association with Power Law Africa, a leading public interest law firm, we seek to support public interest projects and litigation and develop the private-public interest law model (PPILM) to facilitate access to justice and legal services in South Africa, and on the African continent.

The model is premised on an understanding that there are constraints on donor funding for traditional public interest law organisations and that new funding mechanisms for strategic and test case litigation are needed.

Accordingly, in developing the PPILM, we seek to contribute up to 33% of our annual profits and human resources to supporting public interest projects and litigation in Power Law Africa.

Our projects

Learn more about us

— Our social impact.

Research outputs.

Policies developed.

Law reform processes supported.

Cases supported pro bono (or reduced fee).

Human rights-related legal submissions filed.

Who we work with:

— In focus.

Strengthening young people’s resilience to disinformation.

Learn about the gamified education resource that we developed for the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Learn about Mzansi Life

— Profile.

We work with our partners to make lasting, structural change possible.

We don’t import our solutions; we build them here to ensure that African voices shape global standards.

Learn more

Our projects.

— A select overview of our work.

Selected current projects
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Supporting the South African National Editors’ Forum and community media organisations with a series of written and oral submissions to the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry initiated by South Africa’s Competition Commission.

Undertaking an assessment of CSOs partnered with UNICEF to support a gender transformational approach to ending child marriage.

Preparing research on climate-related information and knowledge in South Africa in partnership with the African Climate Foundation.

Developing an African diaspora engagement framework for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union to enhance the ability of civil society based in the Diaspora to participate in the work of the AU.

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Preparing a fundraising landscape analysis for the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO).

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Developing and hosting the 2024 SANEF Elections Portal.

Developing web-based resources and providing IT and systems integration support to the Constitutional Hill Trust.
Selected previous projects
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Developing a series of toolkits on AI Governance in Africa for the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Providing rights-based strategic guidance and policy analysis and reporting on key African jurisdictions to an international technology company.

Drafting chapters on South Africa for the 2022 and 2023 LONDA Digital Rights report for the Paradigm Initiative setting out the state of digital rights in the country and significant updates.

Crafting an advocacy campaign in partnership with the Mozilla Foundation for the ratification of the Malabo Convention.

Drafting a research report for Privacy International on the human rights implications, particularly with regard to privacy, of education technologies (EdTech), and highlighting key policy recommendations to better protect human rights in the age of EdTech.

Preparing a digital rights mapping for Namibia and developing the Namibian Digital Rights Charter.

Working with the Centre for Human Rights to conduct a study assessing the impact of laws in addressing gender-based violence across African countries.

Preparing a gender analysis and action plan to mainstream gender in the Joint Labour Migration Programme for Africa.

Drafting a comprehensive comparative analysis for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) on the content of African data protection laws, including an analysis of the efficacy of these laws in their own institutional context, and a set of policy solutions to promote open government and the harnessing of new technologies to strengthen governance.

Preparing a situation analysis and implementation mechanism for the East African Community (EAC) Regional Labour Migration Policy.

Preparing a research report for the Centre for ICT Policy for Eastern and Southern Africa (CIPESA) mapping and analysing the laws and policies that impact on privacy, notably those that regulate surveillance, limitations on encryption, data localisation, and biometric databases.

Preparing an in-depth research report on the the legal status of children’s right to privacy in South Africa, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

Developing a strategic digital rights litigation toolkit for the Digital Freedom Fund (DFF).

Preparing a research report for the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) on media sustainability and universal access to public interest journalism, including a list of recommendations and a proposed roadmap for engagement.

Preparing a handbook and online portal on ICT regulation and policymaking in Africa for fesMedia Africa.

Preparing a research report for the International Centre for Non-For-Profit Law (ICNL) examining the laws, regulations, policies, and government practices in South Africa that affect the rights to freedom of association and assembly as exercised in the digital space and through digital technologies.

Supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) by facilitating consultations and public participation on the revised Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation.

Preparing a written submission on behalf of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO) on the revised draft General Comment No. 37 on Article 21 (right to peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Preparing a protest resilience toolkit for CIVICUS for leaders of social movements to share practical opportunities, challenges, and strategies to support the sustainability of contemporary protest movements.

Providing research support to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the development of a toolkit for judiciaries in Africa on legal standards on freedom of expression.

Preparing course content and assessments for a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the international and African legal framework on freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists.

Special Projects

Engaging in research on artificial intelligence (AI) to create a suitable framework for safeguarding fundamental rights in the planning and implementation of AI in Africa.

Updating and maintaining Data Protection Africa, an online open-access portal that provides information on data protection laws and authorities in all African countries.

Developing an online resource that maps out the state of affairs on gender-based violence, both on- and offline, and to identify the legislative and policy gaps in African states.

Developing a first-of-its-kind online platform providing accessible resources to victims and survivors of online gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

Supporting the creation of digital artwork, photography, and other visual media based on themes related to digital information rights, such as data protection, freedom of expression online, digital privacy, and access to the internet.

Conducting research on how to make democracy appropriate for a time of social media, global connectivity, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and data-driven surveillance.

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Advising the UCT GSB Solution Space, Open Secrets, and the IJ Hub on its fundraising strategy.

Conducting an impact evaluation for Quote This Woman+.

Developing a Learning & Impact Framework for Media Monitoring Africa and supporting its implementation.

Assisting the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) with strategic development and fundraising.

alt.media

Re-designing and developing the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) website and providing hosting services.

Assisting the Newton Fund with preparing a series of promotional videos of top projects for the Newton Prize.

Designing a court reporting manual and developing an online portal for the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF).

Developing a website for the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network and providing staff training.

Developing a website and providing hosting services for the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP).

Facilitating a digital security training for environmental defenders.

Developing content and assisting with the design of an online resource hub for practicing lawyers in East, West, and Southern Africa on digital rights and freedom of expression online for Media Defence.

Designing, developing, and hosting Natural Justice’s African Environmental Defenders’ website.

Designing, developing, and hosting the South African Nationals Editors’ Forum (SANEF) website and providing ongoing web development and maintenance support.

Ongoing projects
alt.advisory

Supporting the South African National Editors’ Forum and community media organisations with a series of written and oral submissions to the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry initiated by South Africa’s Competition Commission.

Developing a diaspora engagement framework for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union to enhance the ability of civil society based in the Diaspora to participate in the work of the AU.

Providing ongoing strategic guidance and project management support to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO).

Undertaking an assessment of CSOs partnered with UNICEF to support a gender transformational approach to ending child marriage.

alt.impact

Preparing a fundraising landscape analysis for the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO).

alt.media

Developing and hosting the 2024 SANEF Elections Portal.

Developing web-based resources and providing IT and systems integration support to the We the People South Africa (formerly the Constitution Hill Trust).
2023
alt.advisory

Assisting Genesis Analytics with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Providing ongoing rights-based strategic guidance and policy analysis and reporting on key African jurisdictions to an international technology company.

Drafting a chapter on South Africa for the 2022 LONDA Digital Rights report for Paradigm Initiative setting out the state of digital rights in the country and significant updates.

Crafting an advocacy campaign for the ratification of the Malabo Convention.

Preparing a training module for journalists on reporting on children in the media.

Special Projects

Engaging in research on artificial intelligence (AI) to create a suitable framework for safeguarding fundamental rights in the planning and implementation of AI in Africa.

Updating and maintaining Data Protection Africa, an online open-access portal that provides information on data protection laws and authorities in all African countries.

Developing an online resource that maps out the state of affairs on gender-based violence, both on- and offline, and to identify the legislative and policy gaps in African states.

Developing a first-of-its-kind online platform providing accessible resources to victims and survivors of online gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

Supporting the creation of digital artwork, photography, and other visual media based on themes related to digital information rights, such as data protection, freedom of expression online, digital privacy, and access to the internet.

Conducting research on how to make democracy appropriate for a time of social media, global connectivity, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and data-driven surveillance.

alt.impact

Advising various civil society organisations with fundraising activities, including identifying aligned funders, developing strategically positioned funding proposals, and advising on communications strategies with each funder.

alt.media

Developing an interactive awards website to accept and manage applications.
2022
alt.advisory

Developing a civil society accreditation mechanism and national chapter framework for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union to enhance civil society participation in the work of the AU.

Assisting Vimbo Health with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Drafting a research report on the human rights implications, particularly with regard to privacy, of education technologies (EdTech) and highlighting key policy recommendations to better protect human rights in the age of EdTech.

Drafting a chapter on South Africa for the 2022 LONDA Digital Rights report for Paradigm Initiative.

Facilitating a stakeholder engagement session on COVID-19 misinformation in Africa.

Contributing to a research report providing a gender analysis of the digital transformation in South Africa.

Updating resources on the online resource hub for practicing lawyers in East, West, and Southern Africa on digital rights and freedom of expression online for Media Defence.

Drafting of a digital rights mapping for Namibia and development of the Namibian Digital Rights Charter.

Assisting HealthForce with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Working with the Centre for Human Rights to conduct a study assessing the impact of laws in addressing gender-based violence across African countries.

Drafting a mapping report on Digital Rights in SADC for the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.

Contributing to a Gender Analysis on the Digital Transformation in South Africa.

alt.impact

Advising the UCT GSB Solution Space on its fundraising efforts.

Conducting an impact evaluation for Quote This Woman+.

Advising Open Secrets on its fundraising efforts.

Developing a Learning & Impact Framework for Media Monitoring Africa and supporting its implementation.

Advising the IJ Hub on its fundraising efforts.

alt.media

Re-designing and developing the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) website for the National Health Insurance library, and providing hosting services.

Assisting the Newton Fund with preparing a series of promotional videos of top projects for the Newton Prize.

Designing a court reporting manual and developing an online portal for the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF).

Developing a website for the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network and providing staff training.

Web development and the provision of hosting services for the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP).
2021
Advisory

Preparing a gender analysis and action plan to mainstream gender in the Joint Labour Migration Programme for Africa.

Assisting the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) prepare an updated elections reporting manual and online portal for journalists reporting on the 2021 Local Government Elections in South Africa.

Presenting a seminar to the Google Fuchsia Privacy Team on privacy, safety, and surveillance.

Preparing a training manual for the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) for journalists reporting on the 2021 Local Government Elections in South Africa.

Drafting a comprehensive comparative analysis for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) on the content of African data protection laws, including an analysis of the efficacy of these laws in their own institutional context, and a set of policy solutions to promote open government and the harnessing of new technologies to strengthen governance.

Preparing a situation analysis and implementation mechanism for the East African Community (EAC) Regional Labour Migration Policy.

Assisting the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Preparing two joint written submissions on the proposed Domestic Violence Amendment Bill to South Africa’s National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, with Research ICT Africa (RIA), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), and Feministing while African.

Assisting SECTION27 with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Preparing an updated research report mapping digital rights laws and litigation in East, West, and Southern Africa for Media Defence.

Preparing a research report for the Centre for ICT Policy for Eastern and Southern Africa (CIPESA) mapping and analysing the laws and policies that impact on privacy, notably those that regulate surveillance, limitations on encryption, data localisation, and biometric databases.

Preparing an in-depth research report on the the legal status of children’s right to privacy in South Africa, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

Assisting the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Developing a strategic digital rights litigation toolkit for the Digital Freedom Fund (DFF).

Preparing a research report for the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) on media sustainability and universal access to public interest journalism, including a list of recommendations and a proposed roadmap for engagement.

Preparing a handbook and online portal on ICT regulation and policymaking in Africa for fesMedia Africa.

Drafting a written submission to the Minister of Home Affairs on the Official Identity Management Policy for the Right2Know Campaign.

Assisting Stadio with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Assisting the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Preparing a research report reviewing the security, privacy, and inclusion implications of Covid-19 tracing apps in South Africa.

Communications

Facilitating a digital security training for environmental defenders.

Re-designing and developing the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) website, and providing hosting services.

Web development for the Flying Mullets.

Impact

Assisting the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) with strategic development and fundraising.
2020
Advisory

Preparing a research report for the International Centre for Non-For-Profit Law (ICNL) examining the laws, regulations, policies, and government practices in South Africa that affect the rights to freedom of association and assembly as exercised in the digital space and through digital technologies.

Assisting the Equal Education with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Developing content and assisting with the design of an online resource hub for practicing lawyers in East, West, and Southern Africa on digital rights and freedom of expression online for Media Defence.

Preparing a country report on the state of digital rights in South Africa for the Paradigm Initiative’s digital rights and inclusion 2020 annual report.

Assisting the Equal Education Law Centre with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Preparing an article for the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec) Coalition on the need for feminist internet regulations in Southern Africa.

Developing a data protection and privacy policy advocacy toolkit to be disseminated by the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec) Coalition as part of its project on fostering a rights-based approach to data protection in Africa.

Assisting the African Network of Data Protection Authorities (RAPDP) with institutional development and support, including the development of institutional policies and frameworks.

Supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) by facilitating consultations and public participation on the revised Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation.

Providing strategic advice and human rights expertise to the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec) Coalition in their efforts to ensure the development of national and regional internet-related policy frameworks across Sub-Saharan Africa that promote and respect human rights.

Drafting a research report on internet in schools in South Africa, together with the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), and Acacia Economics.

Preparing a written submission on behalf of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO) on the revised draft General Comment No. 37 on Article 21 (right to peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Preparing a written submission on behalf of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) on the revised draft General Comment No. 37 on Article 21 (right to peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
2019
Advisory

Preparing a research report on current policy and regulatory developments in Southern Africa in terms of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ (AfDec) principles on freedom of expression, with a focus on South Africa.

Providing expert analysis to the New York Times and the Washington Post on the right to protest in Hong Kong.

Preparing a research report and online portal on universal access to online information, including developing a seven-point plan and recommendations for implementation.

Preparing a written submission on behalf of the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) to South Africa’s Information Regulator on a proposed code of conduct as contemplated in South Africa Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) that applies to the processing of personal information for journalistic purposes.

Preparing a protest resilience toolkit for CIVICUS for leaders of social movements to share practical opportunities, challenges, and strategies to support the sustainability of contemporary protest movements.

Drafting of a joint written submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Draft Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the SOS Broadcast Coalition, and the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF).

Drafting a written submission on behalf of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights in response to the call for submissions on digital technology, social protection, and human rights.

Assisting the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) prepare a elections reporting manual and online portal for journalists for the 2019 General Election in South Africa.

Providing technical support to Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and other stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), to develop strategies to address the challenge of disinformation during the 2019 General Election in South Africa.

Providing technical and research support to the Department of Social Affairs (DSA) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in the preparation of draft guidelines on the African Union Free Movement Protocol.

Providing advisory and technical support to the work of the UK Government Prosperity Fund on digital inclusion in South Africa.

Preparing a joint written submission with the Right2Know Campaign to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, in response to the call for submissions regarding the responsibilities of the state and private sector to limit the use and export of surveillance technologies to undermine fundamental rights.

Communications

Designing, developing, and hosting Natural Justice’s African Environmental Defenders’ website.

Designing, developing, and hosting the South African Nationals Editors’ Forum (SANEF) website and providing ongoing web development and maintenance support.

Special Projects

Preparing and developing the Data Protection Africa website and portal.
2018
Advisory

Preparing written submissions to South Africa’s National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces on the Copyright Amendment Bill for Media Monitoring Africa (MMA).

Preparing written submissions on the draft Electoral Code to the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for Media Monitoring Africa (MMA).

Assisting in the preparation and finalisation of a second parallel coalition report and presenting oral submissions via video-link to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights for the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), and the Right2Know Campaign (R2K).

Providing research support to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the development of a toolkit for judiciaries in Africa on legal standards on freedom of expression.

Preparing a research report and mapping digital rights laws and litigation in East, West, and Southern Africa for Media Defence.

Preparing training materials for Media Defence on digital rights.

Training members of the media on media law in the digital age.

Communications

Developing a website for the Dootch Fund, to support the Dean du Chenne Educational Trust in its fundraising efforts to provide financial assistance to students in South Africa.
2017
Advisory

Preparing a research report on data protection in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Preparing written submissions on behalf of the Press Council of South Africa, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), and the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism on the draft Regulations published in terms of section 112(2) of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Preparing a draft legal and political framework for the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission (AUC).

Preparing course content and assessments for a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the international and African legal framework on freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists.

Preparing a parallel coalition report and submission on the list of issues on behalf of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), and the Right2Know Campaign (R2K) to the 61st session of the Pre‑Sessional Working Group of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in response to the Government of South Africa’s initial report dated 25 April 2017.

Participating as an election monitor during the 2017 Kenyan Presidential Election, as part of the Kenya Human Rights Commission’s (KHRC) election observation team.

Preparing written submissions on behalf of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) to the South African Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill.

Preparing an issue paper and a training module on human rights online for national human rights institutions, focusing on the intersection of human rights and the internet.

Preparing an issue paper on behalf of Association for Progressive Communications (APC), in collaboration with South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IABSA), titled ‘Perspectives on universal free access to online information in South Africa: Free public wi-fi and zero-rated content’.