ADVISORY & RESEARCH Public interest advisory, analysis, research, and training services at the intersection of law and technology

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ADVISORY & RESEARCH TEAM

Meet the Research & Advisory Team

Wendy Trott

Senior Associate

S'lindile Khumalo

Senior Associate

Dércio Tsandzana

Independent Consultant

Murray Hunter

Senior Associate

Tara Davis

Senior Associate

Tina Power

Senior Associate

Michael Power

Director // Co-Founder

Division contact:

Wendy Trott | [email protected]

PREVIOUS ADVISORY & RESEARCH PROJECTS

Learn about our recent work

Ongoing Advisory & Research projects
- 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.
- Assisting Genesis Analytics with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
- Providing ongoing strategic guidance and project management support to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO).
- 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.
- Undertaking an assessment of CSOs partnered with UNICEF to support a gender transformational approach to ending child marriage.
- Crafting an advocacy campaign for the ratification of the Malabo Convention.
- Preparing a training module for journalists on reporting on children in the media.
2022
- 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).
- 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.
2021
- 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.
2020
- 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
- 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.
2018
- 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.
2017
- 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’.

10 May 2023

UN: Special Rapporteur calls for input on how to enhance climate change legislation

Advisory & Research, CJS, Public Law & Policy

21 Feb 2023

Call for comments: Proposed sustainability reporting standard for mining companies

Advisory & Research, Advisory Notes, CJS

15 Feb 2023

ALT Advisory launches a Climate Justice & Sustainability (CJS) practice area

Advisory & Research, Advisory Notes, CJS

Learn more about our Advisory & Research services

Developing international human rights law

ADVISORY SERVICES

Public interest advisory services at the intersection of law and technology

Legal advisory & consulting

Providing leading-edge legal advisory and consulting services.

Project management & strategy

Managing projects and guiding strategy across multiple practice areas.

Network development

Assisting with the development of public interest networks and movements across the African continent.

Human rights impact assessments

Assessing the human rights implications of your projects and processes.

Law reform & advocacy

Assisting with law reform and advocacy at the domestic, regional, and international levels.

Regulatory compliance & risk

Assiting with POPIA and GDPR compliance to ensure that your clients’ data is protected.

Privacy by design & default

Helping you focus on privacy at the start of your design process to avoid later developmental risks.

Promoting rights-based technology innovation

ANALYSIS SERVICES

Up-to-date and real-time legal and policy analysis that drives positive change in Africa

Legal & policy analysis

Analysing the legal and policy landscape in multiple jurisdictions across Africa.

Country status reports

Providing status updates on legal and policy developments in multiple countries across Africa.

Treaty body reporting

Assisting with the preparation of reports to treaty bodies of the African Union and the United Nations.

Regional & international trends analysis

Monitoring regional and international trends within our practice areas.

Reviews & vetting

Reviewing and vetting documents for legal and regulatory compliance.

Developing Africa’s information rights landscape

RESEARCH SERVICES

Research that promotes fundamental rights on- and offline

Commissioned research reports

Preparing commissioned research reports and papers using multiple research methodologies.

Comparative research & mapping

Comparative research and mapping across multiple jurisdictions in Africa.

Community engagement & public participation

Facilitating community engagement and public participation to strengthen research outcomes.

Development of legal instruments

Developing legal instruments, which include draft guidelines, legislation, policies, and treaties.

Field research & social surveys

Creating useful social surveys and gathering information and evidence in our communities.

Working for positive change in Africa

TRAINING SERVICES

Training that unites and empowers by using the latest blended-learning methodologies

Toolkits & training manuals

Developing training toolkits and manuals for use on- and offline.

Constitutional literacy

Preparing constitutional literacy manuals and promoting constitutional development.

Information security

Assisting organisations prepare for digital threats and ensuring secure use practices.

Capacity-building workshops

Assisting organisations with capacity-building workshops to enable organisational development.

Online platforms & courses

Developing online platforms and massive open online courses within our practice areas.

Organisational policies & engagement

Preparing organisational policies to ensure regulatory compliance and good organisational practices.