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KEPSA FOUNDATION-UNDP MEETING ON IMPROVING INFO-SPACE INTEGRITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
- Published On: 2023-07-27
On 27th July, 2023, KEPSA Foundation held a meeting with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the UNDP offices, Gigiri to discuss on possible areas of collaboration between the two organizations on Improving Info-Space Integrity in the Private Sector.
KEPSA Foundation was represented by Ms. Gloria Ndekei, OGW, Executive Director, KEPSA Foundation; Mr. Patrick Wandare, CIPE Project Officer in charge of Governance; and Ms. Susan Ng’ang’a.
UNDP was represented by Mr. Roly Davila, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP in Kenya and Mr. Benard Abingo, Monitoring, Evaluation Officer, Consolidating Democratic Dividends for Sustainable Transformation in Kenya Project.
Remarks by Ms. Gloria Ndekei, Executive Director, KEPSA Foundation
Ms. Ndekei said that it was important for the relationship to be cemented better to expand Improving Info-Space Integrity in the Private sector programme. She recognized UNDP’s support to KEPSA as a go-to partner on different issues that concern the two organizations.
She said that KEPSA Foundation has been keen to have the Governance project expand.
Ms. Ndekei gave a brief background of the 4 priority areas of KEPSA Foundation and the status report on Improving Info-Space Integrity in the private sector. She noted that KEPSA Members’ appetite to engage more on the conversation related to info-space integrity has increased and would like the conversation to increase.
She reiterated that Research is a good strategy and the Foundation has seen it work and would like to develop a tool for businesses to combat false and/or misleading information. She further added that the development of a Policy Framework to guide the establishment of a Fact-Check Unit will be of importance to KEPSA Members.
She said that strengthening capacity for human resource to get involved in the resource Centre during operationalization of the Fact-Check Unit is vital in the sustainability of the Fact-Check Unit. The human resource unit is critical.
Ms. Ndekei noted that an 11-Member steering committee will steer the development of the framework and would include KEPSA Members such as Safaricom PLC, Karen Hospital; East African Breweries Limited (EABL), PLC, etc.
She further added that she would like the conversation to escalate to improve awareness about disinformation and that research was very key to establish source of information as it also debunks false information.
Remarks by Mr. Roly Davila, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP
Mr. Roly Davila appreciated the role KEPSA Foundation plays and noted that KEPSA Foundation is a main stakeholder and UDNP is exploring partnerships with the private sector apex body.
He added that there’s need to mobilize resources to activate partnerships and that there’s a lot of potential in this programme. The focus should be on economic growth and stability and the earliest both organizations start addressing this, the better.
He noted that this is a preventive rather than reactive approach and addressing info-space integrity needs a different contextual approach. He said that Capacity building element is essential. It is important to educate as this is the most effective way to address information pollution.
He further noted that chances are social media and digital platform will be used to augment exposure to information pollution and that research is also important as the content has changed quickly based on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). He insisted on the need to get rid of fake news from the digital space.
He noted that the element of coordination is also important. As part of Policy, the mentioned there’s need to be protocol on how reporting of false or misleading information is done. If members need help, there’s need to be a channel through which they address their issues and solve them.
He called on the need for mapping and identifying interested stakeholders’ ecosystem that goes beyond the community. He further added that there are isolated efforts to address information pollution and the policy should contain code of conduct for staff, best practices, principles, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols.
Way Forward
KEPSA Foundation and UNDP agreed as follows:
- UNDP to offer KEPSA Foundation technical support on the project, including but not limited to the development of the private sector policy framework to guide on the establishment of a Fact-Check.
- KEPSA Foundation to collaborate and co-ordinate with UNDP and engage in activities that complement UNDP.
- UNDP to confirm the eligibility of KEPSA Foundation to benefit from the Digital Public Goods.
- UNDP to assist on the development of tools to address info-space integrity.
- UNDP to bring on board expertise and undertake a global stakeholder mapping.
- UNDP to broaden governance and election proposal to include KEPSA Foundation and the projects at hand.
- There’s need to consider social media for influencers to combat false and/or misleading information that affects businesses.
- The Media to be involved in this project as one of the key stakeholders in order to enhance responsible and gender-sensitive reporting.
- UNDP is available for upcoming meetings with KEPSA Foundation.
- Both organizations to look for synergies as consultative process is still ongoing.