Civic Tech Innovation Network Civic Tech in Africa with Nathi Mcetywa

Civic Tech in Africa with Nathi Mcetywa

Civic Tech in Africa is a podcast by the Civic Tech Innovation Network. The podcast focuses on the profiling of civic tech initiatives, civic innovators, activists, researchers, social entrepreneurs and others working in the civic tech and other related fields in Africa.
Weekly English South Africa Technology · Education
52 Episodes
1 – 20

Creating Smart Cities Through Digital Transformation | Thivhilaeli Madamalala

In this episode of the Civic Tech in Africa podcast, Nathi Mcetywa interviews Thivhilaeli Madamalala from Pulego Technologies about their innovative Co-City Citizens Engagement Application. The discussion covers Pulego Technologies' origins, the Co-City app's functionality, its impact on citizen engagement, and the importance of partnerships with municipalities. Thivhilaeli shares insights…
27 Sep 16 min

A Geospatial Data Project for Climate Mobility | Careen Joel Mwakitalu

In this episode of the Civic Tech in Africa podcast, we explore the work of the No Taka Hub, a Tanzanian initiative focused on using geospatial technology to address climate change and migration issues. Careen Joel Mwakitalu discusses the challenges of data collection in Africa, the importance of sustainable data…
19 Sep 33 min

Open Data for Water Conservation | Richard Muraya

Maai Makwa is an open data platform that aims to empower citizens in Kenya to understand and advocate for water rights. The platform provides tools and data to help individuals make informed decisions on sustainable freshwater resource management. The target audience is women-led households, who are most affected by water…
12 Sep 23 min

Data Privacy Law in Africa: Emerging Perspectives | Dr. Lukman Abdulrauf

This episode of the Civic Tech in Africa podcast continues the discussion on understanding data privacy on the African continent. The conversation focuses on the importance of data protection and the independence of data protection authorities. Dr. Lukman Abdul-Rauf, an associate professor in the Department of Public Law at the…
29 Aug 29 min

A feminist approach to data privacy | Chenai Chair

In this episode, Chenai Chair discusses data privacy from a feminist lens. She highlights the relevance of data privacy in the African context and the intersection between data and gender. Chenai emphasizes the importance of understanding data protection from a gendered perspective and the need to address the biases and…
21 Aug 29 min

Understanding the Global Civic Tech Landscape | Matt Stempeck

In this episode, Nathi Mcetywa interviews Matt Stempeck, the founder of the Civic Tech Field Guide. They discuss the importance of the global civic tech community and the lessons that can be learned from other civic tech initiatives around the world. They explore the different categories of projects on the…
15 Aug 20 min

Building Language Models for the African Context with Lelapa AI | Mbali Ndandani

In this episode, Nathi Mcetywa interviews Mbali Ndandani from Lelapa AI about language models that work in the African context. They discuss the lack of representation of African languages in digital spaces and the importance of solving the language problem for digital inclusion. Mbali explains how Lelapa AI builds language…
8 Aug 16 min

Using ArtificiaI Intelligence to Fight Poverty in Malawi | Dr William Derban

In this episode, Nathi Mcetywa interviews Dr William Derban from Opportunity International about how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to fight poverty in Malawi. Opportunity International is an international NGO that provides financial solutions and training to help people out of poverty. They have developed an AI application called…
25 Jul 25 min

The Tech That Comes Next | Afua Bruce

In this episode, Afua Bruce discusses the connection between technology and social equity and explores the factors beyond technology that contribute towards a more equitable and inclusive society. She emphasizes that technology alone cannot create equity, but it can be used to support and advance equity. Afua also critiques the…
21 Jun 19 min

Developing Digital Platforms with Digital Ethics in Mind | Kavisha Pillay

In this episode, the host, Nathi Mcetywa, and guest, Kavisha Pillay discuss the impact of misinformation and disinformation on the democratic process, particularly during elections. They explore the role of social media platforms in combatting these campaigns and the need for ethical development of AI. They also discuss the challenges…
13 Jun 32 min

Doing online participation right | Paul Plantinga

In this episode, Nathi interviews Paul Plantinga, a senior research manager at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa, about e-participation in governance. They discuss the landscape of participatory governance in South Africa and Africa, the use of digital platforms for public participation, and the challenges of online…
16 May 33 min

Africa and the perils of electronic voting | Dr. Maxwell Maseko

In this episode, the host, Nathi Mcetywa introduces the new feature of the podcast, What in the Civic Tech?, and discusses the possibility of moving Africa's election process from a paper-based voting system to an electronic voting system. The guest, Dr. Maxwell Masago, talks about the readiness of South Africa…
2 May 29 min

Informing and Influencing Tech Policy in North Africa | Yosr Jouini

Yosr Jouini is an interdisciplinary researcher studying emerging technologies and their social implications in the global South. She is the director of Technoloxia, a technology & innovation centre based in Tunis. She is also the host of the 'Digitally Yours podcast', which specialises in digital rights. Technoloxia is a North…
27 Jul 2023 35 min

How to Grow and Sustain African Civic Tech | Gabriella Razzano and Amy Mutua

Financing and funding civic technology activities take up a significant portion of most organisations’ worry hours. Often, when there are shortages of funds, this is viewed as an organisational failure. But instead of looking at funding and financing as a reflection of innate value, it should rather be viewed as…
12 Jul 2023 27 min

Advancing Technology and Social Change through the Ushahidi Digital Tool | Daniel Odongo

The Ushahidi Platform helps communities turn information into action with an intuitive and accessible crowdsourcing and mapping tool. By enabling the rapid collection, management and analysis of crowdsourced information, Ushahidi empowers everyone—individuals, community groups, governments, activists, organizations—to create meaningful change. In this episode, we spoke to Daniel Odongo from Ushahidi…
22 Jun 2023 28 min

Utilising Podcast technology and Social Media Platforms to Upscale the YouLead’s Unplugged Series | Fiona Kemigisha

YouLead is Africa’s flagship Youth Leadership Program working to unlock youth leadership potential for a prosperous continent by identifying, recognizing, connecting and fostering cooperation among Africa’s vibrant and influential young leaders and their initiatives. A joint initiative of MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MSTCDC) and the East African Community…
12 Apr 2023 22 min
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