Major new research will help experts to counter the spread of misinformation in Africa and understand the causes and consequences of the continent's growing digital divides.
The project, by researchers from the University of Exeter, will provide crucial information for the UK Government about the role of social media in galvanizing offline protest movements across Africa, and the logic behind foreign-origin disinformation and influence campaigns in the region.
Dr Elena Gadjanova, an expert in the role of technology in shaping citizen and state relations in Africa, was awarded a British Academy Innovation Fellowship to carry out the research. Dr Gadjanova will investigate how the public's growing access to digital technologies and social media in Africa is influencing politics, parties' organisational capacity and campaign strategies, electoral integrity, socio-economic inequalities, and the nature and spread of misinformation in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia. She has also studied which social media campaigns become viral and influence offline protest movements.
Dr Gadjanova said: "I'm thankful to be awarded this fellowship, a result of my work over several years on the role and impact of digital technologies in Africa while here at Exeter, the research networks I have created across several countries, and experience with engaging with policymakers.
"This fellowship will support the FCDO's capacity to carry out prompt and in-depth analysis of the various impacts that digital technologies are having on the socio-economic transformation and changing power dynamics in Africa. This will ensure decisions reflect the latest research and evidence, and improve the FCDO's capacity to respond to a fast-moving policy environment.
"In particular, my research can inform the FCDO's ongoing work on democracy support, electoral integrity, media freedom, and countering the spread of social media disinformation in Africa. It is crucial everyone works together to battle the offline spread of misinformation originating online.
"Improved digital literacy and institutional monitoring can help to counter the worst online harms. There is also a need to improve party institutionalisation to harness the potential of digital technologies to empower new political actors, increase political trust, and improve government accountability."
Dr Gadjanova has previously briefed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on African elections. Findings from her earlier research were cited by the KHRC in its evidence of electoral irregularities submitted to the Kenyan Supreme Court in August 2017.
The British Academy Innovation Fellowships are funded by the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). Partners include the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
