The Zambian Cyber Security Initiative Foundation has been supporting media houses and CSOs in Zambia with provision of software licenses as well as digital safety and ICT support working under the GIF project. One of the beneficiaries of the support is Daily Nation Newspaper, a voice of the opposition in Zambia with so much influence on the voting partner in an election year.
The IT Manger of Daily Nation Newspaper has expressed his gratitude and happiness towards the support and guidance ZCSIF provided to Daily Nation, Millennium and Millennium Radio (The Organizations are under his charge as they are sister companies).
He had this to say. “The Installation of the AVG anti-virus has helped us to block sites that track our activities on the web browser and the security of AVG is stronger than I expected and the VPN (Virtual Private Network) has kept us hidden over the internet. In the past we were not encrypting our data and were so vulnerable but now I can say we are not vulnerable because the VPN is definitely keeping us anonymous over the internet. Thanks to ZCSIF for having come through to assist us fix our digital safety posture”. Daily Nation Newspaper is an independent print media house with a coverage of the entire Zambia. Millennium TV Zambia is an independent TV station with coverage around the country and Millennium Radio is a radio station with coverage of half the country’s geographical space
Here are some case studies of how CSOs have benefitted from the support of the GIF Project:
- Zambian Governance Foundation for Civil Society (ZGF) is a local CSO working towards reinforcing community philanthropy, driving community-led development and working directly with communities. ZGF aims to grow the field of philanthropy in Zambia by encouraging community philanthropy (savings and giving) and supporting organizations dedicated to stirring communities to invest in, manage and lead their own development. With the support of the GIF Project, ZGF has been able to use a number of digital security tools and resources for community practitioners. These tools and resources have helped community practitioners to protect themselves from online threats, such malware infection, hacking, and harassment.
- Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD). Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) is an Umbrella of Civil Society Organizations whose main goal is promoting vibrant, independent and well-coordinated civil society organization in Zambia. With the support of the GIF Project, ZCSD has had their digital safety posture improved through benefiting from the allocation of software licences and a free digital safety audit all courtesy of the GIF project. ZCSD has also been instrumental in influencing policy direction by developing policy recommendations to help the government improve the country’s digital security landscape.
- Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC): Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a state owned one stop media platform offering Radio and Television Broadcasting services in Zambia and beyond the borders. With the support of the GIF Project, ZNBC can boast of Increased awareness of digital security risks, improved security practices and operating as a more secure organization as a result of digital safety trainings and software licenses offered to the organization by the GIF project through ZCSIF.
The GIF Project has made a significant contribution to the work of CSOs, HRDs and media practitioners in Zambia through ZCSIF to ensure a safe digital/online environment. The project has provided CSOs technical, and capacity building support they need to carry out their work effectively. As a result of the support rendered, beneficiary CSOs, HRDs and media practitioners are able to operative with less or no censorship.
