Online mobilization and publishing for African civil society

African civil society organisations have begun slowly to appropriate the Internet. Some of them have experienced on line mobilisation and publishing. What are the challenges they meet in disseminating information through Internet? What is the contribution of 'social tech organisations' in these online activities? What audience is reached with what impact? Do African civil society organisations on line activities effectively influence a global audience? This short paper concludes that:

• Problems are numerous and they relate mostly to the funding of the infrastructure and the reduction of the digital divide between social layers and urban and rural zones. Accessing the internet which is not yet a reality for most Africans who live in poverty, are unemployed and are confronted with a pandemic of HIV/AIDS.
  
• Civil society organisations could increase the use of the Internet to handle and resolve issues that consume this continent. Online mobilisation and publishing has a real impact on different audiences: the North public, the African Diaspora, the African and international organisations. However, impact on governments' officials is difficult to prove.
  
• Strategies for mobilisation and political action should take into account disparities of audiences on the Internet. It will be absolutely necessary to work jointly with traditional media and new ones, to pursue physical contacts with government's officials, but also to advocate for better community development politics to enable access of most African to ICTs.

African civil society organisations' networking is an innovating solution which should be further explored. It enables them to participate in policy-making at a regional and international level and they can play an intermediate role between donors and grassroots. North organisation will play a supportive role to empower African civil society organisations for this purpose.

(From Eldis)