As part of JamiiAfrica’s mission to promote digital democracy, foster informed conversations, and ensure that both online and offline engagements amplify citizen voices, we conducted a three-day capacity-building workshop from March 17–19, 2025, for 31 Citizen Reporters—including journalists, bloggers, editors, and others—from across all regions of Tanzania.
The training began with an introduction to JamiiAfrica’s vision, values, and goals, giving participants a clear understanding of how we operate. They then received practical knowledge on fact-checking—covering the identification and debunking of false information, including AI-generated images, videos, and other content—using real-life examples from recent election-related cases in Tanzania.
Participants were also introduced to JamiiForums.com and its digital tools, such as the citizen-centered writing competition “Stories of Change” and the secure whistleblowing platform “Fichua Uovu”, which enables citizens to anonymously report wrongdoing to relevant authorities for action.
Attendees described the training as highly relevant to both their personal and professional lives. They left equipped with skills to verify information before sharing it, protect their sources, and safeguard themselves digitally.
JamiiAfrica envisions that these Citizen Reporters will apply their enhanced skills in digital literacy, public interest reporting, and technology use to produce impactful stories that drive accountability and positive change.
