The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with local media actors – SINJOTECS, AMPROCS, RENARC and OJGB, is organizing a forum on the theme “Media, Disinformation/Misinformation and Democratic Consolidation in Guinea-Bissau”. This event is part of the activities under the Media Support project, implemented by the MFWA and local media actors in the country.
The forum is expected to bring together around 100 participants, including experts in governance, communication, law, civil society, public institutions, political parties, religious groups, journalists and the diplomatic community. Participants will reflect on the current challenges of disinformation/misinformation in Guinea-Bissau, share solutions and strengthen the capacity of the media to play a positive role in promoting peace and democracy. As part of the forum, there will be a round table that will highlight the underlying issues that drive the phenomenon of disinformation/misinformation, so that they can be discussed and explored.
The forum will also serve as the official closing ceremony of the Media Support project, entitled “Promoting Media Freedom and Access to Quality Information in Guinea-Bissau”, implemented with financial aid from the European Union. The project, which began on July 15, 2022, was developed over three years, with the aim of ensuring that journalists and other media professionals in Guinea-Bissau are safe and protected, producing ethical, timely and fact-based journalistic content that promotes peaceful coexistence and allows public access to quality information in a sustainable manner.
During the project, several key activities were carried out, including capacity building for 130 state and media actors on issues of human rights, press freedom, freedom of expression and digital rights. In addition, 50 leaders of the main media actors – Sindicato dos Jornalistas e Técnicos de Comunicação Social (SINJOTECS), Rede Nacional das Rádios e Televisões Comunitárias (RENARC), Associação das Mulheres Profissionais da Comunicação Social (AMPROCS) and Ordem dos Jornalistas da Guiné-Bissau (OJGB) – gained a greater understanding and capacity to monitor and document violations of press rights/freedom of expression (including digital rights). To improve the sustainability of these organizations, each was supported in developing concise institutional policy documents (strategic, communication and fundraising plans, as well as personnel and human resources plans).
In addition, the capacity of journalists and media organizations to produce ethical and fact-based content was strengthened, with the aim of helping to counter radicalization and violent extremism; relations between media and state actors were improved with the development of a Comprehensive National Framework on the Safety of Journalists in Guinea-Bissauwhich was launched to commemorate World Press Freedom Day in 2024; and a common website was created for publishing issues related to violations of press freedom and freedom of expression, as well as for reporting significant developments in the media sector.
The forum on Media, Disinformation/Misinformation and Democratic Consolidation in Guinea-Bissau will be broadcast live on Rádio Sol Mansi, Rádio Capital FM, Rádio Jovem, as well as on the project’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/limpgb and on the X account (formerly Twitter) @ImprensaNa.
