Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has announced that the 2025 edition of Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF2025) registration is now open.
The bilingual global gathering will convene hundreds of delegates in Lusaka, Zambia from April 29 to May 1, 2025.
In a press statement, PIN noted that this year’s event will mark the 12th edition of the signature event. Notably, the pan-African organization will host it in conjunction with its partners, including Bloggers of Zambia, Common Cause Zambia, Internews Network Zambia, Internet Society Zambia, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, Zambian Cybersecurity Initiative Foundation (ZCSI), and the Zambia Ministry of Technology and Science.
In addition, PIN announced that, for the first time in its history, delegates will have the opportunity to support digital rights and inclusion efforts by purchasing tickets for the event. This year’s edition will be held under the theme, “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology.”
“This new development resonates with the theme that calls for inclusive and collaborative approaches to advancing digital rights and inclusion across the Global South,” the organisation stated.
While PIN offers delegates the option to support the event through ticket purchases, it also ensures that those who wish to attend for free can do so. Free registration, now open, will close on March 20, 2025.
The event, set to take place at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC), will bring together representatives from government, non-governmental organizations, academia, media, funding partners, the UN, the technical community, and the private sector. These stakeholders will share experiences and develop strategies that transcend geographical boundaries.
Paradigm Initiative DRIF2025 themes
The event will explore several thematic areas, including Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Trust and Accountability, Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Digital Inclusion and Marginalised Groups, Digital Security, Human Rights and Freedoms.
DRIF2025 sponsors include the Ford Foundation, Luminate, Mott Foundation, Google, Meta, Wellsprings, Kingdom of the Netherlands, MacArthur Foundation, and Wikimedia Foundation.
Commenting on the registration process, PIN’s Partnerships and Engagements Senior Manager, Thobekile Matimbe, emphasized that DRIF25 will go beyond being a simple gathering of delegates. Instead, it will serve as a platform for building a digital community rooted in Digital Ubuntu, where collaboration and inclusivity drive the future of technology.
“As we prepare for our gathering in Lusaka, Zambia, we look forward to engaging with diverse stakeholders to shape policies and innovations that foster collective approaches, digital rights, and inclusion for all,” she said.
The forum serves as a space to address pressing global issues on digital rights and inclusion, providing a platform for diverse perspectives from civil society, technology companies, government, academia, and other stakeholders. The upcoming edition will build on discussions from the 11th edition, which focused on “Fostering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Age.”
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
