How can technology serve as a tool for justice, not harm? Our recent six-month Matchbox partnership with TechHer Nigeria helped us explore exactly that.
Lesedi Bewlay
Lesedi leads The Engine Room's engagement with partners based in Sub-Saharan Africa.
WHEN SAFETY IS POLITICAL: DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR TRANS YOUTH IN UGANDA
Through our Matchbox Program, we partner with civil society organizations to strengthen their work by harnessing the power of data and technology. Our recent partnership with Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda (TYI-Uganda) offers a lens into how collaborative platform development can respond to pressing social challenges while also building long-term organizational capacity.
Announcing our two new Matchbox partners
We’re excited to welcome two partners to our Matchbox Program this year: Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda (TYI-Uganda) and TechHer.
[CLOSED] Apply now for intensive, strategic tech and data support in Sub-Saharan Africa
![[CLOSED] Apply now for intensive, strategic tech and data support in Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.theengineroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Matchbox-launch-website-.jpg.webp)
We are currently accepting applications from organisations based in Sub-Saharan Africa, for Matchbox intensive support partnerships beginning in October 2024.
Looking back at 85 (!) light support partnerships in 2023
We reflect on the questions and challenges that social justice organisations approached us with in 2023.
Strengthening foundations with CIPESA
Read about our partnership with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA).
Stronger digital infrastructures with CIPESA
Learn about our collaboration with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA).
What we’ve learned through our support for organisations working on building digital communities
Our team has supported hundreds of social justice organisations to use tech and data. One clear trend we’ve seen over the years is a consistent interest in building online communities.
Building digital tools in social justice organisations: What to consider before getting started
What to consider before building a tool from scratch.
Using Uwazi to build a database documenting institutional violence
Learnings from our work with CELS reconceptualising and publishing an exiting database of cases.
Seeking support in using tech for Legal empowerment?
Earlier this year, we released research on how legal empowerment organisations are using tech and data in their work. Inspired by that research, we’re excited to offer pro-bono, actionable and tailored support – through our Light Touch Support (LiTS) support programme – to legal empowerment organisations or activists who are interested in working more with […]
Lightweight support, big picture learning
At The Engine Room, there are many different ways we strive to support our partners – our intensive Matchbox partnerships are year-long, dedicated collaborations, and our research work can take many shapes from helping build an organisation’s responsible data guidelines to conducting targeted field scans. Our Light Touch Support (LiTS) work, though ‘lighter’ in duration […]
A new chapter in our Light Touch Support (LiTS) Programme
Why ‘light touch’ data and tech support matters In 2016, we launched our light touch support programme (LiTS) based on a hypothesis: targeted research and advice to social change agents can enhance effective and responsible use of data and technology. Last year, in partnership with Ford Foundation’s Internet Freedom programme, we continued to test this […]