Sawara: Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Benin
Goals
A project
Supported by
Presentation
2026 is an election year in Benin, with local, parliamentary and presidential elections taking place against a backdrop of severe political polarisation, the erosion of specific democratic freedoms and the risk of electoral violence. Social cohesion is also likely to be undermined by the unstable regional environment, rising levels of violence in the north of the country and the increased dissemination of rumours, disinformation and hate speech.
Against this backdrop, it is essential to limit the impact of disinformation and strengthen the integrity of information in order to prevent tensions and foster a peaceful electoral climate.
To address these challenges, the European Union, through its European External Action Service, has provided €3 million in funding for the implementation of the Sawara project – Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Benin.
This project is being implemented by a consortium comprising CFI as lead partner, Brut Afrique, Filles en Actions, Fondation Hirondelle and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IGD).
Banouto, Street Hum’art and LaRéponse.tech are recipients of sub-grants under the auspices of CFI.
The consortium partners
Project beneficiaries
- Young people,
- children, women,
- ethnic groups,
- institutions,
- marginalised communities,
- NGOs,
- the media,
- religious and community leaders,
- and local authorities in Benin.
Actions
Strengthen the participation of young people and women in dialogue and in the prevention of online and offline violence
Implemented by: Filles en Actions and Fondation Hirondelle
Activities:
- Conducting of research into issues relating to "Women, Peace and Security"
- Producing of a feminist citizens’ guide on the intersectional electoral process, aimed at voters of both sexes
- Organising of 4 feminist citizens’ debates
- Organisation of 3 democratic and civic academies on social cohesion, the electoral code and the culture of peace for young people in Benin
- Organisation of 2 Wall2TalkArt workshops: ‘Whispers from the University’ on peace and democracy
- Organisation of 2 community forum theatre performances on peace and social cohesion
Strengthening of municipal consultation frameworks on an inclusive and gender-equal basis in 10 localities
- Delivery of a training programme for members of the municipal consultation frameworks on key themes (women, peace and security; community dialogue, conflict prevention and hate speech, etc.)
- Support for activities implemented by the municipal consultation frameworks
- Updating of the system for monitoring vulnerabilities in the target municipalities (early warning system) with the involvement of women and young people.
Strengthen the capacities of information stakeholders and citizens to contribute to the circulation of verified and inclusive information
Implemented by: CFI and Fondation Hirondelle
Activities:
- Adaptation and simplification of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics in the Media (CDEM)
- Updating of the guide on journalism during election periods, including making it more accessible
- An initial awareness-raising workshop for 20 media managers from partner organisations and 8 digital content creators
- A kick-off editorial meeting for the media
- Theoretical and technical training and support for journalists from 10 offline and online media organisations in the project localities on key election-related topics
- Theoretical and technical training and support for content creators on key election-related topics
- Organisation of 2 training-of-trainers courses on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for members of the CCC coordination office, and monitoring of their training of other CCC members and community awareness-raising workshops
- Organisation of 2 MIL-Art workshops
Produce and disseminate reliable, inclusive, and innovative content on elections and social issues for young people
Implemented by: BRUT, CFI, Fondation Hirondelle
Activities:
- Organisation of internal and external editorial coordination meetings within the consortium
- Design, production and distribution of 22 music videos by BRUT Afrique
- Design, production and distribution of 395 pieces of media content by partner media organisations and digital content creators
- Design, production and distribution of 50 pieces of fact-checking and media and information literacy (MIL) awareness content
- Design, production and distribution of 177 press cartoons
- Implementation of the Vera solution, awareness-raising and data analysis
- Design, production and distribution of 10 FactEmi Comics short episodes
- Design, production and distribution of 10 episodes of the web mini-series "Driver: Art as a Path to Social Cohesion"