Grant of over R20 million for CINIA
- R20m Grant: Stellenbosch University’s CINIA received over R20 million from Canada’s IDRC to lead a global initiative against disinformation.
- Global Collaboration: The project unites experts from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East to research digital threats and generative AI.
- 2026 Launch: Starting in January 2026, the multidisciplinary team will meet in South Africa to develop research strategies and media literacy goals.
A grant of over R20 million has been awarded to the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Journalism to lead collaborations across the Global South in addressing mis- and disinformation and other harmful digital content.
Funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the initiative will be led by Prof. Herman Wasserman, CINIA Director and Chair of SU’s Department of Journalism. The project will strengthen information integrity by supporting multidisciplinary research on disinformation, media literacy, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and generative artificial intelligence.
The project will bring together researchers, practitioners and activists from Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and Asia, beginning in January 2026 with a cohort meeting in Stellenbosch to develop research questions, design methodology and map project outcomes.
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