Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has officially opened registration for the 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF2025), set to take place from April 29 to May 1, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia. The highly anticipated global gathering will bring together hundreds of delegates to discuss critical digital rights and inclusion issues, marking the 12th edition of this flagship event.
PIN will co-host DRIF2025 in collaboration with key 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.
For the first time in DRIF history, attendees will have the option to support digital rights and inclusion efforts by purchasing event tickets. However, free registration remains open until March 20, 2025, ensuring inclusivity for all participants.
DRIF2025 Theme & Key Discussions
Under the theme “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology,” the event will emphasize collaborative and inclusive strategies for advancing digital rights across the Global South. The conference will feature discussions on:
✅ Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
✅ Trust, Accountability & Governance
✅ Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity
✅ Digital Inclusion & Marginalized Groups
✅ Digital Security & Human Rights
The forum will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC), gathering government officials, NGOs, academia, media, funding partners, the UN, tech leaders, and the private sector to foster cross-sector collaboration.
DRIF2025 Sponsors & Strategic Goals
Major sponsors of DRIF2025 include Google, Meta, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Mott Foundation, Wellsprings, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, MacArthur Foundation, and Wikimedia Foundation.
Thobekile Matimbe, PIN’s Partnerships & Engagements Senior Manager, highlighted the event’s goal of building a global digital community rooted in Digital Ubuntu—a principle that champions cooperation, shared responsibility, and digital inclusivity.
“DRIF2025 is more than a conference—it’s a movement towards shaping inclusive policies, driving innovation, and ensuring digital rights for all,” Matimbe emphasized.
With an expanding digital landscape, DRIF2025 aims to build on the success of previous editions, reinforcing discussions on “Fostering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Age” while shaping the future of technology in Africa and beyond.
