The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is pleased to announce the newest three members of our multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Paradigm Initiative

In August, Paradigm Initiative, a digital rights NGO headquartered in Lagos, joined GNI as its first-ever member organization from Africa.

“Paradigm Initiative leads digital rights advocacy efforts in Nigeria and elsewhere in the African continent,” said GNI Executive Director Judith Lichtenberg. “We are delighted to bring their vital experience and perspectives into our expanding global platform to advance freedom of expression and privacy.”

“Paradigm Initiative’s membership in GNI strengthens our global reach, and is the result of GNI’s focused effort to bring in new participants from Global South countries,” Ms. Lichtenberg said.

Paradigm Initiative is a social enterprise that builds an ICT-enabled support system and advocacy for digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for under-served youth in Africa. In support of these aims, Paradigm Initiative runs two ICT training programs for youth and leads a coalition of civil society organizations working to tackle the challenges of internet freedom.

In 2016/17 Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan was a GNI-Internews Fellow. The GNI-Internews Fellowship Program supports digital rights advocates from the Global South to participate in GNI Board meetings, policy development and learning activities with a view to applying for full membership of GNI.

“We are excited to join GNI at a time when companies are stepping up their direct engagement with NGOs on the ground to promote privacy, freedom of expression and internet freedom,” said Paradigm Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan.

Jennifer Daskal and Eileen Donohoe

In June, GNI welcomed two new individual members to its academic constituency: Jennifer Daskal and Eileen Donohoe.

“Eileen Donohoe and Jennifer Daskal both have distinguished careers in both the policy and legal issues surrounding internet freedom, privacy and freedom of expression. GNI is delighted to have their collaboration,” said Ms. Lichtenberg.

Jennifer Daskal is an Associate Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law. Prior to this she served as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the United State Department of Justice. Currently on academic leave, she is the recipient of an Open Society Institute Fellowship to pursue work on privacy and law enforcement access to data across borders. She is a frequent contributer to Lawfare and Just Security, among other publications.

Eileen Donahoe is the founding Executive Director of the Global Digital Policy Incubator at Stanford University’s Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. She served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, and then as Director of Global Affairs at Human Rights Watch. Eileen is a member of the World Economic Forum Council on the future of Human Rights, and a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations.