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Description
We need this project because the operations of non-governmental organisations are not possible without their functioning in the digital world. This world, though, keeps on changing very dynamically and puts newer and newer challenges ahead of activists - both in terms of protecting against misinformation, manipulation, false information or hacker attacks as well as with regard to the promotional and PR activities conducted in social media. The project is going to deal with the issue of misinformation in the context of NGO functioning. The importance of threat with misinformation in the context of image and NGO functioning is confirmed with the research results. We have planned 4 editions of trainings for NGOs. Classes are going to be held as part of four modules: (1) Reliability, (2) Truth, (3) Security, (4) Creativity. The aim of the project is to provide NGO representatives with knowledge and skills in medial education, critical thinking, verification of sources of information, safe functioning on the Internet, legal use of the resources available on the Internet, digital competence and counteracting medial propaganda. This project is addressed at organisations of equality, support, representation and guarding nature. Our intention is to train 100 people from at least 50 various organisations who, in the next step, will engage in drawing up recommendations for a given NGO “sector". A partner to the project is the Demagogue Association which deals with fact-checking in Poland, it is the first Polish organisation verified in the International Fact-Checking Network which protects reliability and transparency. The Demagogue Association verifies information for the biggest social portal in the world - Facebook, among others. The partner will be responsible for holding trainings in two modules: Truth and Security.
Summary of project results
The digital world is evolving rapidly, presenting activists with increasingly new challenges—ranging from protecting against disinformation, manipulation, fake news, and hacking attacks to managing promotional and public relations activities on social media platforms. The aim of the project was to enhance competencies in combating online disinformation within the context of NGO activities. The significance of the threat posed by disinformation to the reputation and operations of NGOs is confirmed by research findings.
The project involved the implementation of four editions of the NGO Digital Responsibility School, tailored to different sectors of NGOs. The first edition focused on equality organizations (implemented in 2021), the second on aid organizations (2022), the third on advocacy organizations (2022–2023), and the fourth on watchdog organizations (2023–2024).
Each edition consisted of six training and workshop sessions (16 hours of training per session) and included a mentoring process aimed at developing recommendations for the entire NGO sector, specific to each edition. Each edition concluded with a document summarizing these recommendations. In the initial phase of the project (the first two editions), most sessions were conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic—8 sessions were held remotely and 4 in-person. For the subsequent two editions, this ratio was reversed: 4 sessions were conducted remotely, and 8 in-person.
The educational program of each edition covered four modules:
"Truth" Module – focused on teaching participants how to detect fake news and verify information (led by the project partner: Demagog Association).
"Integrity" Module – focused on creating credible messaging and identifying reliable sources (led by the project leader: INDID).
"Security" Module – focused on teaching cybersecurity procedures and protecting NGOs from cyber threats (led by the project partner: Demagog Association).
"Creativity" Module – focused on teaching copyright rules and the legal use of online resources, as well as principles for creating digital content in line with good public relations practices.
A total of 103 participants from 88 organizations enhanced their knowledge and competencies in the following areas:
Verifying the authenticity of online information.
Counteracting propaganda and manipulated media content.
Safe operation in the digital space (data security, financial safety, etc.).
Basic digital skills (e.g., leveraging internet tools, organizing webinars, transitioning activities to online platforms).
Copyright compliance.
Conducting PR and promotional activities online.
The initiatives launched within the framework of this project will be continued by the applicant organization as per their commitment.