This is the summarised version of the profile of 211 Check a fact-checking and information verification platform in South Sudan.
Defyhatenow NNGO runs 211 Check
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
211 Check Profile August 2023
1. 2023 PROFILE SUMMARY
211 Check
A fact-checking and information verification platform in South Sudan
run by Defyhatenow (DHN), NNGO
2. INTRODUCTION
211 Check is a fact-checking and information verification platform that works to combat
misinformation and disinformation in South Sudan first established on 18 March 2020 to
counter COVID-19 dis/misinformation.
211 Check is being led, managed and run by Defyhatenow (DHN), a National
Nongovernmental Organisation (NNGO) registered with registration number 2285 in South
Sudan at the National Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC). As an organisation,
Defyhatenow (DHN) works on creating frameworks for enhancing trust between stakeholders
in Africa through mobilising civic action against all forms of hate speech, misinformation,
human rights violations, and incitement to violence.
Mission statement:
211 Check aims to further public discourse and counter false information through fact-checking and
verifying information.
Vision statement:
To create a South Sudan where accurate, reliable information is easily accessible and widely shared,
empowering individuals to make informed decisions and contributing to a more informed and
engaged society.
3. By utilising technology in the battle against dis/misinformation in South Sudan and
beyond, 211 Check tackles the three (03) main problems related to information
faced by countries in the African continent as they work on tackling the spread of
fake news:
These problems can be classified into three main thematic areas:
1. Awareness – basic information. Giving citizens the correct information, they
need through media information literacy (MIL)
2. Misinformation and disinformation – correcting and fact-checking wrong
and misleading information that, if left unchecked, might make citizens make
decisions that will endanger them.
3. Prevention – providing clear recommendations on citizens’ actions to prevent
or mitigate the risks of dis/misinformation and hate speech.
THEMATIC AREAS
4. Counter misinformation, disinformation, and hate
speech in South Sudan
Provide a platform for South Sudanese fact-checkers to
publish articles/reports on various thematic issues
within South Sudan.
Offer editorial support and training on fact-checking to
South Sudanese journalists, bloggers, and content
creators.
Enhance the quality and health of online information in
South Sudan.
OUR OBJECTIVES
5. 1.Media Monitoring and Research:
To identify instances of hate speech and misinformation by analysing social
media data, we track the spread of hate speech and misinformation, monitor its
impact on different communities, and write reports.
2.Training and Fellowships:
Equip trainees with knowledge and skills used by professional fact-checkers,
which will enrich their work in multiple fields. Trainees learn new techniques and
sources to check information to determine its accuracy and promote veracity in
the public domain.
3.Media Information Literacy:
Visually communicate essential and relevant information and messages related to
fact-checking, combating misinformation and disinformation, and promoting
media literacy and critical thinking in a succinct and eye-catching manner.
4.Community Outreach:
Through radio talk shows, webinars, radio dramas, and in-person neighbourhood
roundtable discussions.
WHAT WE DO
6. 1.211 Check Website:
Blog articles that assess the accuracy of a claim or
information and to provide a transparent and evidence-
based evaluation to the public. We also publish data
stories, explainers, and social media health reports.
2. 211 Check Document Repository:
Store and organise documents, allowing easy access and
retrieval for research, reference, and educational
purposes.
OUR PRODUCTS
9. 1. UNDP in South Sudan for the Africa Fact-checking
Fellowship and physical training in 2021
2. Meedan helped address health misinformation in 2021.
3. CIPESA supported a fact-checking empowerment
project in 2022
4. The European Union Delegation to South Sudan
supported the development of 211 Check's document
repository in 2021.
5. Internews in South Sudan on the Rooted in Trust
Project, which addressed COVID-19 and health
rumours in 2021 and 2022.
OUR PAST PARTNERS
10. 1. Facebook (now Meta) through the Trusted
Partner Program
2. Code for Africa and PesaCheck in a project
from 2022 through 2023 to support the
Editorial Desk
3. Africa Check has also been one of the
organisation's partners since 2020
4. IREX in South Sudan
5. The International Fact-checking Network
(IFCN)
OUR PRESENT PARTNERS
11. 1.05 Fellowships – 28 Fellows
2.In-person Training in Juba, Yei, Torit, Kapoeta,
Yambio, Wau, Leer – Over 1,000 trainees
3.Over 500 attendees of online webinars and
training programs - over 3,000 YouTube Views
4.Over 300 articles published on the 211 Check
website - with 1,000 weekly views
5.Over 300 documents uploaded to the Document
Repository
6.Over 8,000 Followers on Social Media and Email
List
STATISTICS