ACCORD hosted a Digital Peacebuilding Seminar from 26–27 February 2026, bringing together community leaders from the eThekwini and Zululand Municipalities in Durban, South Africa. The seminar aimed to strengthen the capacity of local peace actors to navigate digital spaces effectively and to equip them with practical skills on using technology to advance peacebuilding initiatives, support community resilience, and address emerging digital conflict drivers.
The programme opened with an introduction to the foundations of digital peacebuilding, offering participants a deeper understanding of the dual nature of digital technologies, how they can serve as tools for both conflict escalation and peace promotion. Facilitators highlighted the increasing influence of online platforms in shaping public perception, especially during election periods when misinformation, disinformation, and divisive online content can threaten social cohesion and undermine trust within communities.
Participants examined how harmful narratives spread online, exploring the risks posed by manipulated images, AI‑generated content, and misleading information. Tales of Turning, led by Ms. Jenna-Lee Strugnell, provided hands-on training on practical verification tools to help community leaders identify false content, assess digital threats, and respond responsibly to online tensions.
A critical discussion also focused on technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence, including cyberbullying, harassment, and the non-consensual sharing of images, emphasizing the need for safer, more inclusive and accountable digital environments.
Mrs. Laura Franz‑Kamissoko, Deputy Manager for Digital Media, Publications and Design at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), together with members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Outreach and Communications team, Mr. Dumisani Mbuli and Mr. Thabani Ngwira, engaged with the local peace actors to provide clarity on electoral processes and voter registration. They also addressed community concerns related to misinformation and declining public trust in electoral systems. The session also created space for community leaders to raise local challenges and strengthen their collaboration with the IEC ahead of upcoming local government elections.
Throughout the seminar, interactive group exercises enabled participants to develop community-level strategies for countering online rumours, promoting voter education, and encouraging peaceful civic participation across commonly used platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and community radio.
The seminar reaffirmed the critical role community leaders play in fostering responsible digital engagement and supporting peaceful processes within their communities.
This initiative forms part of ACCORD’s Strengthening Community Leadership for Inclusive Peacebuilding programme supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), managed by the High Commission of Canada in South Africa.The Digital Peacebuilding Seminar marked the conclusion of the project.
