At the margins of World Press Freedom Day 2026 in Zambia, the AU Information and Communication Directorate, in partnership with UNESCO liason office to the AU and UNECA, will host a high-level stakeholder consultation session to validate the draft Continental Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Framework. The session forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s information environment, promote information integrity, and advance responsible, inclusive, and rights-based digital participation across the continent.

The consultation will bring together government representatives, regulators, media leaders, civil society organisations, educators, youth representatives, academia, and development partners to review the draft framework and provide final recommendations. Their inputs will help ensure the framework reflects Africa’s diverse realities, emerging digital challenges, and the practical needs of Member States.

Once validated, the Framework will be presented to African Ministers responsible for Communication and ICT during the upcoming Specialized Technical Committee meeting for policy consideration and continental endorsement. This will mark a significant milestone toward establishing a common African approach to media and information literacy, while strengthening information integrity across the continent.

The Continental MIL Framework seeks to equip citizens with the skills to critically access, analyse, create, and share information responsibly. It also aims to strengthen resilience against misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, online manipulation, and harmful digital content, while safeguarding freedom of expression, media freedom, and access to information.

Held during World Press Freedom Day celebrations, the consultation underscores the close link between press freedom, informed citizenship, and democratic governance. Empowering citizens to navigate today’s complex media landscape is increasingly central to building peaceful, informed, and participatory societies in line with Agenda 2063.

For further information, please contact:

Noel John Kenyi | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Email: Kenyin@africanunion.org

Faith Adhiambo ||Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission |E-mail ochiengj@africanunion.org