AMP BÉNIN, in consortium with DG Partners ONG and the Association of Bloggers for Active Citizenship (ABCA), is rolling out a project to fight false information in Gogounou (Alibori department): 34 young people consulted, 20 community relays trained, and the goal of reaching more than 300 young people in the commune.
- 34 young people in the focus group
- 20 community relays trained
- 300+ young people reached indirectly
- 3 days of participatory consultation
In a context where disinformation is weakening social cohesion in Benin and West Africa, the MyCountry229 project is betting on young people: training community relays able to identify, deconstruct and combat false information at its source.
Disinformation: a growing challenge for Beninese communities
In the digital age, social networks have become key spaces for information and exchange. However, they are also channels for the rapid spread of erroneous, manipulated or out-of-context content. This fosters the spread of rumours, misleading narratives and unverified information that can have significant consequences for social cohesion, civic trust and community stability.
In several localities in Benin, young people are both the main targets and the main spreaders of digital information. Faced with this reality, it is essential to give them the tools they need to identify misleading content, develop critical thinking and adopt responsible behaviour online.
"The MyCountry229 project places young people at the heart of the fight against disinformation by turning them into community relays able to act positively where they live."
Participatory focus group: 34 young people at the heart of the discussion
18–20 May 2026 · online · Gogounou
From 18 to 20 May 2026, an online focus group brought together 34 young participants from different backgrounds in the commune of Gogounou. Over three days, they shared their experiences and analysed the realities observed in their communities.
The discussions covered several essential topics:
- understanding the notion of disinformation and its different forms;
- how rumours spread and the factors that encourage them;
- the impact of misleading content on people and social cohesion;
- good practices for checking information (fact-checking);
- community strategies for awareness-raising and advocacy.
This participatory phase also made it possible to identify concrete courses of action and to draw up the first orientations of an advocacy document for local authorities.
Field activity in Sori: strengthening the capacities of young leaders
23 May 2026 · Sori district, Gogounou
After the reflection phase, a community activity brought together 20 selected participants, accompanied by the implementation team: the project coordinator, two field staff and two specialised trainers.
Participants took part in interactive sessions, case studies, practical exercises and experience-sharing, helping them better understand the issues of digital information, digital citizenship and responsible use of social networks.
Community field activity in the Sori district, commune of Gogounou (23 May 2026)
Expert trainers passing on practical skills
The training sessions were led by two experienced resource people, whose complementary contributions enabled the young participants to develop concrete skills they can reuse in their community activities.
- Mr Fiacre TCHISSOU, expert in digital governance and data protection, led a session on understanding disinformation: identifying forms of information manipulation, recognising the signs of dubious content and using simple methods to check sources before sharing anything.
- Mr Adolphe GNONLONFOUN, trainer in communication and community advocacy, led a session on promoting reliable digital content, responsible use of social networks and community advocacy techniques, raising the young people's awareness of their role as responsible digital citizens.
Interactive session led by Mr Fiacre TCHISSOU on identifying misleading content
Young people ready to become community relays
One of the project's main strengths lies in its approach based on youth leadership. The 20 selected participants were identified for their community engagement and their ability to positively influence those around them.
At the end of the activities, the participants expressed their satisfaction and their commitment to continue awareness-raising in their respective localities. They committed to:
- promoting good digital practices every day;
- encouraging systematic checking of information before any sharing;
- actively fighting the spread of misleading content in their networks.
A follow-up WhatsApp group allows participants to share their experiences, pool good practices and coordinate future actions, ensuring the project continues after the training.
Through this community relay strategy, the project aims to indirectly reach more than 300 young people across the different communities of the commune of Gogounou.
The 20 young community relays committed to spreading good digital practices in their localities
Towards lasting community advocacy against disinformation
Beyond the training, the project plans to finalise an advocacy document drawn up in a participatory way. It will bring together the concerns identified and recommendations for local authorities, community actors and civil society organisations, to prevent disinformation and strengthen media education in Gogounou.
The aim is to promote lasting action to prevent disinformation, strengthen media education and foster a safer digital environment for young people in Benin and French-speaking West Africa. Read also: AMP BÉNIN mobilises communities to build an advocacy plan against disinformation.
A hopeful initiative for digital citizenship
Through the MyCountry229 project, AMP BÉNIN, DG Partners ONG and ABCA show that it is possible to mobilise young people around digital citizenship and the fight against disinformation.
The results reflect young people's growing interest in these issues and their willingness to get actively involved in building better-informed communities, more resilient to false information and more committed to promoting a responsible digital space.
The project is thus an important contribution to consolidating social cohesion, strengthening civic participation and promoting a culture of information verification in Beninese communities.
Partners: AMP BÉNIN, DG Partners ONG, Association of Bloggers for Active Citizenship (ABCA).
