CLIMATE X INDIGENOUS VOICES
MAGAZINE EDITION – 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
OPENING NOTE
2025 has been a defining year for Climate X Indigenous Voices — a year of deep listening, bold experimentation, and continent-wide action against climate disinformation. From grassroots fieldwork to global information integrity frameworks, this project has cemented itself as one of Africa’s leading voices on climate truth, Indigenous knowledge, and digital resilience.
This edition captures the milestones, stories, and sparks that shaped our journey.
FEATURE I — Foundations of a Movement
Project Foundations & Ethical Community Partnerships
Our year began where all great stories do — on the ground. Core teams were formed across Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya and regional media hubs, with contracts, TORs, and workflow structures firmly established.
Early engagement with Indigenous partners — including the Tjwa community and others — ensured ethical collaboration, transparent consent, and storytelling shaped with communities, not about them.
FEATURE II — Investigating the Climate Lie Machine
Grassroots Disinformation Research
In Matabeleland North, our field teams completed a landmark study with the Tjwa community. The research reveals how climate disinformation impacts resource access, daily decision-making, and community adaptation.
These findings now anchor our content pipeline — from animations to community exhibitions — and the full report will be released on our public document-sharing platform.
Africa Climate Disinformation Toolkit
The continent’s first integrated guide to climate misinformation has been finalised. Led by an information integrity expert, the toolkit documents:
Recurring myths
Localised misinformation patterns
Platform-driven manipulation
Emerging online climate narratives
Launching this December via webinar, the Toolkit already informs youth trainings and content strategy. It will be publicly accessible for download and reading.
FEATURE III — Art as Resistance
Art-Driven Dissemination Strategy
From murals to exhibitions, 2025 strengthened the role of art in climate truth-telling. Community artists partnered with us to transform research into accessible, culturally rooted visual storytelling.
A centerpiece was the exhibition inspired by The Last Forest documentary, showcased at the Green Cities Expo in September.
FEATURE IV — Nurturing the Next Generation of Climate Truth Creators
Green Media Accelerator: Fake News Fighters Track
In Nairobi, the Green Media Accelerator launched a dedicated track for Fake News Fighters (FNF) — now one of Africa’s leading climate information integrity models.
Through mentorship, fact-checking skills, and seed funding, FNF empowered young media innovators to produce verified, creative responses to climate lies.
INFORMATION INTEGRITY HIGHLIGHTS
Positioning Africa in the Global Info Integrity Landscape
2025 saw FNF align with the UNESCO Declaration for Information Integrity in the Public Sphere, marking a milestone for African-driven climate truth models.
In 2026, FNF will contribute directly to shaping the world’s first Climate Information Integrity Framework, anchoring African solutions in global policy spaces.
Fake News Fighters Bootcamps – Kenya & Uganda
Using UKWELI as the core tool, two bootcamps trained 30 young creators to:
Fact-check climate misinformation
Detect platform manipulations
Produce counter-narratives
Map the real-world impacts of false climate stories
These creators now feed into a continent-wide content pipeline.
FEATURE V — Content, Storytelling & Digital Resistance
Voices Rooted Podcast
Production of the first episodes began this month. Key recordings include:
Dr. Albert K. Barume, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous leaders and frontline climate defenders
The podcast positions Indigenous wisdom at the centre of Africa’s climate discourse.
Hope Not Heat! — Log Off The Lies Digital Campaign
Bold. Satirical. Youth-driven.
Log Off The Lies has become our strongest weapon against climate misinformation.
Highlights:
Infomercial launched in October — 2 million views
Hero content released last week — 1.8 million views
Youth social storm platform launched — 100+ engagements and counting
Humour + fact-checking = sharper climate awareness among youth audiences
This campaign now shapes the continent’s conversation on online climate manipulation.
Influencer Travel Vlogs
Travel and contracting with leading African vloggers is underway. Their content — spotlighting Indigenous adaptation stories — will be released early next year for wider impact.
Documentary Production
In Zimbabwe:
Filming completed in August.
Trailer for The Last Forest reached 2.5 million views.
Festival submissions are being prepared for 2026.
In Uganda:
Filming has begun, expanding the documentary footprint across the region.
A major national event is planned to engage policy makers on Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Conservation, FPIC and Extractive Industries.
FEATURE VI — Youth Creativity & Climate Knowledge
Climate Fake News Smackdown
This creative competition invited youth to challenge climate myths.
Three winners — one each from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda — are now producing myth-busting content for release this month.
Climate Facts Animations
Three animated explainers are in production:
Episode 1 releases on 10 December
Episode 2 is complete
Episode 3 follows early next year
These animations demystify climate disinformation for youth audiences.
FEATURE VII — Growing a Continental Network
Africa Climate Labs Network
Content hubs across East and Southern Africa are collaborating to build an Africa-wide front against climate disinformation.
2026 will deepen:
Joint content planning
Regular reporting
Skill exchanges
Coordinated distribution strategies
Mid-term M&E is tracking reach, narrative shifts, and behaviour change across communities.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Fake News Fighters Wins Amnesty International Zimbabwe Award
FNF received the Digital Creativity Award, affirming that information integrity is fundamental to climate justice.
Without reliable information, communities cannot defend their rights, advocate for policy change, or hold powerful actors accountable.
LOOKING AHEAD — 2026 AND BEYOND
Next year, Climate X Indigenous Voices pivots from standalone outputs to continent-wide narrative influence.
Key Priorities for 2026
Expanding UKWELI’s integration into broader African dialogues on climate truth and Indigenous resilience
Strengthening the Fake News Fighters track for Zimbabwean and Tanzanian innovators
Documentary production in Kenya and Tanzania
A refreshed, more dynamic phase of the Hope Not Heat! campaign
Strategic release of delayed content to maximise engagement
2026 will be the year the project scales from impactful storytelling to movement-level influence.
