On the homepage of our website https://africacheck.org/who-we-are, we state that Africa Check was set up in 2012 as a fact-checking organisation, based in the offices of the Journalism Department of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, with funding from a media innovation contest organised by the International Press Institute.

Africa Check's governing body is the non-profit Africa Check Trust, based in South Africa. It is registered with the Master's Office in Cape Town South Africa, with registration number IT000728/2015(C).

Today we operate across Africa, with offices in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. The Johannesburg office is our overall headquarters. The editorial team based in Johannesburg oversees the work of our South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya offices, shown on our English-language website: https://africacheck.org/. The Senegal office, also answers to the Johannesburg head office, and runs our French-language site, covering Senegal and other countries of francophone west Africa: https://africacheck.org/fr  

Africa Check is a legally registered organization.

All the evidences of its legal registration are presented in the “Who we are” or “Qui sommes-nous” section here:

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-funded

Africa Check was founded in the UK in 2012 but is registered, since 2019, as a non-profit trust in South Africa (registration number IT000728/2015(C)).

Details of its registration can be found in the document attached.

Information about the legal status of Africa Check is set out clearly, and quick to find.

1. Africa Check was set up in 2012 as a fact-checking organisation to promote accuracy & honesty in public debate and the media across the African continent.

2. Our team of 45 people - full-time and part-time operate across Africa, with offices in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. The Johannesburg office is our overall headquarters. The editorial team based in Johannesburg oversees the work of our South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya offices and the Senegal office runs our French-language work, covering Senegal and other countries of francophone West Africa. Detailed roles of each team member can be found on https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/our-team

3. We carry out five key activities: Fact-checking claims made by public figures and media and liaising with them to correct those that are false; Train and mentor media to carry out non-partisan fact-checking themselves; Develop fact-checking tools and accurate data on key topics more easily available; Partner with social media platforms and search engines to red flag false claims and highlight accurate information; Outreach work to educate the public, particularly the young, to identify misinformation.

4. A key goal in the coming year is to do more media literacy campaigns in local languages to educate the public about misinformation and to extend the reach of our work to digitally unconnected audiences. 

Africa Check was set up in 2012 in the UK, exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking, across the African continent. Its offices are in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. And its team (45 people) works in both French and English :

https://africacheck.org/fr

https://africacheck.org/

The team carry out five main activities: 

- fact-checking claims made by public figures and media;

- mentor media to carry out non-partisan fact-checking themselves;

- develop fact-checking tools and accurate data on key topics;

- partner with social media platforms and search engines to red flag false claims and highlight accurate information;

- outreach work to educate the public to identify misinformation.

Over the coming years, Africa Check plans to do more literacy campaign about desinformation in local languages...

Our overall output, includes fact-checks, blogs, podcasts, factsheets and guides to fact-checking. These can all be seen on our English site: https://africacheck.org/ and French site https://fr.africacheck.org/

In each language we produce three main types of fact-check (full-length fact-checks called "reports"; shorter fact-checks called "spot checks" and fact-checks we do specifically on content seen on Facebook.

They can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

The spreadsheet provided by the Africa Check team lists fact checks (reports, spot checks, Facebook posts) published during the previous six months and identifies, for each, the main subject. The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application.

Please refer to the attached spreadsheet for the sample of fact-checks published in both English and French. Note that the samples are listed on two separate tabs on the spreadsheet attached.

According to our assessment, the fact-checking articles presented by the candidate are in line with IFCN's expectations.

We find that these fact checks deal in majority (more than 80%) with “public interest” issues that “relate to or could have an impact on the well-being of individuals, the general public or society”.

Africa Check is not funded by any state or political actors 

The applicant’s editorial output is not, fo us, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.

Africa Check sets out how the team ensure the editorial independence of its work, here :

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-funded

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

The team also provides references to the Africa Check rules about funding : "we ensure that funders have no influence over the conclusions we reach in our reports." (https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/code-principles)

We set out how we are funded and how we spend our funds on this page on our English-language site, including references to our rules about funding. https://africacheck.org/about-us/how-we-are-funded

We do the same in French on this page: https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

No funding from local or foreign state or political sources.

We follow a consistent process, applying the same high standards of evidence as detailed in our methodology under criteria 5.1. 

The applicant fact-checks use the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim. We didn't find any example of unfair treatment...

On our English site: https://africacheck.org/get-involved/submit-claim-fact-check

On our French site: https://africacheck.org/fr/impliquez-vous/soumettre-une-declaration-pour-verification-des-faits 

Africa Check does not seem to unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side; it seems to consider the reach and importance of claims it selects to check; and it publishes an explaination on its website to set out how it selects claims to check, here :

https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits

https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check

The Africa Check team explains how they maintain standards across fact-checks:

"Our teams monitor statements made in the public domain and submissions from readers. We then assess the claim to decide whether it should be fact-checked. Is the topic important? Is the claim framed as a statement of fact or opinion? Does the claim matter? Have we focused on this speaker before? We make sure to check all sides in any debate."

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes and any commercial or other such relationships it has.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check is not as an organization affiliated with any party, any politician or political candidate.

https://africacheck.org/get-involved/join-our-team.

All prospective hires at Africa Check are asked about current or past direct involvement in political or advocacy organisations. Candidates are not hired if they have in the past or at present held an active role in any political party. The fundamental importance of our work of non-partisanship is discussed regularly at staff meetings and staff are all required to ensure that their personal communication on social media meets these standards. Africa Check takes no advocacy position on any issue other than promoting the importance of data transparency and accuracy. Africa Check never has and never will support any political party.

Africa Check assesses the work of all external collaborators/contributors before any work is commissioned from them. This is done to ensure that our collaborators/contributors are cleared of any actual or perceived bias and that their work is deemed credible and non-partisan. We continue to assess their work for us and others during the time they are working with us to ensure compliance with our non-partisan stance. 

The Africa Check team explains here, in the application form:

“All prospective hires at Africa Check are asked about current or past direct involvement in political or advocacy organisations. Candidates are not hired if they have in the past or at present held an active role in any political party. The fundamental importance of our work of non-partisanship is discussed regularly at staff meetings and staff are all required to ensure that their personal communication on social media meets these standards. Africa Check takes no advocacy position on any issue other than promoting the importance of data transparency and accuracy. Africa Check never has and never will support any political party.

Africa Check assesses the work of all external collaborators/contributors before any work is commissioned from them. This is done to ensure that our collaborators/contributors are cleared of any actual or perceived bias and that their work is deemed credible and non-partisan. We continue to assess their work for us and others during the time they are working with us to ensure compliance with our non-partisan stance.”

But we found no mention of these commitments in the website...

The Africa Check team explains its non partisanship policy here:

https://africacheck.org/get-involved/join-our-team

https://africacheck.org/fr/impliquez-vous/rejoignez-notre-equipe

“We are a nonpartisan organisation committed to promoting accuracy in public debate and the media in Africa. To do this effectively, we follow the best practices in fact-checking, recognised by the world’s leading nonpartisan fact-checking organisations. We adhere to the International Fact-Checking Network’s fundamental operating principles of commitment to impartiality, transparency and accuracy. Our values guide how we work together to achieve impact. We act with integrity, collaborate with respect, honour partnerships, and encourage impactful innovation.We take no advocacy position on any issue save for the importance of data transparency and accuracy. We will also never support any political party.To ensure we keep to the IFCN’s principles and our values, there are some requirements for team members. If you have in the past or at present held an active role in any political party, you will not be able to join our team. Our team members are also required to ensure that their private and public engagements reflect our nonpartisanship stance. We see our work as a public service and encourage our team members to contribute to public life in ways that are in line with our commitment to nonpartisanship..”

This policy is not easy to find on the site, but it does exist.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check identifies the source of significant evidence used in its fact checks.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check uses (most of the time) the best available primary sources of evidence. 

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check checks all key elements of claims.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

Africa Check is an independent organisation. Africa Check's governing body is the non-profit Africa Check Trust, based in South Africa. It is registered with the Master's Office in Cape Town South Africa, with registration number IT000728/2015(C). 

The Africa Check team shares aproof of its organizational status in the application form. Africa Check's governing body is the non-profit Africa Check Trust, based in South Africa. 

There's a page on its website detailing each source of funding accounting for 1% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year, here :

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-funded

We set out how we are funded on our English-language site https://africacheck.org/about-us/how-we-are-funded and French-language site https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

Africa Check is an independent organization. There's a page on its website detailing each source of funding accounting for 1% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year, here :

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/comment-nous-sommes-finances

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-funded

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are

Africa Check presents its organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised (Chief editor, deputy-chief editor, etc.), here:

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/notre-equipe

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/our-team

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/our-team

Africa Check presents a page detailing the professional biography of all those who play a significant part in its articles:

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/notre-equipe

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/our-team

People can contact us in many ways - via a generic email address, via social media and through contacting our offices directly. All this is set out on our contact page shown here in English: https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/get-in-touch and in French: https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/contactez-nous

It’s easy for readers to contact Africa Check’s team: there’s a page that mentions all the addresses and phone numbers of the different Africa Check’s offices everywhere in Africa, and a contact form:

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/get-in-touch

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/contactez-nous

And there's a hypetext link to the Twitter account of each member of the editorial team in the biographies here:

https://africacheck.org/fr/qui-nous-sommes/notre-equipe

https://africacheck.org/who-we-are/our-team

As a guiding principle at Africa Check, our fact-check reports should be not just verified, by us, but verifiable by our readers. That means we have to provide the evidence we base our judgements on – links, PDFS and other such documents – not just the judgements themselves. If such documents are used, we add them to the report and add them to the Info Finder section.

The process we use to produce our work hinges on being transparent about how we find and use sources in our reports, factsheets and guides.

Once a claim is established, the most important step is to find good reliable sources of evidence to check the claim against. This can be evidence in the public domain that verifies or contradicts what has been said, data from a public database, the findings of academic studies, the opinion of established experts, or other sources.

When we find good sources, they are added to both our report and to the resources section of the website – Info Finder (currently in testing but to be launched in 2019for others to use). Our rules are replicated in French and English.

• Always use primary sources if possible

We endeavour to use primary sources for all our report whether in the form of a recording, a transcript, a database or other verifiable primary source if possible. Secondary sources are used periodically where necessary but are properly checked and attributed.

• Databases and credible sources

The Info Finder section lists databases and studies that we found credible while researching our reports. When looking for credible studies and databases on new reports, the researcher searches here first. We also provide as much explanation as required about the quality of information and any relevant caveats to enable the reader to assess the likely accuracy of the information. We also try to provide some context to the source of data by explaining, where we can, how the data should be read and understood.

• Expert analysis

Where we cannot ourselves access data, we seek insight and quote an expert in the field as commentator. Where we do quote an expert, we identify clearly who they are, who they work for, and any allegiances they may have that might affect their analysis. We also state whether we spoke to them directly and when. And if we did not, we say where we got the remarks from.

• Use of anonymous sources

All the evidence we use is verifiable by us before we publish it. If a source agrees to send us information, but demands anonymity, we cannot use it as source material if it cannot be verified, either directly or indirectly, by our readers and us.

We set out our methodology regularly in our fact-checks and in a series of "how-to" guides that we publish online and discuss in training we do for reporters and the public.

Examples of guides can be seen here: https://africacheck.org/how-to-fact-check/factsheets-and-guides/

In addition, we set out our methodology in detail on this page in English: https://africacheck.org/about-us/how-we-work/ And in this page in French: https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits

Africa Check gives precisions about its fact-checking methodology, with a lot of details in two sections, in English:

https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check

https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/how-we-rate-claims

And in French:

https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits

https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits/comment-nous-evaluons-les-declarations

These details seem very clear and accessible in both websites.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and sometimes explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it. 

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim. 

Our fact-checks can be seen on these links in English:

1) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/

2) https://africacheck.org/latest-reports/spot-check/

3) https://africacheck.org/fbchecks/

And in French:

1) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/articles

2) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/spotchecks

3) https://africacheck.org/fr/fact-checks/fbchecks

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim. 

We invite the public to submit claims using multiple channels including a form on our website, on our Info Finder tools in the "You Asked" section, by tagging us on social media and through our WhatsApp lines which we actively promote online and offline. Our website provides clear guidance on what we can and cannot check and how we select what to chase up.

See here in English: https://africacheck.org/how-to-fact-check/submit-a-claim-to-check/

And here in French: https://fr.africacheck.org/verifier-des-faits/soumettre-une-declaration-a-verifier/ 

There’s a dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on Africa Check’s websites. We can find it here:

https://africacheck.org/fr/impliquez-vous/soumettre-une-declaration-pour-verification-des-faits

https://africacheck.org/get-involved/submit-claim-fact-check

And at the bottom of the homepage, here:

https://africacheck.org/fr

https://africacheck.org/

Both websites present to readers 4 rules to respect to submit a fact-checkable claim (sort of topic, fact or opinion, impact, already checked) and a specific form to send it to the staff.

The Africa Check staff also explains:

“We invite the public to submit claims using multiple channels including a form on our website, on our Info Finder tools in the "You Asked" section, by tagging us on social media and through our WhatsApp lines which we actively promote online and offline."

So we can say that Africa Check encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.

Our corrections policy is set out here in English: https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/corrections-policy and here in French: https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits/politique-de-correction

The Africa Check’s websites give precisions about its corrections policy in a specific webpage, here:

https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits/politique-de-correction

https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/corrections-policy

Africa Check has a corrections policy that is easily visible and accessible in the website menu.

In actioning our corrections policy, Africa Check responds to all complaints received to acknowledge receipts of the complaint and to let the complainant know what the intended next step will be in the process. We also inform all complainants about the outcome of our review process, whether the complaint raised warrants a correction, update or no action at all.

The Afica Check corrections policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes are handled and explains:

"Feedback can be submitted in the comment section under an article or in an email to info@africacheck.org. These channels are checked daily. Every comment and all feedback will be reviewed by a senior member of staff."

The Africa Check team adds in the application form: "Africa Check responds to all complaints received to acknowledge receipts of the complaint and to let the complainant know what the intended next step will be in the process".

We continue to adhere to our corrections policy at all times by encouraging feedback or enquiry from users to all our fact-checks and making clear that there are channels where this can be done. At Africa Check, we believe that corrections are an effective tool for underpinning accountability and transparency. 

On 23/09/2020 we corrected a report on human trafficking in South Africa https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/reports/fact-checking-influential-tv-presenters-claims-about-child-trafficking-south. This was after the department of justice and constitutional development and other readers notified us that South Africa was upgraded to a ‘tier 2’ country from the lower ‘tier 2 watchlist’. We had assessed a claim on an older report from 2019, while a newer one had since become available. 

We did not issue any other corrections over the previous year. 

Africa Check provides credible evidence that it makes corrections openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.

Africa Check gives 1 example:

"EDITOR'S NOTE: We have since corrected this fact-check and its rating to 'incorrect' after the department of justice and constitutional development notified us that South Africa was upgraded to a 'tier 2' country. This is contained in the 2020 Trafficking in Persons report from the US state department released in June 2020. Our earlier rating of "correct" had relied on the 2019 report. "

And the team explain in the application form:

"We did not issue any other corrections over the previous year."

In view of what we have observed, Africa Check makes corrections openly and transparently. It would be better to inform readers at the top of the article instead of writing a paragraph after the reading, at the bottom of the page.

On our website, listed under our principles, we inform users that they may refer any complaints to the IFCN in English: https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/code-principles and in French: https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits/code-principles

Africa Check has a page, on its websites, where it declares itself an IFCN signatory, here :

https://africacheck.org/fr/comment-nous-verifions-les-faits/code-principles

https://africacheck.org/how-we-fact-check/code-principles

"Africa Check publishes our corrections policy and follows it scrupulously. We correct clearly and transparently in line with the corrections policy, seeking so far as possible to ensure that readers see the corrected version. Should you believe that we are violating the IFCN Code, you may inform the IFCN of this using the complaints page on the IFCN site."

Not concerned.