PesaCheck explains its legal status in the ‘Our Principles and Funding’ section of the website, where we explain that PesaCheck is an initiative of Code for Africa (CfA). PesaCheck was established with a seed grant from CfA's innovateAFRICA fund in 2016, and operates under CfA's aegis as a registered public benefit and tax exempt non-profit organisation in South Africa (registration number 168–092 NPO), as well as under CfA's local NGO registration in Kenya (registration number CPR/2016/220101). PesaCheck currently has in-country full-time staff in 14 African countries, comprising Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d'ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, Senegal, and Uganda.

The Our Principles and Funding page can be viewed at: https://pesacheck.org/our-principles-2e9c5a00ecb1

The page states:

"CfA is registered as a public benefit and tax-exempt non-profit organisation in South Africa (registration number: 168–092 NPO), as well as an NGO in Kenya (where it is registered as the Civic Media Foundation, with registration number CPR/2016/220101) and Nigeria (where is also registered as the Civic Foundation, with registration number RC 1503312)."

The page also states that PesaCheck is non-partisan and non-aligned, and shares a link to CfA’s master “Charter” (at https://medium.com/code-for-africa/about-us-567c3fde3ad3) that outlines the umbrella organisation’s principles and mandate.

PesaCheck's legal status is explained in the "Our Principles and Funding" (See under https://bit.ly/3aCDycn) section of its website, under "Committing to non-partisanship and fairness." 

PesaCheck is an initiative of Code for Africa (CfA) and operates under CfA's aegis as a registered public benefit and tax-exempt non-profit organisation in South Africa, where the organisation has its headquarters. (see attached). It is also registered as an NGO in Kenya (registration number CPR/2016/220101) and in Nigeria with registration RC 1503312.)

This info is disclosed on the "How PesaCheck works" section on its website: https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

 1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?

PesaCheck was established by CfA in 2016 as East Africa’s first indigenous fact-checking initiative.It built on ‘CfA’s original seed funding for the continent’s first fact-checking organisation, Africa Check, in 2012. Africa Check initially focused on southern Africa, and CfA therefore established PesaCheck to address growing toxic misinformation in East Africa. It initially focused on fact-checking public finances and other statistical/numeric information (mis)quoted by public figures, and often used to confuse the public, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. PesaCheck soon expanded its editorial focus to include fact-checking public service delivery and development promises in 2018, as well as election promises. PesaCheck originally published in the region's major international language, English, and in the region's largest indigenous language, Kiswahili. In 2019 PesaCheck began to expand regionally, with pilot activities in Ethiopia. In 2020 the successful Ethiopian pilot was transformed into a full-time office, and PesaCheck also expanded into its first Francophone countries in the Sahel and west Africa. By May 2022, Pesacheck had full-time staff in 14 African countries and produced fact-checking content in five languages: two international languages, English and French, and three indigenous African languages, Afaan-Oromo, Amharic and Kiswahili. This geographic and language expansion is set to continue into 2022.

2. How many people work or volunteer in the organisation and what are their roles?

PesaCheck does not use volunteers. PesaCheck had 29 full-time salaried editorial employees, as at May 2022. The full-time staff include four senior editors (a managing editor, chief copyeditor, news editor and special projects editor), three assistant editors, a six-person copyediting/translation desk, and 16 fact-checkers. In addition, PesaCheck's publisher is CfA’s COO Jessica Manim, and its editor-in-chief is CfA CEO Justin Arenstein. PesaCheck is also supported by three other CfA initiatives, including the ANCIR iLAB (https://investigate.africa/reports/), which has 14 full-time in-country forensic investigators/data analysts across the continent who specialise in coordinated inauthentic behaviour, disinformation/mal-information, and influence operation investigations. CfA’s CivicSignal (https://civicsignal.africa/) uses AI/NLP/machine learning tools to monitor media for mis/disinformation, with six analysts. And, the 19 full-time staff with CfA’s Academy (https://academy.africa/) help train/mentor PesaCheck newsroom partners across the continent. In CfA's wider team of 102 full-time staff of editors/technologists/designers/multimedia producers also regularly support PesaCheck's efforts, including building tools such as DebunkBot, producing our podcasts or visual storytelling, and helping engage with our audiences. PesaCheck fellows, who receive stipends/mentoring through CfA’s African Fact Checking Alliance (AFCA) with ~240 member newsrooms in 20 countries, are short-term part-time staff who work on specific projects or research.

3. What different activities does your organisation carry out?

PesaCheck's primary mission is to debunk mis-/disinformation in 14 African countries, publishing in two international languages (English and French), as well as three African languages (Afaan-Oromo, Amharic and Kiswahili), for a range of mainstream media partners and civil society watchdogs. PesaCheck currently publishes an average of 170 fact-checks per month, or just over 2,000 fact-checks per year, on its website, as well as a WhatsApp newsletter/podcast and in partner media.

PesaCheck also helps establish and co-manage a network of 'CheckDesks' in partner newsrooms, which are staffed by full-time newsroom employees and who are mentored and co-managed by PesaCheck using a 'hub-&-spoke' system similar to international news agency models. The check-desks function as the de facto 'bureau' for PesaCheck, which are coordinated/supported by PesaCheck's central newsroom. PesaCheck currently co-manages CheckDesks at 18 partner media in Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. The partners all syndicate PesaCheck fact-checks, as well as selectively republish each other's fact-checks. The model will expand to other countries in 2021/2.

PesaCheck builds enabling technologies and publishes data that helps streamline and amplify public fact-checking, including a PromiseTracker toolkit that helps citizens and watchdog NGOs track and fact-check promises made by politicians or government agencies; a PesaYetu census/budget visualisation toolkit that helps researchers/journalists/activists better understand available public data on key development issues; a DebunkBot toolkit that automatically informs users on Twitter and (from 2021) other social media when they share proven mis-/disinfo; a TrollTracker/Politwoops toolkit that alerts researchers/journalists/activists the moment a public figure deletes a Tweet; a WhatsApp tip-off line that allows the public to check whether a claim they're received has been debunk (and if not, allows PesaCheck to fact-check it for them); a TaxClock that helps citizens understand how much tax they’re paying and how government uses this money; a ComparativeScales visualisation toolkit that helps researchers/journalists/activists easily compare like-with-like numbers or statistics to simplify visual/infographic explanations of complex issue; and a MemeDB database of debunked African misinformation to help others build on top of. All PesaCheck tools are open source and open data. PesaCheck furthermore works with Meedan to refine/improve the workflows and functionality on the CHECK content/production management system for fact-checkers; and is working with SourceFabric to create a customised version of its SuperDesk CMS for fact-checking newsrooms.

PesaCheck also, with support from CfA's Academy, runs an extensive peer-training/mentoring programme through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA) that trained over 740 journalists at 240 newsrooms across 20 African countries in 2021. The training is not hit and run one-off workshops. PesaCheck instead partners with journalism schools/universities and with mainstream newsrooms to deliver ongoing incremental training anchored by six month cources, with biweekly lessons and task-based assignments, one-on-one mentoring and regular competence tests/evaluations. In addition to editorial fact-checking, PesaCheck also trains media managers in the business/production systems, and advises other fact-checking organisations on their production/management models.

PesaCheck also provides technical support/resources for other fact-checking organisations in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Togo and Zimbabwe in 2020.

4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

Launching our Arabic service, beginning in Sudan, and publishing in additional African languages, including regional languages spoken across west Africa and the Sahel.

Refining our 'surge' strategies for rapidly scaling up country teams/resources during crises such as the 2020/2021 civil war in Ethiopia, the coups in CAR/Mali or the upcoming fiercely contested elections in places like Kenya.

Increasing our editorial output, to a minimum average of 250 fact-checks per month or 3,000 fact-checks per year.

Deepening audience engagement with our content, including through significant growth of our syndication partnerships and subscriptions to newsletters, etc.

Growing adoption/use of our digital tools, including the new WhatsApp tip-line, and deployment of PromiseTracker in new countries.

Further growing the AFCA (African Fact-Checking Alliance) by launching a formal incubator and seed-fund, to help media organisations in conflict-affected countries become eligible for IFCN membership.

Expanding our university/newsroom training partnerships, including courseware in additional African languages.

Formalising our nascent research partnerships with think tanks/academia, to produce at least three substantive research reports in 2022.

Forging new resource partnerships with additional digital platforms, including YouTube, Telegram and TikTok.

1. From the application: "PesaCheck was established by CfA in 2016 as East Africa’s first indigenous fact-checking initiative. It built on CfA’s original seed funding for the continent’s first fact-checking organisation, Africa Check, in 2012. 

"Africa Check initially focused on southern Africa, and CfA, therefore, established PesaCheck to address growing toxic misinformation in East Africa. It initially focused on fact-checking public finances and other statistical/numeric information (mis)quoted by public figures and often used to confuse the public, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. 

"PesaCheck soon expanded its editorial focus to include fact-checking public service delivery and development promises in 2018, as well as election promises. PesaCheck was originally published in the region's major international language, English, and in the region's largest indigenous language, Kiswahili. 

"In 2019 PesaCheck began to expand regionally, with pilot activities in Ethiopia. In 2020 the successful Ethiopian pilot was transformed into a full-time office, and PesaCheck also expanded into its first Francophone countries in the Sahel and west Africa. 

"By May 2022, Pesacheck had full-time staff in 14 African countries and produced fact-checking content in five languages: two international languages, English and French, and three indigenous African languages, Afaan-Oromo, Amharic and Kiswahili. This geographic and language expansion is set to continue into 2022."

2. How many people work or volunteer in the organisation and what are their roles?

PesaCheck does not use volunteers. As of May 2022, it had 29 full-time, salaried editorial employees.

The staff includes four senior editors (a managing editor, chief copyeditor, news editor and special projects editor), three assistant editors, a six-person copyediting/translation desk, and 16 fact-checkers. 

PesaCheck's publisher is CfA’s COO, Jessica Manim, and its editor-in-chief is CfA CEO Justin Arenstein. It is supported by three other CfA initiatives, including the ANCIR iLAB (https://investigate.africa/reports/), which has 14 full-time in-country forensic investigators/data analysts across the continent, specialising in coordinated inauthentic behaviour, disinformation/mal-information, and influence operation investigations. 

CfA’s CivicSignal (https://civicsignal.africa/) uses AI/NLP/machine learning tools to monitor media for mis/disinformation and six analysts. 

The 19 full-time staff working with CfA’s Academy (https://academy.africa/) help train and mentor PesaCheck newsroom partners across the continent. CfA's wider team of 102 full-time staff of editors, technologists, designers and multimedia producers also regularly support PesaCheck's efforts. This assistance includes building tools like DebunkBot (https://bit.ly/3Sk4vEh), producing podcasts or visual storytelling, and helping engage with CfAfrica's audiences. 

PesaCheck fellows, receive stipends and mentoring through CfA’s African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA) which has 240 member newsrooms in 20 countries, The fellows are short-term part-time staff who work on specific projects or research.

3. PesaCheck's primary mission is to debunk mis- and disinformation in the14 African countries in which it operates. It publishes in two international languages (English and French), as well as three African languages (Afaan-Oromo, Amharic and Kiswahili), for a range of mainstream media partners and civil society watchdogs. 

PesaCheck currently publishes an average of 170 fact-checks per month, or just over 2,000 fact-checks per year, on its website and in partner media. It also publishes a WhatsApp newsletter and a podcast.

PesaCheck helps establish and co-manage a network of 'CheckDesks' in partner newsrooms, which are staffed by full-time newsroom employees. They are mentored and co-managed by PesaCheck, using a 'hub-&-spoke' system similar to international news agency models. 

The check-desks function as de facto bureaux for PesaCheck. They are coordinated and supported by PesaCheck's central newsroom. 

PesaCheck currently co-manages "CheckDesks" at 18 partner media in Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. The partners all syndicate PesaCheck fact-checks, as well as selectively republishing each other's fact-checks. The model will expand to other countries in 2022.

PesaCheck builds enabling technologies and publishes data that helps streamline and amplify public fact-checking, including:

* A PromiseTracker toolkit that helps citizens and watchdog NGOs track and fact-check promises made by politicians or government agencies; 

* A PesaYetu census and budget visualisation toolkit that helps researchers, journalists and activists better understand available public data on key development issues; 

A DebunkBot toolkit that automatically informs users on Twitter and - as of 2021 - other social media when they share proven mis- and disinformation; 

* A TrollTracker and Politwoops toolkit that alerts researchers, journalists, and activists the moment a public figure deletes a Tweet;

* A WhatsApp tip-off line that allows the public to check whether a claim they've received has been debunked and, if not, allows PesaCheck to fact-check it for them; 

* A TaxClock that helps citizens understand how much tax they’re paying and how governments use this money; 

* A ComparativeScales visualisation toolkit that helps researchers, journalists and activists easily compare like-with-like numbers or statistics, to simplify visual and infographic explanations of complex issues; 

* A MemeDB database of debunked African misinformation, on top of which can build: 

All PesaCheck tools are open source and open data. PesaCheck also works with Meedan to refine and improve the workflows and functionality of the CHECK content/production management system for fact-checkers; 

PesaCheck is working with SourceFabric to create a customised version of its SuperDesk CMS for fact-checking newsrooms. See: https://bit.ly/3Sdmbl8

PesaCheck also, with support from CfA's Academy, runs an extensive peer-training and mentoring programme through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA), which trained over 740 journalists in 240 newsrooms across 20 African countries in 2021. 

"The training is not hit-and-run, one-off workshops. PesaCheck instead partners with journalism schools, universities, and mainstream newsrooms to deliver ongoing incremental training anchored by six-month courses, with bi-weekly lessons and task-based assignments, one-on-one mentoring, and regular competence tests/evaluations," PesaCheck says in this application.

In addition to editorial fact-checking, PesaCheck also trains media managers in business and production systems and advises other fact-checking organisations on their production and management models.

PesaCheck provided technical support/resources for other fact-checking organisations in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Togo, and Zimbabwe in 2020.

4. Launching an Arabic service, beginning in Sudan, and also publishing in additional African languages, including regional languages spoken across west Africa and the Sahel.

Refining our 'surge' strategies for rapidly scaling up country teams and resources during crises, such as the 2020/2021 civil war in Ethiopia, the coups in CAR and Mali, and upcoming, fiercely contested elections in places like Kenya.

Increasing its editorial output, to a minimum average of 250 fact-checks per month or 3,000 fact-checks per year.

Deepening audience engagement with PesaChecks's content, including through significant growth of its syndication partnerships and subscriptions to newsletters, etc.

Growing adoption and use of its digital tools, including the new WhatsApp tip-line, and deployment of PromiseTracker in new countries.

Further growing the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA ) by launching a formal incubator and seed-fund, to help media organisations in conflict-affected countries become eligible for IFCN membership.

Expanding its university and newsroom training partnerships, including courseware in additional African languages.

Formalising its nascent research partnerships with think tanks and academia, in order to produce at least three substantive research reports in 2022.

Forging new resource partnerships with additional digital platforms, including YouTube, Telegram, and TikTok.

PesaCheck started 2021 with and average 155 articles per month and increased the number to 170 since March 2021.

Our full archive for 2021and 2022 can be found here: https://pesacheck.org/archive/2021 and https://pesacheck.org/archive/2022

PesaCheck began 2021 with an average of 155 fact-check articles a month. This has increased to around 170 a month since March 2021.

See 2021 archives here: https://bit.ly/3UfErMl and 2022 archives here: https://bit.ly/3RZ8G8E 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

A review of fact-checks done over the past three months confirmed that PesaCehck meets the required criteria.

PesaCheck does not have any institutional or remunerative relationships with governments, politicians or political parties.

PesaCheck’s training programmes do however receive support from state-funded international media development programmes in Germany (through the Deutsche Welle Akademie and Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and France (through the Agence Française de Développement). This support explicitly excludes any influence over editorial decision-making or content production, and is confined to underwriting the cost of trainers/logistics, as well as to provide fellowship stipends for trainees.

PesaCheck’s sister programmes at the iLAB and Academy receive support from state-funded international development programmes in the U.S.A (through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor and the Global Engagement Center) for mis/disinformation related training tackling Civid19 conspiracy theories, hate speech, religious extremism and coordinated inauthentic behaviour or influence operations that amplify disinformation or incitement.

CfA also works extensively with the United Nations, through UNDP and UNESCO, to coordinate media support programmes for fact-checking the pandemic and elections across the continent. And, CfA is part of a pan-African consortium, the Charter Project funded by the European Union, to help the African Union strengthen watchdog bodies who monitor the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).

All these relationships explicitly enshrine CfA’s editorial independence and non-partisanship/non-alignment principles, along with a commitment to non-interference by the donors, as explicit non-negotiable rights in the funding contracts.

From PesaCheck's application

"PesaCheck does not have any institutional or remunerative relationships with governments, politicians, or political parties.

"PesaCheck’s training programmes do however receive support from state-funded international media development programmes in Germany (through the Deutsche Welle Akademie and Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and France (through the Agence Française de Développement). This support explicitly excludes any influence over editorial decision-making or content production and is confined to underwriting the cost of trainers and logistics, as well as providing fellowship stipends for trainees.

"PesaCheck’s sister programmes at the iLAB and Academy receive support from state-funded international development programmes in the U.S.A (through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor and the Global Engagement Center) for mis/disinformation-related training tackling Covid19 conspiracy theories, hate speech, religious extremism, and coordinated inauthentic behaviour or influence operations that amplify disinformation or incitement.

"CfA also works extensively with the United Nations, through UNDP and UNESCO, to coordinate media support programmes for fact-checking the pandemic, and elections across the continent. 

"And, CfA is part of a pan-African consortium, the Charter Project funded by the European Union, to help the African Union strengthen watchdog bodies who monitor the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).

"All these relationships explicitly enshrine CfA’s editorial independence and non-partisanship/non-alignment principles, along with a commitment to non-interference by the donors, as explicit non-negotiable rights in the funding contracts."

PesaCheck does not receive any direct funding from African/foreign state agencies or political sources.

The 'Our Principles and Funding' page on PesaCheck's website states: "...We are politically neutral and non-partisan, meaning that we do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We also do not undertake any advocacy work either for ourselves or on behalf of others.

We remain impartial in the work that we do. As far as our content is concerned, we do not endorse or support any political parties."

https://pesacheck.org/our-principles-2e9c5a00ecb1 

PesaCheck does not receive any direct funding from African or foreign state agencies, or from political sources.

The 'Our Principles and Funding' page - https://bit.ly/3aCDycn - on PesaCheck's website states: "...We are politically neutral and non-partisan, meaning that we do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We also do not undertake any advocacy work either for ourselves or on behalf of others.

"We remain impartial in the work that we do. As far as our content is concerned, we do not endorse or support any political parties."

https://pesacheck.org/false-the-claim-that-this-video-shows-police-and-the-military-officers-beating-up-nup-supporters-f30d0dec7266

https://pesacheck.org/missing-context-these-photos-of-nup-candidate-harriet-nakwedde-with-different-bandage-placements-ba8f18b2743d

https://pesacheck.org/is-it-true-that-uganda-has-not-held-a-fair-and-transparent-election-in-over-30-years-5d8548d42059

https://pesacheck.org/hoax-this-job-advert-at-aeros-cargo-flysen-k-ltd-is-a-scam-ab26bda7085e

https://pesacheck.org/false-these-images-do-not-show-farmers-houses-destroyed-by-airstrikes-in-horo-guduru-welega-807afaca95cf

https://pesacheck.org/canular-cette-page-facebook-proposant-des-emplois-dans-le-bureau-du-pnud-au-canada-est-une-fourbe-94f1df59c9cd

https://pesacheck.org/false-this-post-claiming-that-kisumu-governor-anyang-nyong-o-has-died-is-untrue-973a01882065

https://pesacheck.org/scam-this-website-claiming-that-there-are-jobs-at-mara-resort-is-a-hoax-d4fd9bb9be6f

https://pesacheck.org/false-the-united-states-supreme-court-has-not-cancelled-universal-vaccination-38624f456242

https://pesacheck.org/fact-checking-statistics-about-kenyas-boda-boda-transport-sector-4a66fc677d63

https://pesacheck.org/false-medical-swabs-sterilised-with-ethylene-oxide-cannot-cause-cancer-c091a01c69c7

The fact-checks above, as well as the 100s of others we have produced over 2021, demonstrate PesaCheck's policies for predominantly using primary sources (we only use secondary sources when there’s a compelling reason), and using multiple sources to corroborate wherever appropriate. PesaCheck also publishes all supporting documentation that is not already online on our sourceAFRICA.net platform and all supporting data on open.AFRICA so that audiences have unfettered direct access to the evidence we cite in our fact checks. All PesaCheck fact-checks include a detailed explanation at the bottom naming the team that worked on the article, as well as any donors/partners who may have supported the work.

PesaCheck's fact-checking is produced using a standardised step-by-step workflow with inbuilt standardised checklists, that is complemented by a detailed playbook/editorial editorial guide. PesaCheck's newsroom is managed using a step-by-step production workflow that is applied without exception in every single fact-check, and that includes individual quality control reviews by different editors at five distinct production milestones.

By using the same method in every fact-check, we let the evidence direct us to the conclusion of the rating of a claim. 

Perhaps the best evidence of this non-aligned/nonpartisan standard is the fact that our fact-checking in conflict-afflicted Ethiopia and Mali, as well as the fiercely contested political landscapes in Kenya and Uganda regularly trigger complaints/disputes by all sides or parties of the local conflicts/issues. Independent review on the disputes has not resulted in any factual corrections, or takedowns/clarifications for any other reason.

In Ethiopia, the level of harassment from parties/government has resulted in the emergency relocation of staff to ‘safe haven’ countries and the adoption of enhanced security measures for our remaining in-country staff, all without impacting on the volume or coverage of our fact-checking.

And, PesaCheck’s most ardent critic, a European-based political activist for Uganda’s opposition party, who systematically publicly challenges every fact-check relating to the National Unity Platform (NUP) also regularly praises/spotlights PesaCheck’s debunks of other political entities in the country.

PesaCheck’s model for ensuring non-partisanship includes prioritising the use of primary sources, and using multiple sources to corroborate wherever appropriate. We only use secondary sources when there’s a compelling reason, and when those sources are corroborated by multiple other sources.

All PesaCheck fact-checks include a detailed explanation at the bottom naming the team that worked on the article, as well as any donors/partners who may have supported the work. We do this so that audiences can discern if there are conflicts-of-interest or other vested interests. The only exceptions to this rule are for a very limited set of cases in countries undergoing armed/violent conflict, where naming the in-country researcher places them at risk of physical harm.

Fact-checks supplied by PesaCheck for this application

https://pesacheck.org/false-the-claim-that-this-video-shows-police-and-the-military-officers-beating-up-nup-supporters-f30d0dec7266 

https://pesacheck.org/missing-context-these-photos-of-nup-candidate-harriet-nakwedde-with-different-bandage-placements-ba8f18b2743d

https://pesacheck.org/is-it-true-that-uganda-has-not-held-a-fair-and-transparent-election-in-over-30-years-5d8548d42059

https://pesacheck.org/hoax-this-job-advert-at-aeros-cargo-flysen-k-ltd-is-a-scam-ab26bda7085e

https://pesacheck.org/false-these-images-do-not-show-farmers-houses-destroyed-by-airstrikes-in-horo-guduru-welega-807afaca95cf

https://pesacheck.org/canular-cette-page-facebook-proposant-des-emplois-dans-le-bureau-du-pnud-au-canada-est-une-fourbe-94f1df59c9cd

https://pesacheck.org/false-this-post-claiming-that-kisumu-governor-anyang-nyong-o-has-died-is-untrue-973a01882065

https://pesacheck.org/scam-this-website-claiming-that-there-are-jobs-at-mara-resort-is-a-hoax-d4fd9bb9be6f

https://pesacheck.org/false-the-united-states-supreme-court-has-not-cancelled-universal-vaccination-38624f456242

https://pesacheck.org/fact-checking-statistics-about-kenyas-boda-boda-transport-sector-4a66fc677d63

https://pesacheck.org/false-medical-swabs-sterilised-with-ethylene-oxide-cannot-cause-cancer-c091a01c69c7

See "Our sources": https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

PesaCheck says its policy is to "predominantly" use primary sources and to only use secondary sources "when there’s a compelling reason". They also use multiple corroborating sources when appropriate. 

PesaCheck publishes all supporting documentation that is not already online on the sourceAFRICA.net platform while supporting data is published on open.AFRICA. (https://open.africa/) to give people access to evidence cited in fact-checks

PesaCheck's fact-checking is done using a standardised, step-by-step workflow with inbuilt standardised checklists. This is complemented by a detailed "playbook/editorial guide". See: "Our structure and process" https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

PesaCheck's newsroom is managed using a step-by-step production workflow that is applied without exception to every fact-check. This includes individual quality control reviews by different editors at five distinct production milestones.

By using the same method in every fact-check, PesaCheck says this allows  "the evidence [to]direct us to the conclusion of the rating of a claim."

As evidence of its non-aligned and nonpartisan standard, PesaCheck cites the fact that its fact-checking in "conflict-afflicted Ethiopia and Mali", as well as "the fiercely contested political landscapes in Kenya and Uganda". This  "regularly triggers complaints or disputes" by all sides and parties involved in conflict, or issue.

In Ethiopia, the level of harassment from different parties and the government resulted in the emergency relocation of PesaCheck staff to ‘safe haven’ countries." PesaCheck says it also adopted enhanced security measures for its remaining in-country staff, without impacting the volume or coverage of its

Another example cited is that PesaCheck’s most ardent critic, a European-based political activist for Uganda’s opposition party, "systematically [and] publicly challenges every fact-check relating to the National Unity Platform (NUP), but also "regularly praises/spotlights" PesaCheck’s debunks of other political entities in the country.

PesaCheck says its model for ensuring non-partisanship includes prioritising the use of primary sources and using multiple sources to corroborate wherever appropriate. "We only use secondary sources when there’s a compelling reason, and when those sources are corroborated by multiple other sources."

All PesaCheck fact-checks include a detailed explanation at the bottom, naming the team that worked on the article, as well as any donors/partners who may have supported the work.

"We do this so that audiences can discern if there are conflicts of interest or other vested interests. The only exceptions to this rule are for a very limited set of cases in countries undergoing armed, violent conflict, where naming the in-country researcher places them at risk of physical harm."

Please see the "Sources" and "Identifying facts to be checked" sections on this page of our website: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee

See "Sources" and "Identifying facts to be checked" sections on the PesaCheck website: https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

After doing a random assessment of fact-checks published over the past year, I am satisfied that PesaCheck uses the same standards and follows the same processes in its fact-checking irrespective of who is the subject of a fact-check. I am also satisfied that conclusions reached are dictated by the evidence uncovered during the fact-checking process.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I have done a random assessment of PesaCheck fact-checks and I am satisfied that the organisation is independent and is not affiliated to, nor shows any support for, any party, politician, or political candidate. It also does advocate for or against, any third party's policy positions on any issues, or for or against any issue.

Jump to the section on "Non-Partisanship and Fairness" on this page on the website: https://pesacheck.org/our-principles-2e9c5a00ecb1 

See "Committing to Non-Partisanship and Fairness": https://bit.ly/3aCDycn 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I have done a random assessment of PesaCheck's fact-checks and I am satisfied that sources of all significant evidence used in its fact checks are identified, and links to any evidence are available online. Where documents or data used in fact-checks are not available online, PesaCheck uploads them to its own repositories and supplies relevant links. If identifying the source would endanger the person, Pesa Check supplies sufficient details to establish the credibility of the source without placing them in danger.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I am satisfied that PesaCheck used the best available primary sources wherever possible. If secondary sources are used, they disclose this and explain the reason.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I am satisfied that PesaCheck uses more than one identified and named source for a fact-check, except on the rare occasion where a single source is the only relevant source on a topic.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I am satisfied that PesaCheck discloses any relevant interests of a source in any matter in which they may have an interest that could influence the accuracy of the evidence they provide for a fact-check.

PesaCheck is the fact-checking unit/team at Code for Africa (CfA), which is an independent organization registered as a public benefit non-profit in South Africa (as the headquarters), with separate local non-profit registration in Kenya and Nigeria. Please see the attached certificate of registration for the primary registration in South Africa.  

PesaCheck is the fact-checking unit of Code for Africa (CfA), which is an independent organisation registered as a public benefit non-profit in South Africa, where it has its headquarters. It also has separate local non-profit registration in Kenya (registration number CPR/2016/220101) and in Nigeria (registration number RC 1503312.)

This info is disclosed on the "How PesaCheck works" section on its website: https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

PesaCheck's affiliation with Code for Africa, and our management systems/independence are explained on the following page on our website: https://pesacheck.org/our-principles-2e9c5a00ecb1

PesaCheck is the fact-checking unit of Code for Africa. This is disclosed under the heading "Committing to non-partisanship and fairness" on its website: https://bit.ly/3aCDycn 

PesaCheck's editorial systems and structure are explained on this page on our website: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee 

PesaCheck's editorial systems and structure are clearly explained on its website. See "Our structure and process": https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

PesaCheck's people are described here: https://pesacheck.org/about 

Details of PesaCheck's staff on the website can be found here:  https://bit.ly/3hexU1b 

We invite the public to communicate with us at https://pesacheck.org/contact-us-3ba3730bf068.

We also invite the public to send us claims to be fact-checked, via WhatsApp, on this page: https://pesacheck-tipline.webflow.io

And, we provide email addresses and other contact details on our ‘identifying claims we can fact-check’ section here: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee

Details of how people can contact PesaCheck can be accessed via the "contact us" tab in the navigation bar running across the home page: https://bit.ly/3heJWrm 

Contact details for all countries in which PesaCheck operates are included on this page. 

https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee 

The methodology PesaCheck uses to select, research, write and publish claims is clearly explained on the "How PesaCheck works" page: See https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

PesaCheck clearly explains on its website how, and why, they select claims for fact-checking. See "Identifying claims to be checked" https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

After checking a random sample of fact-checks, I am satisfied that PedsaCheck discloses all relevant evidence that supports a claim, as well as any evidence that may undermine it.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

A random sample shows that all fact-checks are treated the same way by PesaCheck, irrespective of who made the claim.

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

After doing a random assessment of fact-checks, I am satisfied that PesaCheck meets the criteria for this section.

Please describe how you encourage 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. Include links where appropriate. If you do not allow this, explain why.

We encourage our readers to suggest claims to fact-check, through a number of channels, such as on our Facebook group (via FB Messenger), as well as via a WhatsApp tipline (screenshot of our call-to-action materials for the tip-line here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bxAIBN4-FB74nDF9MxJU7X9pbBGaEUF-/view), a Google Form that is embedded into various audience engagement campaigns (see the form here: http://bit.ly/PesaCheck-Tipline-Form), and via email (please see "Identifying claims to be checked" section of this article: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee.

All the submissions are funnelled into a dedicated channel on our Slack, with requests assigned to researchers and regular feedback offered to the submitter.

Furthermore, we support CheckDesk fact-checking teams at independent newsrooms, who also invite their audiences to submit claims for verification.

PesaCheck encourages people to suggest claims for fact-checking through several different channels, including its Facebook group (via FB Messenger), a WhatsApp tipline, email, and a Google Form that is embedded into its various audience engagement campaigns. See https://bit.ly/3mJEX32 

All claims submitted for fact-checking are funnelled into a dedicated channel in PesaCheck's Slack account, from where requests are assigned to researchers. Regular feedback is also offered to the submitter.

PesaCheck's CheckDesk fact-checking teams in independent newsrooms, also invite their audiences to submit claims for verification.

With regard to what PesaCheck will fact-check, see "Identifying claims to be checked": https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

Please scroll down to the "Corrections Policy" section on this page: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee 

From PesaCheck's corrections policy

"Transparency is a core value for PesaCheck, and we strive for accurate and comprehensive fact-checking. We all make mistakes sometimes, and while every error is a weakness, some errors are inevitable, and we are fully open to correcting them promptly in whatever material we publish on our platforms.

When we run a correction, clarification or editor’s note, our goal is to tell readers, as clearly and quickly as possible, what was wrong and what is correct. Anyone should be able to understand how and why a mistake has been corrected."

For further details see the section marked "Corrections Policy" - https://bit.ly/3nJnau5 

Please feel free to shout if the assessor has any queries, or needs any context/clarification.

I have reviewed PesaCheck's corrections policy and I am satisfied that it meets the required criteria. The policy is clearly explained in easy-to-understand language.

PesaCheck's Corrections Policy is outlined here: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee

PesaCheck has provided acknowledgement/receipt within 48hrs on all queries and/or complaints received via the public channels outlined in 5.6 above, and has provided further detailed responses to submitters following the review of their original query and/or complaint. This has included a growing volume of complaints sparked by Facebook actions based on PesaCheck fact-checks.

PesaCheck has a rigorous 5-stage internal editorial review process that all fact-checks undergo prior to publication. All public complaints received in 2021/2022 have been found to either be due to complainants misunderstanding of Facebook's classification/action relating to their original post, or to a misunderstanding of the original claim/evidence. In fact, some complainants have subsequently corrected their original public statements to reflect the correct facts, in response to PesaCheck's fact-check. We attach examples of our responses to complainants.

For complaints channelled through IFCN, we await guidance on when and what level of response is required.

We have one example of a fact-check we corrected, after a reader reached out to us to point out that we had missed nuance in the post. At the beginning of the article, we admitted what we had missed. https://pesacheck.org/intox-aboubacar-vincent-na-pas-été-testé-positif-au-coronavirus-544c6843af9b

Our corrections policy includes acknowledgement of all changes made to an article including typographic corrections as seen here and impact if any on the rating:

https://pesacheck.org/altered-this-newspaper-cover-claiming-the-president-ordered-the-murder-of-bobi-wines-bodyguard-is-e6fbf4ba7dac

PesaCheck's "Corrections Policy" is outlined here: https://bit.ly/3nJnau5

In its application, PesaCheck says it provides "acknowledgment/receipt within 48hrs on all queries and/or complaints received ..."

It says it also provides further detailed responses to submitters following a review of their original query and/or complaint. 

"This has included a growing volume of complaints sparked by Facebook actions based on PesaCheck fact-checks.

"PesaCheck has a rigorous 5-stage internal editorial review process that all fact-checks undergo prior to publication. All public complaints received in 2021/2022 have been found to either be due to complainants' misunderstanding of Facebook's classification/action relating to their original post, or to a misunderstanding of the original claim/evidence. In fact, some complainants have subsequently corrected their original public statements to reflect the correct facts, in response to PesaCheck's fact-check. 

"For complaints channelled through IFCN, we await guidance on when and what level of response is required."

PesaCheck has provided one example of a fact-check that was corrected "after a reader reached out to us to point out that we had missed the nuance in the post". >> See: https://bit.ly/3RdTLpQ 

PesaCheck's corrections policy includes acknowledgment of all changes made to an article, including typographic corrections and the impact, if any, on a rating.

In this example of a fact-check of a manipulated headline, a correction was published because an incorrect date was included in the original fact-check https://bit.ly/3fhGcIB 

We explain that we are an IFCN member in the "Signatory at IFCN" section on this page: https://pesacheck.org/our-principles-2e9c5a00ecb1

PesaCheck explains that it is a member of IFCN and adheres to its Code of Principles in the "Holding ourselves to international standards" section of the website. See: https://bit.ly/3aCDycn

They also explain to people how to lodge a complaint with IFCN in the same section.

"To ensure that the code has teeth and that PesaCheck is accountable, IFCN offers an independent complaint mechanism for anyone who believes that fact-checkers are violating their commitment to the principles."

This section, in turn, has a hyperlink to IFCN's Code of Principles (https://bit.ly/3LH7rsd) and IFCN's complaints page: https://bit.ly/3DQysaM 

PesaCheck is a fact-checking unit at a civic technology non-profit, not at a parent media company. Code for Africa (CfA) is not a publisher, and therefore does not have its own corrections policy.

PesaCheck's own corrections policy can be viewed here: https://pesacheck.org/our-methodology-f3d77521a1ee 

Code is a civic tech non-profit, not a publisher. Therefore it does not have a corrections policy. For PesaCheck's own corrections policy: See "Corrections Policy": https://bit.ly/3nJnau5