Recipients of Research Fund: Supporting Online Campaigning Transparency

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is delighted to announce that the Internet Lab and Expert Forum are the inaugural recipients of the Community of Practice Research Fund. 

Internet Lab will research the dynamics of permanent campaigning in extremist groups on Telegram in Brazil. The project aims to bridge the gap in the comprehension of political campaigns in messaging apps and provide an analysis of malicious actors and disinformation ecosystems in preparation for the next electoral period in Brazil. 

Expert Forum will analyze online political campaigning and narratives promoted on social media about the upcoming Romanian election. The project will advocate for better regulations on political advertising and aims to increase the capacity of journalists and activists to monitor political expenditure. 

IFES launched the Research Fund to support the IFES Online Campaigning Transparency Community of Practice (CoP). The Fund aims to encourage innovation by supporting the replication of successful practices and the development of new approaches that will increase transparency and accountability in online campaigning for democratic actors. This includes supporting research and programmatic activities, such as creating or enhancing tools and methodologies, translating academic research into real-world interventions, and facilitating exchange among CoP members.