Our Theory of Change
Sigla Research Center aims to create conditions that facilitate spaces for intentional, informed, and reflective dialogue, fostering collaborative action and enhancing the quality of public discourse in our digitally-mediated public sphere.
Our theory of change is simple. By curating spaces for difficult conversations, we can generate plans of action based on scientific research, lived experiences, and values shared among Sigla’s stakeholders.
The dialogic spaces we curate are intentional. We purposefully build and nurture relationships that foster South-to-South dialogue and, in so doing, empower Global South voices and experiences often left marginalized in policy discourse. Our conversations are informed by a sociological lens that imbues a critical perspective to research, as well as in co-developing and advocating for context-sensitive policies to local challenges. We believe that reflective conversations are antidotes to moral panics and quick determinations that have distorted our diagnoses of contemporary issues.
Our team’s extensive study of Philippine democracy and information ecosystem have allowed us to identify the following interrelated action research and advocacy pillars: (1) Exposing Disinformation Economies in the Global South, (2) Empowering Tech Workers and Whistleblowers, and (3) Deliberative Spaces for Citizen Empowerment. Sigla’s work revolves around curating research and advocacy, as well as nurturing relationships with partners in civil society, in advancing these research and advocacy pillars—giving voice to Global South experiences and solutions to local challenges.