Digital Public Infrastructure Journalism Fellowship

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with funding support from and in partnership with Co-Develop, is commencing a regional journalism fellowship programme for journalists in West Africa to improve public awareness.

This initiative is intended to build and grow a pool of West African journalists who would have the relevant knowledge and skills to produce quality and impactful reports on DPI/DPGs. Ultimately, the work of these journalists would increase public access to information on DPI/DPGs, and public awareness and enable public engagements in DPI/DPGs policy formulation and implementation across West Africa.

The selected journalists for this program will go through a three-month (September to November 2023) fellowship involving training workshops, mentorship, and story production. After the three-month fellowship, the beneficiary journalists will continue to engage in network activities and story production on DPI/DPG issues.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The opportunity is open to journalists from the following countries: Benin, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.
• An applicant must have worked as a journalist for at least 3 years.
• An applicant must: Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking any of the following three languages – English or French or Portuguese
  – Be available to fully participate in the fellowship
  – Commit to three months of the fellowship and three months of post-fellowship DPI/DPGs activities including story production
  – Be available to travel and spend two weeks in Ghana
  – Be a full-time practicing journalist and must be working with a credible media organization in any of the target countries

Details of Fellowship

• The Fellowship will be both virtual and in-person. For the first six weeks and the last four weeks, Fellows will be engaged virtually by mentors and trainers. During the 7th and 8th weeks of the Fellowship, fellows will convene in Accra, Ghana for further in-person and peer-to-peer experience-sharing sessions.
• By the end of the Fellowship, each fellow is expected to have produced at least two significant stories on DPI/DPGs. Fellows will be required to publish their stories in their respective news media organizations. Fellows will also receive a certificate of participation.

Benefits

• Training and mentorship opportunities
• Monthly stipend of $500 to Fellows and $700 to fellows’ media organizations to support story production, publication, and programming
• Fellows will also be eligible for DPI/DPGs Reporting Grants
• Accommodation, Feeding, and Health Insurance cover during the in-person convening in Ghana

Learn more here about the fellowship and apply.