Information Integrity Training

Code for Africa (CfA) is offering a free online information integrity training for journalists and civic leaders in South Sudan and Ethiopia. This is a chance for you as a media professional, journalist, fact-checker, and digital investigator to strengthen your fact-checking skills and connect with others working to verify counter disinformation.

This training will help participants detect and verify misleading content, investigate harmful narratives, and respond to disinformation with evidence-based reporting.  The course includes instructor-led webinars exploring fact-checking techniques, open-source investigation tools, and methods for identifying coordinated campaigns. The training will run from 25 May to 24 June 2026.

Objectives

• Master fundamental fact-checking techniques for various content formats, including photos, videos, audio, and websites.
• Develop proficiency in both prebunking and debunking strategies for identifying and countering misinformation.
• Apply ethical guidelines for plagiarism and verify factual integrity in the digital age.
• Understand and navigate the intersection of AI and fact-checking to improve editorial efficiency and accuracy.
• Safeguard digital security while performing fact-checking in high-risk environments.
• Explore methods for investigating misinformation on social media, including dark social channels like WhatsApp.

Thematics

Following topics will be covered:

• Fact-Checking Fundamentals
• Prebunking and Debunking Techniques
• Verifying Photos, Videos, and Audio Content
• Ethical Fact-Checking and Plagiarism Guidelines
• Investigating Misinformation and Information Operations

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Target Countries – Eligibility is open to individuals residing or engaged in professional work in Ethiopia and South Sudan
• Current Employment – Priority will be given to individuals currently working as journalists, fact-checkers, and researchers or in roles within newsrooms and civil society organisations (CSOs) that support local information integrity watchdogs and human rights defenders.
• Language – Applicants must be fluent in English.
• Availability – Applicants must be available to participate in virtual training.
• Partisanship – Applicants must be non-partisan and have no affiliations with government agencies, paramilitary organisations, political parties, state-affiliated media, or any other entities that could create the perception of partisanship during elections.
• Accessibility – Applicants must have access to a reliable laptop or desktop computer with stable internet connectivity to participate in program activities, online courses, and mentoring.
• Commitment – Applicants must commit to sharing their newly acquired skills and knowledge within their organisations, with their followers, and across the wider journalism/research community by showcasing their projects and techniques to their peers.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted by midnight EAT on 24 May 2026. All applications must be completed through the provided online form.

For more information, please visit this page.