WIN Global Leadership Accelerator

The WAN-IFRA Women in News (WIN) Global Leadership Accelerator is inviting now inviting applications. It seeks high-potential mid-level newsroom managers (journalists and editors) from emerging, transitional, and fragile states around the world. The programme is designed for journalists with 5–10 years of newsroom experience who are passionate about the future of the news industry and committed to strengthening leadership in media.

What the programme offers

• Successful applicants will receive training on key newsroom and media management topics while joining a global network of peers.
• Participants will also benefit from one-on-one coaching sessions with an ICF-certified coach to develop a personalised 1–3 year career roadmap.
• This is a high-impact programme with proven results. On average, 60% of graduates report direct career progression (promotion or a lateral move of their choice) within three months of completing the programme.
• The programme runs for 24 weeks, from 23 April to 15 October 2026. Participants are expected to commit 1–2 hours per week. Weekly seminars and discussion-based tutorials take place on: Thursdays, 12:00–13:30 CAT / 18:00–19:30 SGT (DST).
• Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion with professional designation from WAN-IFRA.

Eligibility 

Participants will be selected from the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Other eligibility criteria include:

• Have 5–10 years of newsroom experience as a reporter, correspondent, or editor
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to journalism, press freedom, gender equality, and inclusion
• Identify as a woman and/or come from a historically vulnerable or at-risk community
• Have strong spoken and written English (the programme is delivered primarily in English)
• Have reliable internet connectivity
• Be able to commit 1–2 hours per week for the full 24-week programme

How to apply 

• Interested candidates may apply and find more information using this page. The last date to send applications is 31 March 2026.