MFWA Digital Public Infrastructure Journalism Fellowship Programme 2024 for African Journalists

Application Deadline: September 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 MFWA Digital Public Infrastructure Journalism Fellowship Programme. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with funding support and in partnership with Co-Develop, is launching Phase II of the Digital Public Infrastructure Journalism Fellowship Programme. This initiative aims to elevate public awareness, stimulate debates, foster inclusivity, and encourage participation and uptake of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPG) issues across West Africa.

The fellowship seeks to host a cohort of 60 experienced journalists from Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. These journalists will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to produce high-quality, impactful reports on DPI/DPGs. Ultimately, the work of these journalists will contribute to increased public access to information, greater public awareness, and more robust engagement in DPI/DPGs policy development and implementation throughout the West African region.

Programme Details:

• Selected journalists will participate in a three-month fellowship from November 2024 to January 2025. The fellowship will involve training workshops, mentorship, and story production. Upon completion, fellows will continue to engage in network activities and further reporting on DPI/DPGs for three months.
• The fellowship includes both virtual and in-person, country-specific capacity-building sessions for the selected fellows. Quarterly virtual follow-up refreshers will also be held for both the first and second cohorts, facilitating knowledge-sharing and collaboration on DPI/DPGs issues.
• By the end of the Fellowship, each fellow is expected to have produced at least five significant stories on DPI/DPGs. Fellows will be required to publish their stories in their respective news media organisations. Fellows will also receive a certificate of participation.

Benefits:

• Training and mentorship opportunities
• Reporting grants for Fellows (up to US$300 per story)
• Monthly stipend of $250 per Fellow for the first three months of the Fellowship
• Partner newsrooms will be supported with $1000 under a DPI/DPGs Newsroom Partnership Programme
• Travel Grants to support best DPI/DPG Reporters to participate in international trainings or convenings that will further enhance their knowledge and capacity on DPI/

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates must complete the fellowship application form for their respective countries:

• Ghana: https://forms.gle/ov4bHtCkkzHpmo697
• Nigeria: https://forms.gle/mFSsFAMZq8G78YqR8
• Togo: https://forms.gle/bvpSChKeSYYJer5x6
• Benin: https://forms.gle/ajRqZJNer2ahPFJ46

Applications should include a 350-word statement of interest, a CV with two referees, a statement of support from the applicant’s media organization, and a copy of a national ID. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2024.

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email.

For further clarification, kindly contact the MFWA at info@mfwa.org or Dora B. Mawutor at dora[@]mfwa.org and Vivian Affoah at vivian[@]mfwa.org.