Unleashing the Power of Investigative Reporting: The NGIJ Fellowship Programme 2023
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 3rd edition of the Next Generation Investigative Journalism (NGIJ) Fellowship Programme.
This fellowship aims to nurture young journalists and recent journalism graduates in Ghana who are passionate about critical, fact-based, in-depth, and investigative reporting on tax justice, domestic resource mobilization, and illicit financial flows.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive three-month mentorship program and receive training from seasoned journalists affiliated with MFWA’s public interest and accountability journalism projects.
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
The NGIJ Fellowship is designed to promote public interest and accountability journalism in West Africa. It seeks to advance transparency and accountability in governance while advocating for human rights.
Through this program, selected fellows will be hosted in Ghana and mentored by Fact-Check Ghana and The Fourth Estate, both renowned projects led by MFWA.
The fellows will undergo intensive practical training to develop the skills necessary for conducting critical, high-quality, fact-based, in-depth, and enterprise reporting.
The ultimate goal is to empower these young journalists to improve lives and promote good governance through excellence in journalism.
Program Details and Expectations
During the three-month fellowship, fellows will receive specialized training in fact-checking, investigative reporting, and progressive taxation.
They will also explore issues related to domestic resource mobilization and illicit financial flows.
The capacity-building workshops will equip the fellows with the necessary tools to demand fiscal justice, advocate for progressive and gender-sensitive domestic resource mobilization, and address inequalities at both national and subnational levels.
By the end of the program, each fellow will be expected to deliver at least one significant investigative or fact-checking report.
Upon successful completion of the fellowship, a Certificate of Honour will be awarded to the fellows, acknowledging their dedication and commitment.
Eligibility and Application Process
To be eligible for the NGIJ Fellowship, applicants must be young journalists or recently graduated journalists between the ages of 21 and 30.
They should have either completed their national service or be at the entry level in a Ghanaian newsroom. Flexibility in work schedules to allow for full participation in the fellowship is essential.
Journalists based in regions outside Accra are encouraged to apply. Interested individuals are required to submit a letter of motivation explaining their desire to participate in the fellowship, a comprehensive CV with two referees, and a copy of their national identification.
The deadline for applications is July 25, 2023. All application documents should be sent to the email address: admin@mfwa.org. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
About MFWA and its Collaborations
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is a regional independent non-governmental organization with an extensive network of partner organizations in all 16 countries of West Africa.
As the largest and most influential media development and freedom of expression organization in the region, MFWA holds UN ECOSOC Consultative Status and has Equivalency Determination Certification with NGO Source, recognizing it as the equivalent of a public charity in the United States.
MFWA serves as the Secretariat of the Africa Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a continental network of prominent free expression and media development organizations.
Additionally, MFWA collaborates with various regional and international networks such as IFEX, AFIC, and APAI.
The organization maintains close ties with regional inter-governmental bodies like ECOWAS and frequently engages with mechanisms of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).