As Africa moves into the 4^th industrial revolution the ever-expanding landscape of emerging technologies provides African storytellers with new opportunities to engage audiences on the continent and promote citizen engagement in Africa’s development agenda and addressing the socio-economic and political issues affecting them.

To ensure Africa remains in the race with the rest of the world, and benefit from digital transformation, the Information and Communication Directorate of the African Union (AU) has joined forces Citizens Engagement and Innovative Data Use for Africa’s Development programme implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to create the AU Media Fellowship. The Fellowship brings together innovation and creativity to present under-reported stories that break-down stereotypes and create new narratives for the Africa We Want.

The AU Media Fellowship is designed to provide a platform for African journalists and content creators to enhance their capacity to reframe the African narrative and to ensure that stories about the continent are balanced and true to the experiences of its people.

The Director of Information and Communication Ms. Leslie Richer notes that Africa’s development framework, “Agenda 2063 recognises that media, communication and ICT sectors must be seen as holistic and inclusive, ensuring access for all members of society to technology and the knowledge economy. The AU Media Fellowship is one of the initiatives being implemented to promote developmental journalism and the use of ICT, and to build credible and sustainable media institutions. This is also in line with the AU Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030 which highlights the innovation ecosystem driven by ICT and the need to adapt if Africa is to achieve its development objectives.

The objectives of the AU Media Fellowships are to:

1. Train and build the capacity of journalists or content creators, to leverage creativity and innovation within the continent;
2. Build capacity around innovative and transformative tools in journalism and media and;
3. Create a platform for journalist to network and share best practices on the future of journalism.

The call for applications is open to journalists and media professionals from all sectors who are passionate about promoting development-focused stories using emerging technologies, through visual, written, oral and digital media. All entries are expected to go through vetting process from a team of seasoned judges. The fellows will be announced by Mid-May, the deadline for application 30^th April, 2022.

Submit your application here.

The fellowship programme will kick-off with a study tour, and capacity building workshops. The 15 selected fellows will benefit from direct access to various AU leaders, and have the opportunity for on-the-ground reporting on the AU’s work around the Africa's Agenda 2063 Flagship Projects.

This program is being led by the African Union and implemented through the support of the German Ministry for International Cooperation (BMZ) and implemented through a mutually reinforcing partnership with GIZ-AU.

Visit our website to find out more about the – https://au.int/en/newsevents/20220418/call-applications-open-inaugural-au-media-fellowship

Media contact:

Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou I Head of Information Division, Information and Communication Directorate I African Union Commission I Tel: +251 911 3611 85 I E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ms. Faith Adhiambo I Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 I Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission I Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate I African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org

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