To ensure Africa is at the forefront of defining and telling its own narrative to African and global audiences, the Information and Communication Directorate (ICD) of the African Union (AU) launched the AU Media Fellowship as a transformative platform to shape the African story and create a more accurate representation of Africa’s progress and opportunities using the using emerging digital technologies as a key tool for communication and engagement that will enable the continent to achieve the vision and aspirations of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The AU Media Fellowship project is supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Objectives of The AU Media Fellowship Program
Skill Development: The AU Media Fellowship (AUMF) provides a structured environment for enhancing skills and knowledge in analysis, content creation, and storytelling through training, mentorship, and hands-on experiences, enabling participants to sharpen their journalistic storytelling abilities, learn new techniques, and gain expertise in utilizing emerging technologies and digital media platforms
Networking & Collaboration: The AU Media Fellowship (AUMF) provides a platform to connect and collaborate with like-minded industry professionals and experts, content creators, government, policymakers, and key industry players
Access to Resources: The AU Media Fellowship (AUMF) provides access to technical resources, tools, and equipment, including grants, state-of-the-art technology, research materials, and platforms for publishing or broadcasting of work developed during the course of the program.
Eligibility
All applicants must be African Citizens.
The fellowship is open to media professionals, journalists, and thematic content creators (bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, etc.).
The minimum age is 25; there is no maximum age limit.
All applicants must have a minimum of 6 years of work experience.
All applicants should have demonstrated talent and be actively involved in innovative media with a demonstrable impact-driven track record.
All applicants must speak, read and write fluently in any of the 6 AU languages in order to fully participate in and benefit from the fellowship.
All applicants for AU Media Fellowship must be experienced professionals working in the media industry or in a related field including content creation.
Applicants who are journalists must be affiliated with a media organization, or if working as a freelance journalist must be accredited by the national governing authority.
However, all applicants must provide a reference letter or endorsement from a senior editor/ or project manager, or professional in the same industry.
With their application, the applicants confirm their willingness to report on African Union events and themes, as well as their availability to be interviewed about the fellowship by internal and international partners.
All applicants must confirm their willingness to participate in events and workshops for the duration of the fellowship.
The applicant who is already undertaking any other fellowship will not be eligible to apply for this fellowship.
Applicants must meet all criteria for eligibility for international travel from their originating country, including but not limited to:
Having a valid passport at least until December 2025.
Having the necessary personal documentation required for visa applications.
Benefits
Certified training from renowned partners and media training institutions
Grants that support the creation of in-depth stories and e-books that compile all of these stories.
Access to AU senior leadership, high-level AU meetings, summits, and events; as well as policymakers and AU development partners
Exclusive Masterclass with industry professionals
Support from experienced mentors and institutions and participation in key events with media industry professionals.
International and continental study tours
Access to AU Media Fellowship Alumni network
Thematic Tracks
Gender and Women Empowerment – Promoting efforts towards the Economic and Financial Inclusion of African Women (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6, AU Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy (GEWE); the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), and the AU Constitutive Act.
Advancing Trade, Investment, and Industrialisation– Promoting efforts towards Africa’s Economic integration. This is in line with the 2023 AU theme of the year – Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation. (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 1 and 2) other key documents
Agricultural development, Environmental Protection, and Climate action – Advancing agriculture and agri-business through sustainable environment management for a sustainable and resilient future. (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 1)
Culture and Creative Industries & Sports Development: Africa, through Agenda 2063, envisions vibrant cultural expressions, thriving creative industries, and enhanced sports infrastructure for sustainable development. (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 5)
Governance & Democracy – Africa is actively promoting good governance through transparency, accountability, rule of law, and strengthening democratic institutions for inclusive and sustainable development. (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 2, 3, and 4)
Transforming Africa through Digital Innovation – Africa’s Digital transformation Strategy – Positioning Africa for the 4th Industrial Revolution (Focus on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection), Digital inclusion, and other data policy frameworks (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 1)
Regional Integration and Economic Cooperation- Advancing a unified Africa through free movement, fostering economic collaboration and sustainable development for shared prosperity. (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 2 and 7)
Key Activities During The AU Media Fellowship
The Fellowship is a 12-month-long program, scheduled to begin in August 2023.
August – December 2023: Following final selection and acceptance into the program, Fellows will attend virtual induction sessions, onboarding training and embark on the first study tour. During this period the Fellows are expected to work on their pitch stories and also participate in mandatory online certified training (Self-selection) and master classes from industry experts.
January – March 2024: Fellows will attend the second study tour as well as benefit from in-person training and one-on-one mentorship and also participate in mandatory online certified training (Self-selection) and master classes from industry experts. Fellows will also be invited to attend the Annual African Union Summit in February 2024 where they can have exclusive access to engage with senior African leadership and invited international participants attending the AU Summit.
April – June 2024: Fellows will embark on the final study tour and continue to benefit from training and best practice sessions.
July 2024: Fellows will present final stories, receive certificates and participate in closing ceremonies/sessions
Application
The applicant should submit an expression of interest with the following documents:
Completed application form (including a copy of valid travel document)
Curriculum Vitae
Two work samples of any medium in English or with English translations
Proposed pitch story (in line with the Agenda 2063 thematic tracks) and using the application template.
A letter of endorsement from the employer if a full-time employee, or a letter of endorsement from an editor if a freelance journalist/visual journalist; reference letter from a senior industry expert for content creators
For employed journalists’ letter from the editor to guarantee publication of news stories indicating that the stories will be published as part of AU Media Fellowship (AUMF);
Freelance journalists and content creators see the section in the application template relating to the guarantee of publishing of works and content produced
