Code for Africa (CfA) Incubation Programme 2021 for early-stage media startups

Application Deadline: 15 September 2021. 

Are you an early-stage startup or a young journalism organisation in Ethiopia or Kenya with a keen interest in fact-checking?

Code for Africa (CfA) is offering an intensive three-month incubation programme for early-stage media startups or young media organisations in Ethiopia and Kenya with an interest in building a fact-checking desk. Successful organisations will receive technical support, resources and assistance in amplifying or growing projects, hands-on mentoring from international experts as well as CfA’s in-house team of media professionals.  

The incubation programme is offered in partnership with DW Akademie (DWA) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

The incubation programme

The incubation programme seeks to build a diversified ecosystem of local fact-checking champions to aid in the fight against misinformation and disinformation. The programme will consist of:

1. Financial support: The chosen organisations will receive a modest grant to go towards covering eligible activities and costs. Additionally, selected staff will be considered for a fact-checking fellowship (which consists of a small grant alongside training and mentoring).
2. Technical support: CfA will offer technical support, including access to CfA technologies consisting of knowledge resources that have been developed over time such as operating manuals and internal experts, as well as operational systems that have been tried and tested in its programmes such as PesaCheck and iLAB.
3. Organisation building: The chosen organisations will receive online consultations with CfA to assist them to better understand their audience, refine their fact-checking offering and develop potential revenue models.
4. Growing reach: CfA will offer amplification/growth support, including scaling/syndication support and revenue-share co-implementation opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• The organisation must be based in Ethiopia or Kenya and registered with the relevant authorities.
• The organisation must be a start-up in its early stages of development.
• The organisation must be broadcasting or publishing content in English and/or a local language. 
• The organisation must have an existing online presence, including an actively maintained website and/or social media profiles, or a substantive commitment to establish an online presence at the beginning of the programme.
• The organisation must have internet access and internet-capable devices for participating journalists/trainees/researchers to enable them to access project resources, and undertake their digital/data journalism assignments.
• The organisation must have skilled and available editorial staff (journalists and supervising editors) or managerial  staff who are committed to participating in the time period agreed upon.
• The organisation must commit to timely and open communication from the organisation’s managers and seconded team members.
• The seconded trainees must commit to agreed upon weekly online training and task-based class assignments.
• The organisation must commit to broadcasting or publishing content produced through the programme and driving engagement on an appropriate public platform.

To apply, complete this form. 

Questions? Reach out to our team at hello@codeforafrica.org.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Code for Africa (CfA) Incubation Programme 2021