Application Deadline: 9 July 2021
The Africa-China Reporting Project (ACRP) at Wits Journalism in Johannesburg and Paradigm Initiative (PIN) based in Nigeria (with offices around Africa), invite all journalists based in Nigeria to submit proposals for reporting grants and workshop participation. Successful applicants will be provided with a reporting grant of US$1,000 and will also participate in a Digital Identity Training Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria on 9-12 August 2021 to investigate issues related to digital identification, data privacy, and technology in Nigeria and West Africa. The workshop will also feature participation in PIN’s Digital Rights Academy 2021.
An estimated 500 million African citizens still have no formal online identification, although African states are now pursuing new and distinctive digital identification projects, many with an economic development agenda and others with national security goals. The private sector is also an active participant in digital identity, either as a partner of the state to deliver technology and services in support of national ID systems or in pursuit of their own commercial interests in the open marketplace. Digital profiles on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and especially WhatsApp can enable users to voluntarily self-assert their own identity outside of the state. While almost all Africans depend on these platforms for communication and increasingly commerce, very few know how those data trails will be used by other groups.
How to apply
Applications must be sent to ACRPapplications@gmail.com by no later than 9 July 2021 and should contain the following (only documents in MS Word or PDF formats will be accepted):
- Applicant CV
- Brief proposal outlining (a) story to be investigated with clear headline and explanation of story relevance and significance, (b) investigation methodology, (c) proposed publication/platform, and (d) itemised budget totalling no more than US$1,000
- List of previously published relevant reporting, if any
Please send any queries to ACRPcontact@gmail.com
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