Summary: the GI-TOC Capacity Building & Mentorship Programme aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of West African investigative journalists who report on transnational organized crime, especially on human trafficking, IUU fishing, and forestry crimes also seeks to increase the impact of their reporting on public awareness and policymaking in the region and supported by the U.S. Department of State and delivered by the GI-TOC in partnership with Poseidon and CMICS
– Application requirements:
– Be based in one of the focus countries: The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mauritania, or Cape Verde
– Have experience of working closely with communities in that country
– Have demonstrated experience and skills in investigative journalism
– Have previous, evidenced experience working on, and publishing investigative journalism articles regarding, transnational organized crime
– Fellowship benefits:
– One virtual capacity building session providing the foundational basis for analysing transnational organized crime
– A five-day in-person workshop in Dakar between 15-19 April 2024, where experts will deliver sessions on IUU fishing, forestry crimes, trafficking in persons, and investigative journalism skills
– The opportunity to apply for a six-month mentorship programme, which includes a USD 3 000 grant, and mentorship by an expert in the field relevant to the investigative story, to develop an investigative journalism story focusing on one of IUU fishing, forestry crimes, or trafficking in persons
– The opportunity to become part of a network of journalists exchanging on IUU fishing, forestry crimes, and trafficking in persons
– Fellowship type:
The programme is a fellowship type, which means that the journalists will receive support and guidance from the GI-TOC and its partners throughout the programme
– Award Fellowships:
The programme will award fellowships to the five journalists who will be selected for the mentorship programme, based on the quality and relevance of their investigative story proposals