Deadline: July 30, 2026
Applications are open for the MFWA Training Workshop 2026 on Critical Coverage of Africa-China Trade, Investment & Political Relations for Journalists in Anglophone West Africa. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in partnership with South Africa-based Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ), invites applications from journalists across Anglophone West Africa for a three-day capacity-building workshop on reporting critically on the multiple dimensions of Africa-China relations. Dubbed “Building Capacity to Cover a Complex Story – Africa and China relations”, the workshop is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana in the last quarter of 2026.
Africa has long been a site of geopolitical competition among global powers. China’s growing global influence and engagement across Africa has intensified debates around trade, infrastructure, development financing, natural resources, technology, labour, governance, and international cooperation. As global power relations continue to shift, journalists across Africa must be equipped to critically examine these developments and report on them with depth, nuance, and strong public interest perspectives grounded in African realities.
The workshop, funded by the University of Witwatersrand, therefore aims at strengthening the capacity of journalists to better understand Africa-China relations in an increasingly multipolar global setting, and the implications of these developments for African communities and development. It will offer both subject matter knowledge and journalism techniques in covering stories pertaining to Africa-China relations.
Costs
All costs related to participation in the workshop will be covered by the organisers. These include:
- A return flight ticket (economy class)
- Accommodation and Meals
- Local transportation
Story Grants
- Beyond the training, participating journalists will have the opportunity to apply for reporting grants to support the production and publication of in-depth stories on Africa-China relations and related issues. Three (3) excelling journalists may also have a fully-funded opportunity to participate in the Africa Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) scheduled for 10-12 November, 2026 in Kenya to speak to their stories.
Eligibility
Applications are invited from journalists who:
- Are based in an Anglophone West African country (ie: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia).
- Work in print, radio, television, or digital media.
- Report on areas such as politics, economy, business, trade, development, environment, extractives, infrastructure, or international affairs.
- Are available in the last quarter of 2026 (September – October) and can secure a formal permission letter from their editor to participate fully in the training workshop in Accra.
- Can produce in-depth stories upon completion of the training.
Application
Interested applicants should fill the application form. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The deadline for applications is July 30, 2026.
For more information, visit MFWA Training Workshop.
