Women remain significantly underrepresented in investigative journalism, despite the important role they play in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical reporting. To address this gap and empower more women to become leaders in investigative journalism, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has reopened applications for its Investigative Journalism Mentorship Programme for Women 2026.

Supported by the European Union through International Media Support (IMS), this prestigious 12-month hybrid mentorship programme is designed to equip young female journalists and other passionate professionals with the practical skills, mentorship, financial support, and newsroom experience needed to excel in investigative and accountability journalism.

The programme forms part of the African Media Integrity and Resilience Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening ethical journalism, combating disinformation, and promoting accountability across Ghana.

If you are a young female journalism graduate, an early-career journalist, or a professional with a passion for investigative reporting and public interest journalism, this is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills under the guidance of experienced editors and governance experts.

Application Deadline: July 4, 2026

About the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is a leading regional organization dedicated to promoting:

• Press freedom
• Freedom of expression
• Access to information
• Internet freedom
• Media development
• Good governance
• Accountability journalism

Operating across the 15 ECOWAS member states and Mauritania, MFWA works to strengthen independent journalism and empower media professionals to contribute meaningfully to democratic governance.

Through this mentorship programme, MFWA seeks to increase the participation of women in investigative journalism while promoting diversity, ethical reporting, and impactful storytelling.

Programme Overview

The Investigative Journalism Mentorship Programme is a 12-month hybrid programme that combines intensive training with long-term professional mentorship and practical newsroom experience.

Selected participants will receive hands-on guidance from experienced female editors, governance experts, and investigative journalists while working on real investigative projects.

The programme aims to nurture five female investigative journalists who will become influential voices in promoting accountability and countering disinformation in Ghana.

Programme Structure

The mentorship programme consists of two major phases.

Phase One: Residential Training

Participants will attend:

• Two months of intensive in-person residential training.
• Accommodation will be fully provided at the designated training location.

During this period, participants will build practical investigative journalism skills through workshops, coaching sessions, and hands-on learning.

Phase Two: Long-Term Mentorship

Following the residential training, participants will undertake:

• Ten months of non-residential mentorship.
• Continuous coaching from experienced female editors.
• Professional guidance from governance experts.

As part of this phase, participants will also complete:

• A six-month hybrid newsroom attachment with The Fourth Estate, MFWA’s Independent Journalism Project.

This newsroom placement provides valuable real-world investigative reporting experience.

What Participants Will Learn

The programme offers comprehensive training in several essential areas of investigative journalism, including:

• Investigative reporting techniques
• Accountability journalism
• Governance and public policy reporting
• Mobile journalism
• Fact-checking
• Multimedia storytelling
• Digital content production
• Ethical journalism
• Women’s safety in journalism

Participants will also receive mentorship designed to strengthen both technical journalism skills and professional development.

Benefits of the Programme

Successful applicants will enjoy numerous professional and financial benefits throughout the programme.

These include:

Professional Mentorship

Participants will receive:

• One-on-one mentorship
• Coaching from experienced female news editors
• Guidance from governance experts

Financial Support

The programme provides:

• Monthly stipend
• Financial support for producing investigative stories

Editorial Support

Participants will receive professional editorial guidance to produce at least:

• Four investigative or in-depth stories

Practical Experience

Selected mentees will benefit from:

• Six-month newsroom attachment
• Hands-on investigative reporting experience
• Exposure to experienced investigative journalists

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive:

• A Certificate of Honour

Who Can Apply?

The programme welcomes applications from:

• Female journalism graduates
• Early-career journalists
• Young professionals interested in accountability journalism

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine passion for investigative journalism and ethical reporting.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a female Ghanaian national.
• Be a journalism graduate, an early-career journalist, or a young professional interested in accountability journalism.
• Be available to participate fully in the programme from July 2026 to June 2027.
• Reside in one of the following regions:
  • Eastern Region
  • Central Region
  • Ashanti Region
  • Bono East Region
  • Savannah Region
  • Northern Region
  • Upper West Region

Only applicants from these eligible regions will be considered.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following:

1. A motivation letter (maximum 300 words) explaining why they should be selected.
2. Links to two published news articles (for journalists), or one published blog post (for other professionals).
3. A letter of consent from their employer (required for staff journalists).
4. A current CV including two referees.

How to Apply

Click here for more and to apply

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are submitted before the deadline.

Important Dates

Activity	Date
Applications Close	July 4, 2026
Programme Duration	July 2026 – June 2027

Why You Should Apply

The Investigative Journalism Mentorship Programme offers far more than traditional journalism training. It provides aspiring female investigative journalists with an opportunity to receive mentorship, newsroom experience, financial support, and practical investigative reporting skills that can significantly advance their careers.

Participants will gain valuable experience working alongside experienced editors and governance experts while contributing meaningful stories that promote accountability, combat disinformation, and strengthen democratic governance in Ghana.

If you are passionate about using journalism to create positive social change, this programme is an excellent opportunity to build your investigative reporting career.

For full programme details and application instructions, visit the official opportunity page:

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