The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming road safety journalism across Africa. The collaboration will culminate in the African Road Safety Reporting Forum, a three-day gathering scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2026.

The initiative seeks to develop Africa’s first road safety reporting standards, equipping journalists, editors, and media influencers with the tools and knowledge needed to report road traffic incidents as preventable public health challenges rather than unavoidable accidents.

Applications are currently open for media professionals interested in participating in this fully funded programme, with the deadline set for 10 July 2026.

Addressing a Growing Public Health Crisis

Road traffic injuries remain one of the most pressing public health challenges globally. According to data highlighted by CJID and WHO, road crashes are now the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 years worldwide.

Africa bears a disproportionate share of this burden. While many regions have recorded declines in road traffic fatalities over the past decade, Africa remains the only WHO region where road deaths continue to increase.

Key statistics include:

Road traffic deaths in Africa increased by 17% between 2010 and 2021.
The continent accounts for nearly 20% of global road fatalities.
Africa represents only about 15% of the world’s population.
The region has the highest road traffic fatality rate globally.

Despite these alarming figures, road safety often receives limited and inadequate media attention across many African countries.

Improving Media Coverage of Road Safety

Organisers note that much of the existing media coverage focuses on individual driver error or isolated incidents, often overlooking systemic issues that contribute to road crashes.

These factors include:

Poor road infrastructure.
Weak policy implementation.
Inadequate road safety regulations.
Governance and enforcement challenges.
Limited investment in safer transport systems.

The African Road Safety Reporting Forum aims to address these reporting gaps by helping media professionals adopt evidence-based, solutions-oriented, and accountability-focused approaches to journalism.

What Participants Will Gain

The forum will bring together 20 selected editors, journalists, and media influencers from across Africa.

Participants will work directly with:

WHO technical experts.
Leading African editors.
Road safety specialists.
Public health professionals.

During the three-day programme, participants will:

Develop industry-standard road safety reporting guidelines for Africa.
Learn best practices in public health journalism.
Produce road safety stories using the newly developed standards.
Participate in collaborative editorial discussions.
Join an ongoing online working group to refine and strengthen the guidelines after the event.

Selected participants will also receive:

Full travel support.
Accommodation.
Daily stipends.
Practical training in solutions-focused reporting.
Access to regional media and public health networks.

Building Accountability Through Journalism

Speaking on the partnership, CJID Executive Director Akintunde Babatunde described road safety as one of Africa’s most urgent yet underreported public health issues.

He noted that public understanding of road crashes significantly influences policy responses and public demand for safer roads. According to Babatunde, strengthening evidence-based reporting can contribute to greater accountability and encourage policies that save lives.

The initiative also aims to foster a stronger media ecosystem capable of driving informed public conversations around transportation safety, governance, and infrastructure development.

A New Approach to Road Safety Reporting

Ifeanyi Chukwudi, who leads the implementation of the African Road Safety Reporting Initiative at CJID, emphasized the important role journalists play in shaping public perception and policy debates.

He explained that the partnership seeks to provide African journalists with the evidence, skills, and common standards needed to report road safety as a systemic issue with practical solutions rather than an inevitable occurrence.

Similarly, Matthew Taylor, a consulting project manager with the WHO, highlighted the urgency of addressing Africa’s worsening road safety crisis. He stressed that accurate and accountability-driven journalism is essential in helping the public understand both the causes of road crashes and the measures needed to prevent them.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to:

Editors.
Journalists.
Media influencers.
Public health reporters.
Road safety communicators.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants based in:

Nigeria.
Kenya.
Uganda.
Ethiopia.
South Africa.

However, strong applications from other African countries will also be considered.

Applicants should demonstrate a clear interest in:

Public health reporting.
Road safety journalism.
Investigative reporting.
Development communication.
Accountability journalism.

About CJID

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development is one of Africa’s leading media development organisations focused on strengthening democracy, accountability, and information integrity.

The organisation works across several areas, including:

Investigative journalism.
Fact-checking and verification.
Media innovation.
Elections and governance.
Digital rights and governance.
Freedom of expression.
Journalist safety.
Public health reporting.

Through its Health Reporting Project, CJID supports journalists and media organisations in producing deeper, more accurate, and impactful reporting on health and development issues across Africa.

Application Deadline

Interested applicants should submit their applications before 10 July 2026.

The African Road Safety Reporting Forum presents a unique opportunity for media professionals to help shape the future of road safety journalism on the continent while contributing to efforts aimed at reducing preventable deaths and injuries across Africa.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.