Road Safety Reporting Forum for African Journalists @Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO)

Apply: CJID & WHO Road Safety Reporting Forum for African Journalists (Fully Funded – Abuja 2026)

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a major initiative to strengthen how African media covers road safety. At the heart of this partnership is the African Road Safety Reporting Forum, a fully funded three-day convening scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2026.

The forum will bring together 20 selected editors, journalists, and media influencers from across Africa, particularly from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. The initiative aims to equip media professionals with the tools, knowledge, and frameworks needed to report effectively on one of the continent’s most pressing yet underreported public health challenges.

About the Programme

Road traffic crashes have become the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 globally. Africa bears a disproportionate burden of this crisis. While road fatalities have declined in many parts of the world, Africa is the only region where deaths continue to rise, increasing by 17 percent between 2010 and 2021.

Despite this alarming trend, media coverage often fails to reflect the scale and systemic nature of the issue. Many reports frame road crashes as isolated incidents rather than preventable events linked to infrastructure gaps, weak governance, and policy failures.

The African Road Safety Reporting Forum seeks to address this gap by strengthening journalism practices and promoting evidence-based, solutions-focused reporting.

What Participants Will Gain

During the three-day forum, participants will:

• Work with WHO technical experts and leading African editors
• Develop industry-standard editorial guidelines for reporting on road safety in Africa
• Produce high-quality, solutions-driven road safety stories
• Gain practical training in accountability journalism and public health reporting
• Join an ongoing online working group to refine and implement reporting standards

All selected participants will receive full sponsorship, including:

• Return travel to Abuja
• Accommodation and meals
• Daily stipends
• Access to expert-led training sessions

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open to:

• Editors, journalists, and media influencers across Africa
• Professionals with demonstrated interest in public health, road safety, or development reporting
• Candidates based in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa will be prioritized
• Strong applicants from other African countries may also be considered

Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to produce impactful stories and a commitment to improving media coverage of public health issues.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the official CJID portal:

Apply Here

Application Deadline: July 10, 2026

About CJID

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is a leading African media development organization committed to advancing democracy, accountability, and information integrity. Through its work in investigative journalism, fact-checking, media innovation, and public health reporting, CJID supports journalists and newsrooms to produce impactful, evidence-based stories.

Conclusion

The CJID and WHO Road Safety Reporting Forum presents a unique opportunity for African journalists to deepen their understanding of road safety as a public health issue and to improve the quality of reporting across the continent. By participating in this initiative, journalists will play a critical role in shaping public discourse, influencing policy, and ultimately contributing to safer roads and saving lives.