Applications are now open for the Thomson Reuters Foundation Reporting on Illicit Finance in Africa 2019. Thomson Reuters Foundation, in partnership with the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, is looking for journalists based anywhere in Africa who are motivated to understand how their country could be losing money via illicit means.

Moreover, the Wealth of Nations is an award-winning programme run by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A wealth of Nations is a long-term engagement, and journalists who take part must commit to all elements of the scheme, signing an agreement to this effect. These elements include:

• The production of stories on illicit financial flows
• A mentoring support scheme that will help produce these stories
• Further, intensive training on reporting illicit finance with a workshop from 22 – 23 October 2019
• Attendance of a two-day conference related to illicit financial flows in Cape Town as part of the workshop

Benefits

• If selected, you will take part in one intensive workshop (5 days) covering illicit finance, reporting on companies, accounts and budgets, and investigative techniques. The Workshop will take place in Cape Town, South Africa.
• During the workshop, you will also attend a two-day conference related to illicit financial flows. Being at the conference will allow you access to leading experts on illicit financial flows.
• You will propose one or more story ideas that you wish to work on within the scheme – they will provide experienced journalists to help you pursue your stories right up to publication/broadcast.
• Further, you will have exclusive access to expertise through our network of illicit finance experts.
• You will also have access to story ideas and editorial advice and will be invited to share your own expertise with participants from other regions.

Eligibility

• Open to journalists with at least two years of professional experience and fluent English
• It is an advantage if you are familiar with investigative journalism, reporting on finances and/or dealing with numbers more generally, but if you have a strong motivation to learn about and understand these issues then they will consider your application. Further,  Early-career journalists are to apply
• You must be able to spend significant time working on illicit finance stories
• Both freelancers and staff journalists may apply. Journalists working for a news organization will need consent from their editor to take part. Freelancers should provide evidence that one or more media organizations will be willing to take their work
• Journalists working in any medium or multiple media are welcome to apply (print, online, radio or television)
• Further, Journalists should be based in Africa and working for one or more African media organizations
• Journalists applying must have fluent English
• Please note that if you have previously attended a Wealth of Nations programme at any point or a TRF training in the last 12 months you are not eligible for this course