The World Press Photo Foundation, in collaboration with The Chocolonely Foundation, is launching the West Africa Visual Journalism Fellowship (WAVJF). This is a one-year fellowship for emerging visual journalists and storytellers to contribute to investigative journalism in and about West Africa.

This program is for one fellow from each of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ivory Coast, who will choose stories relevant to their communities in West Africa. These stories will go beyond detailing problems and start investigating the solutions already being embraced by local communities.

Moreover, the Journalism Fellowship aims to:

• Spot the talent: identify three individuals who are emerging visual journalists; individuals already with promising skills who would benefit from taking their storytelling to the next level.
• Unleash their potential: support the fellows in the completion of a long-term investigative project. Further, provide individual mentoring and financial support to investigate a story relevant to their communities in West Africa
• Develop new storytelling perspectives: foster new approaches to visual journalism that go beyond the repetition of problems to a focus on the solutions that local communities are already embracing
• Show their stories: assist both with connections to local media to enable regional publication, as well as promoting their final projects internationally, online and through exhibitions
• Expand their network: offer the fellows personal networking opportunities
• Create impact: enable new visual storytellers to inspire others, and continue to tell the stories that matter to them

Fully Funded West Africa Visual Journalism Fellowship

The Visual Journalism Fellowship will support emerging visual journalists and storytellers. The fellows will be individuals who already have demonstrable professional skills, possess the vision, determination, and passion for telling the stories that matter, but lack the opportunity, resources, and support to develop their storytelling abilities. The fellowship will include:

• A production grant of €5000 to undertake a journalism project of their choosing in their communities in West Africa
• Also, a grant of €5000 to help cover their living expenses while they are reporting and producing their story
• Workshops on location in Ghana with selected local international professionals to help plan the fellow’s projects as well as introduce the solutions focus to visual journalism
• Mentors who will individually guide the development, production, and post-production of the fellows’ project as well as general career advice and coaching

Who is eligible for Visual Journalism Fellowship?

The fellowship is open to emerging visual journalists who are a national of Burkina Faso, Ghana, or the Ivory Coast. Candidates can apply themselves or be nominated. Candidates need to demonstrate their ability as a professional level image-maker and their potential as a visual journalist and storyteller.

How to Apply for West Africa Visual Journalism Fellowship?

To apply for the Africa Visual Journalism Fellowship program the candidates must complete an application form. Along with the application form, the candidates should also include a:

• CV/resume
• Also, a digital portfolio of visual work

A selection committee will review all submissions and select one applicant per country. Moreover, the committee will consider gender and other dimensions of diversity.

Deadline

Candidates can apply for the West Africa Visual Journalism Fellowship before 15 October 2019. The World Press Photo Foundation will not accept the fellowship application after passing the deadline.