Media Foundation For West Africa – Promoting Freedom of Expression and Democracy in West Africa

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Empowering Media and Voices for Public Good

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

We are a regional independent non-governmental organisation with a network of national partner organisations in all 16 countries in West Africa. We exist to empower, promote and defend media and civic voices for good governance and democratic development in West Africa.

Beyond our 16 partners in the region, we collaborate with UN agencies through our ECOSOC consultative status and with ECOWAS through our formal partnership agreement. At the AU level, we have Observer Status with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR). We also belong to other global and continental networks such as IFEX, AFIC, AFEX, GFMD, and IATI.

Our priorities are:

Freedom of Expression
Tech & Digital Rights
Media for Democracy and Good Governance
Media for Peace and Social Cohesion

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Our Priorities

Freedom of Expression

Securing the enabling environment for independent journalism and activism

Tech & Digital Rights

Promoting and defending
rights online, especially
women’s rights online; and
promoting safe and
rights-respecting digital and
tech policies across the region

Media for Democracy & Good Governance

Strengthening the media to facilitate participation, responsiveness, transparency
and accountability in governance

Media for Peace & Social Cohesion

Engaging with the media to address extremism, polarisation, mis/disinformation and promote conflict prevention

Our Impact

Our support helps Nigeria’s WikkiTimes win USD 654,000 defamation suit

A lawsuit by a Saudi- based Foundation which claimed ₦1billion (USD654,028.90) in damages for alleged defamation against WikkiTimes,

Exposé by our investigative journalism project triggers reform in Ghana’s National Service Scheme

NGIJ Fellowship alumna wins continental photo story award

Ghana’s Attorney-General to prosecute 12 over $56.3m fraud after our investigative journalism project exposé

How our investigative journalism project is pushing Ghana’s leaders to comply with accountability law

From fellowship to front page: How two Sierra Leonean journalists are shaping the future of digital public infrastructure with award-winning stories

MFWA trains journalists in Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania on data storytelling

News

MFWA wins 2024 World Justice Challenge Award

News

Ghana’s President suspends multi-million-cedi contract after accountability journalism report

Senegal state agencies comply with policy on public data management after MFWA Fellow’s report

Cote d’Ivoire

Beneficiary of MFWA-CFI ‘Equal Voices’ project wins best gender and female journalist awards

News

Senegal state agencies comply with policy on public data management after MFWA Fellow’s report

Cote d’Ivoire

Beneficiary of MFWA-CFI ‘Equal Voices’ project wins best gender and female journalist awards

More Impact Stories

Issues in Focus

APPEAL FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT – THE FOURTH ESTATE JOURNALISM PROJECT

In 2021, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) launched The Fourth Estate as a non-profit, public interest

Stakeholders urged to resist rise in malicious lawsuits against journalism, activism in West Africa

It’s National Security Again! Jakpa orders The Fourth Estate’s journalists to abort interview

MFWA launches webinar series tackling polarisation in West Africa

MFWA to host webinar addressing legal threats against journalists, activists

MFWA strongly condemns assault on JoyNews’ journalist

APPEAL FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT – THE FOURTH ESTATE JOURNALISM PROJECT

NGIJ Fellows visit the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)

Prof. Kwame Karikari at 80: ‘Founding MFWA is my greatest life accomplishment’

Guinea-Bissau: 75 youths to be trained on media literacy, disinformation countermeasures

More Issues in Focus

Country Highlights

Senegal: Journalist detained on charges of defamation, insulting a foreign Head of State

“I knew this would happen sooner or later,” are the words used by journalist Doudou Coulibaly in a

Sierra Leone: Editor invited by CID over publication of story in newspaper, X

Guinea-Bissau: President Embaló refuses to answer questions about suspension of 3 Portuguese media outlets

Guinea-Bissau: Authorities suspend three Portuguese media outlets, expel journalists

Ghana: Police arrest TikTok content creators who allegedly threatened President

Ghana: Gunmen abduct journalist accused of making false claims about President

Ghana: Media regulator suspends nine radio stations

Mali: MFWA condemns conviction of journalist, demands immediate overturn of verdict

Nigeria: Niger State Governor unilaterally shuts down radio station

Senegal: Journalist and Former MP sentenced to two months in prison

Mali: Former Prime Minister arrested

Mauritania: Environmental activist arrested, detained

Burkina Faso: Activist found dead in Côte d’Ivoire jail

More Country Highlights

Latest From Our Partners

Maison de la Presse denounces opacity around junta’s re-allotment of audiovisual frequencies

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) national partner in Mali, Maison de la Presse du Mali, has

Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) gets new President

Strengthening West Africa’s media: MRCG pioneers journalism fund in Sierra Leone

Gambia Press Union challenges government over laws limiting press freedom

Gambia Press Union challenges government over laws curbing press freedom

Liberia Stands at Crossroads: CEMESP issues call to action on World Press Freedom Day

CEMESP trains journalists on post-elections reporting in Liberia

IPC builds media capacity on combating information disorder

Norbert Zongo African Prize for Investigative Journalism (PAJI-NZ)

WPFD 2023 – CEMESP calls on Liberian Gov’t to widen civic space ahead of October elections

IPC decries election-day attacks on journalists in Abuja, Rivers and Oyo

GPU trains 20 journalists on Access to Information

IDEI 2022: Gov’t must renew its commitment to freedom of expression – GPU

More Partner Highlights

Opportunies

All
Awards
Fellowships
Funding Opportunities
Grants
Journalism Calls
Trainings

Call for Applications: MFWA DPI Journalism Fellowship – Phase II (Nigeria Only)

Call for Consultancy Services: Study on journalist safety policies in Ghanaian newsrooms

Call for Applications: Capacity-building on anti-corruption and accountability through investigative journalism

Call for Musicians: Public education song on mis/disinformation and hate speech

Deadline extended: Consultant needed to develop journalist safety policy in Guinea-Bissau

Call for Application: Consultancy for Mid-Term Project Evaluation

Call for Applications: Next Generation Investigative Journalism Fellowship 2025

Call for Consultants: Videography & photography services for project documentation

Call for Consultants: Media Production Houses, Communication Experts, and Media Literacy Trainers

Call for Consultants: Development of a model safety policy for journalists in Guinea-Bissau

Call for Consultants: Analysis of ethical standards and professionalism across media platforms in Guinea-Bissau

Call for Consultants: Review, update, production and dissemination of media code of ethics in Guinea-Bissau

More Opportunities