Africa Initiative
Program Years: 2020-25
For five years, the Solutions Journalism Network seeded and spread solutions reporting across Africa. Partnering with Nigeria Health Watch and Science Africa in Nairobi, and with funding from the Gates Foundation, SJN invested in training and connecting journalists, students and educators in East and West Africa — supporting more than 70 newsrooms, while accrediting 22 journalists as solutions journalism trainers and offering solutions training to thousands more. The Africa Initiative included workshops and partnerships across Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Liberia, The Gambia and Uganda. The goal was to create a movement that shifted the fortunes of journalism in the region; changed the narrative of Africa from problems to how people were responding to the issues being covered; and told a more complete story.
“You don’t have to wait for the government or any politician — you can help yourself. That is how we were able to end our problems in our area.”
The quote above comes from a community member in Nigeria, reflecting on the value of recent local solutions journalism stories. And that is just one of many, along with numerous examples of rapid government responses to solutions stories and dozens of journalists reconnecting with the belief that their journalism matters — all from this one initiative.
Learning from What's Working
In the final phase of the Africa Initiative, the Solutions Journalism Network conducted a qualitative evaluation with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to better understand how solutions journalism was being practiced and what outcomes were emerging.
Drawing on interviews with journalists and editors, peer reflections from a wider community of practice and audience focus groups, we discovered practical lessons on what supports sustained solutions journalism.
How Nigeria Health Watch helped bring solutions journalism to Nigeria and beyond
Discover some of the most inspiring work and takeaways from across Nigeria and the West African region as shared by project coordinators and participants.
"An Extra Mile": How Science Africa helped bring solutions journalism to Kenya and the East African region
Hear insights and impacts from the Africa Initiative in Kenya and the East African region.
