About the Citizen Journalism in Africa Programme

The Hivos/SANGONeT Civil Journalism in Africa Project aims at building the capacity of civil society organisations to use online and offline citizen journalism as a means of publication, lobby, networking and knowledge sharing with their constituencies. The focus will be on both traditional and new media. Special attention will be given to the development of sound and ethical journalistic, lobby, networking and publication skills. Supported by the European Union, the project will be implemented over the next three years.

Objectives
The overall objective is to increase outreach in local media of balanced, objective and informative reporting on the situation of targeted marginalized groups including women, which contributes to an increased involvement and participation of these groups in democratic processes on the national level.

The specific objective is to improve capacity of selected African CSOs in the field of gender, children and youth, HIV/AIDS and rural communities to use both traditional and digital media strategically and with journalistic professionalism to support democratic processes and a diverse and independent media environments.

Estimated results
1. Improved capacity of selected African CSOs including community media organisations to use media tools (edge of the net applications, traditional and digital media tools) effectively and in a journalistically sound manner.
2. Increased collaborative networking, learning and knowledge sharing between participants, training partners on the regional and the country level facilitating improved access to and higher quality of media contributions.
3. Increased presence of and access to diverse and journalistically sound content on the situation of women and other marginalized groups in the media of the target countries.

Partners

Hivos in partnership with SANGONeT believes that citizen journalism, offers a great opportunity for civil society organisations to make their voices heard.

Focus countries
The programme is working with civil society organisations in six countries. These organisations are working in the areas of women, children and youth, rural development and people living with HIV AIDS. The participating countries are: South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda.

Country Focal Points
In each participating country, two civil society organisations have been identified as Country Focal Points. In conjunction with the twelve partners, the project will mobilize the wealth of ideas, knowledge and skills.

These country focal points:
• Provide practical hands on training to local CSOs and community media organisations in their country,
• Act as the local learning and networking hub and
• Implement peer-to-peer training activities, helpdesk services, and on-the job training activities.

Participating organisations
Fahamu - South Africa
Behind the Mask - South Africa
Kubatana - Zimbabwe
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) - Zimbabwe
Copperbelt Health Education Project (CHEP) - Zambia
Women for Change - Zambia
Centro Terra Viva (CTV) - Mozambique
Civil Society Development Facility (CSDF) - Mozambique
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) - Uganda
Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiative (BROSDI - Uganda
Environcare - Tanzania
Tanzania Traditional Energy and Development (TATEDO) - Tanzania

For more information contact Hivos in Johannesburg, South Africa:
Noma Rangana Programme Manager noma@hivos.co.za
Fatima Rahiman Information Sharing Officer fatima@hivos.co.za
Sithembiso Mkhwanazi Support Officer sithembiso@hivos.co.za
Contact number: +27 11 646 5819