Closing Date: 14 August 2025
Applications are now open for the AU Media Fellowship Cohort 3: Apply Now
Empowering the Media, Empowers Citizens
The African Union Media Fellowship programme empowers Africans to shape and share their own stories,told by Africans, for Africa and the world
The AU Media Fellowship 3.0 is guided by three core priorities: producing high-quality, impactful content; ensuring strong alignment with the objectives and institutional frameworks of the African Union; and expanding outreach to maximise the Fellowship’s reach and influence. By balancing these strategic areas, the Fellowship aims to remain sustainable, institutionally anchored, and scalable driving credible storytelling that supports Africa’s development agenda as outlined in Agenda 2063.
Thematic Tracks
In line with the mandates of the African Union and Africa’s development framework, Agenda 2063, the AU Media Fellowship Cohort 3 to be launched in will focus on 6 thematic tracks which cover various sectoral issues and applicants should ensure their applications are submitted in line with the theme(s) that are of their area of interest and focus under each thematic track.
1. Economic Development And Regional Integration
This theme focuses on Africa’s strategic drive towards deeper economic integration, sustainable growth, and stronger intra-African cooperation. It seeks stories that unpack the people, policies, institutions, and innovations advancing the continent’s vision for shared prosperity and collective self-reliance under Agenda 2063.
Story proposals should address:
- How trade, tourism, investment, and industrialisation are being advanced through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Efforts to integrate high-potential sectors such as aviation, particularly through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
- Strategies to promote integrated value chains, value addition in Africa’s commodities and mining industries, and the development of Africa’s green minerals sector.
- Initiatives promoting people-to-people integration, pan-Africanism, and human development through the Free Movement of Persons in Africa.
- Policies and initiatives supporting the financing of Africa’s development, including debt management, tax governance, enhancing the African Union’s financial autonomy, the impact of credit rating agencies, and measures to curb illicit financial flows.
- Advancing Trade, tourism, Investments, and industrialisation and promoting efforts towards Africa’s Economic integration through implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- Promoting economic integration of high potential commercial sectors such as aviation through the Single African Air transport (SAATM);
- Promoting integrated value chains, and value addition in Africa’s Commodities and Mining Industries and Africa’s Green Minerals
- Promoting people-people integration, pan Africanism and human development through Free Movement of Persons in Africa
- Financing Africa’s Development – policies on debt, tax governance, financial autonomy of the African Union, the role of credit rating agencies, managing illicit financial flows
2. Emerging Economic Sectors – Sports & Creative Industries
- The development of Africa’s sports economy, including its potential to drive economic growth, generate employment, foster youth development, boost tourism, and stimulate investment in sports infrastructure.
- The rise of Africa’s cultural and creative industries (CCIs) spanning performing and visual arts, audio-visual and multimedia production, publishing, music, gaming, interactive media, cultural heritage, architecture, and fashion with a focus on stories that advocate for increased investment and policy support to grow the CCIs into a leading economic sector for Africa’s future.
3. Agricultural Development & Environment Management
- Investment in sustainable, modern agriculture and agribusiness in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
- Initiatives promoting environmental sustainability and climate action through renewable energy, reforestation, and regional projects such as the Great Green Wall of Africa.
- The emerging potential of Africa’s Blue Economy, including sustainable use of ocean and water resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health.
4. Promoting Good Governance
- How good governance practices contribute to social and economic progress, peacebuilding, and stability.
- Initiatives that advance transparency, accountability, and the rule of law at local, national, or regional levels.
- Efforts to protect and promote human rights and strengthen democratic institutions as part of Africa’s development agenda under Agenda 2063.
5. Promoting Africa’s Public Health Systems
- Lessons learned from COVID-19, mpox, Ebola, Marburg, and other health emergencies and how they are shaping current strategies and preparedness plans
- The role of Africa CDC, national public health institutions, and partnerships in building robust, agile, and inclusive health systems.
- Unpacking the state of vaccine development, distribution, and equity across the continent — with a spotlight on local manufacturing and regional supply chains.
- Exploring how digital tools, laboratory networks, and data-driven systems are revolutionizing disease detection, response, and public trust.
6. Infrastructure, Technology & Digital Innovation
- How investment in large-scale, interconnected infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and human capital development is advancing Africa’s industrialisation and economic integration.
- Efforts to promote clean and sustainable energy solutions to power Africa’s industries and support climate-resilient growth.
- The development of Africa’s emerging space industry, including its potential to drive technological innovation, data-driven decision-making, and regional collaboration.
Eligibility
The AU Media Fellowship is committed to a fair and merit-based selection process. It is open to all African journalists and content creators who meet the following criteria:
- African Citizens:
Applicants must be citizens of an African Union member state. - Media Professionals:
Journalists, bloggers, podcasters, and digital creators, especially those with newsroom experience. - Age:
Applicants must be 25 years old or above. - Experience:
Minimum of 6 years of work in media or content creation. - Language:
Fluency in any AU official language. Working language is English. - Professional Impact:
- Demonstrated talent, innovation, and impact in media or digital content fields.
Click Here To Apply
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