Call for Application: 2025 MFWA Story Production Grants

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is inviting applications from journalists in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo to apply for story grants to produce quality indepth and impactful stories on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods and Services.

The story grants form part of the support being extended to journalists in the four target countries (Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo) to produce impactful stories under the second phase of its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Journalism Fellowship. The application is open to all journalists in the four countries, including the current DPI Fellows, DPI Journalism Fellowship Alumni and all journalists irrespective of media genre.

The application for story production grants is open to past and present DPI Journalism Fellows from Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.

• Table of Content
• About Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
• Story Production Grants
• Aim and Benefits of Story Production Grants
• Requirements for Story Production Grants Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Story Production Grants
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

The MFWA is a regional independent non-governmental organisation with a network of national partner organisations in all 16 countries in West Africa. It is the biggest and most influential media development and freedom of expression organisation in the region with UN ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) Consultative Status and Observer Status with the African Commission of Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR). The MFWA also has Equivalency Determination Certification with NGOSource that certifies the organisation as being the equivalent of a public charity in the United States.... continue reading

Story Production Grants

Aim and Benefits of Story Production Grants

On the average, each story shall be entitled to an amount of USD300. The amount may be more or less depending on the story and its anticipated impact.

Requirements for Story Production Grants Qualification

• Must be a journalist working in one of the four project countries – Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo
• Must have a story idea on DPI/DPGs that have the potential to improve awareness; spark public and policy debates; and/or result in actions; statements or commitments from relevant stakeholders.
• Must have a track record of producing impactful stories
• Must have a letter of support from the journalist’s media house confirming the media outlet’s agreement to publish the stories that will be produced from the story grant

Interview date, Process and Venue for Story Production Grants

Areas of Interest

The DPI/DPGs stories that will qualify for grants must cover any of the areas outlined below:

• Educational/sensitization stories or documentaries about DPI/DPGs and their importance
• DPI and instant payment systems
• Collaboration between digital payment platforms and central banks – platforms, successes, challenges areas of improvement
• DPI/DPGs and issues of data protection, cybersecurity and fraud especially in digital payment sector
• How DPI/DPGs are facilitating financial inclusion
• DPI and mobile money – deployment, rollout, inclusions, challenges and related issues
• Country-level comparative analyses about DPI/DPGs rollout – fees, successes, challenges, lessons, areas of collaboration, etc.
• Implications of taxes on instant payment systems and implication on financial inclusion
• Data exchange platforms and security issues
• Implementation of inclusion and safeguards in DPI/DPG deployment
• Demonstration of DPI/DPGs progress in the respective countries through case studies
• Educational/sensitization stories about the Universal Safeguards Framework
• Showcasing the economic value in the deployment of DPI/DPGs
• Procurement issues around DPI
• Other DPI/DPGs issues not mentioned above

Story Format

Stories can be in the form of print (newspapers and online) and/or broadcast (radio or television). Documentaries are encouraged.

Check also:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to Study in UK 2027/2028
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Africans 2027 (Fully Funded to USA)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Share your story pitch(es) on this form. The pitch must provide an idea about the topic and the story, the approach, possible sources for the story, and most importantly, the expected impact.
• Provide a budget for the story production with some details about the budget items
• Upload a signed consent letter from your media house
• Confirm your willingness to work with the DPI Journalism Fellowship Editors on your story
• Submit your application

Application timeline

Applications will be assessed on rolling basis. Timeline for first set of grants: March 20, 2025.

For more details, visit MFWA website.