WanaData, a pan-African network of 440+ women data scientists, journalists, and technologists, offers a series of data fellowships and micro-grants to data scientists, journalists, technologists, epidemiologists, and Wikipedian in Residence seeking to work on issues around Covid-19 vaccination and roll out across Africa.
The fellowship programme, Code for Africa’s Outbreak initiative, seeks to improve data-driven decision-making by providing a set of interactive tools and actionable insights into epidemiological factors, healthcare system factors, demographic vulnerability, and access to water and other essential services that impact the vaccine roll-out. This phase of the initiative aims to build on Outbreak’s initial success, which led to the publication of 20+ stories with the support of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. The initiative can now count on breakthrough partnerships with WHO, AIRA, African CDC, and national statistics agencies in Nigeria and Senegal, which will provide new data on vaccine response and the status of the roll-out campaigns in the continent.
The programme will provide funding to fellows to work on outstanding stories and in-depth analyses around Covid-19 vaccination and roll out across Africa while leveraging on specific digital tools with support and mentorship from Code for Africa’s team across the continent. In addition, the fellows will produce, verify and publish a series of stories on Covid-19 vaccination campaigns across key African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, and Cameroon.
The Fellowship Opportunities Lined up are as follows:
- Wikipedian in Residence (WiR) Fellowship: This opportunity is for members of Wikimedia chapters across the continent with at least one year of track-record working as a Wikipedia contributor/editor with extensive experience supporting organizations to edit and upload publications, datasets, and other materials onto Wikipedia/Wikidata. The WiR must be fluent in French and based in an African country, preferably in Senegal or Cameroon. The fellow shall work with CfA’s Knowledge team, WanaData fellows, and PesaCheck team to create, edit and upload Covid-19 datasets, vaccination plans, and articles debunking Africa-specific Covid-19 misinformation on Wikipedia.
Selected WiR fellows will have the opportunity to:
- Be part of the team that pioneers and spearheads the liberation of Covid-19 vaccination datasets in the continent to empower decision-makers with information for key public response to the pandemic.
- Champion the population of Wikipedia with stories debunking African-specific Covid-19 misinformation.
Complete this form to apply for the WiR fellowship.
2. WanaData Journalism Fellowships: This opportunity is for established journalists or epidemiologists or digital storytellers (such as a blogger or social media content creator) with a minimum one year proven track record in health journalism and reporting. Applicants must be based in either Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal or Cameroon, and must be fluent in either English or French. Selected fellows are expected to have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection to benefit from the digital mentorship and electronic resources.
Selected fellows will have the opportunity and access to:
- Win story grants for in-depth analysis and original reporting on issues relating to COVID-19 using data tools.
- A suite of digital multimedia tools and locally relevant data solutions to help you produce insightful investigative data-driven journalism, supported by interactive infographics.
- One-on-one mentorship with a specialist and veteran health editor/journalist, along with technical support from a team of data scientists and infographic designers.
- Support with syndicating your work in Africa and around the world to help amplify the reach and impact of your stories.
- An opportunity to network and collaborate with other African journalists interested in data-driven investigative projects.
Complete this form to apply for the WanaData fellowship.
Please note that the deadline for application is 30 August 2021.
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About WanaData
WanaData is a pan-African network of women data scientists, journalists, and technologists working to change the digital landscape by producing and promoting data-driven projects while applying digital technologies in storytelling. Founded in 2017 as an initiative of Code for Africa, a pan-African impact accelerator, the network is now in nine cities on the continent, with 90 women using journalism, technology, and data science for social good.
The primary aim of WanaData is to turbo boost networks of African women by deepening their expertise in tech, data science, and journalism and connecting them with experts and thought leaders from the continent and beyond. It also amplifies women’s voices and provides opportunities to fast-track their careers.
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