2025 Preview

MediAOS: fostering the local development of Beninese, Togolese and Chadian media outlets

In early 2025 CFI launched the first MediAOS initiatives. MediAOS is a framework project funded by the French development agency (Agence Française de Développement or AFD) catering to all media stakeholders in Benin, Togo and Chad. Activities include capacity building for radio stations and online media outlets in all fields (editorial, technique and management), other cross-cutting activities focussed on gender equality, and finally, calls for proposals with €2.3M in funding to support editorial initiatives by local media stakeholders and technical assistance for the regulatory bodies governing media outlets and schools of journalism.

AGILE: building resilience in independent media outlets and defending press freedom

Against a background of weakening democracy and growing threats to independent media outlets, the AGILE project, launched in late 2024, helps to build resilience in independent media outlets and promote the inclusion of marginalised communities. With EU backing in the form of a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA), this project leverages training, collaboration and innovation (AI, citizen reporting) to ensure fair access to information and to defend press freedom in the countries where it is under threat. , CFI will play a key role, supporting media outlets in risky situations and developing regional incubators to help build capacity and to help media outlets thrive, as part of a consortium including Internews Europe, Article 19, Thomson Foundation and Fojo. CFI will also support DEI initiatives in newsrooms.

Media Parity: promoting gender equality in Southern Africa 

Launched in 2024, Media Parity is a project funded by the French government (FEF) deployed in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. It builds the capacity of media outlets to produce content that factors in gender equality issues and reflects issues of specific concern for women. Implemented with the South African NGO Gender Links, it also includes a pilot initiative catering to male journalists which focusses on positive masculinity. These ateliers help them gain awareness of the role they can play in pushing back against sexual harassment, that many professional women working in media outlets in their countries are subjected to, giving them the means to identify the weak signals of harassment in their newsroom and working with them to draw up a protocol to be adopted in the cases identified.

Supporting media outlets and CSOs in Israel and Palestine

To counter the extreme polarisation of society in both Israel and Palestine, this new EU-backed project aims to strengthen the role of independent media outlets and civil society organisations (CSOs) in dialogue and reconciliation. The project provides financial backing, training courses and mentoring, especially to push back against disinformation. Digital security for these stakeholders will also be reinforced. Networking arenas will be set up to foster debate and advocacy.

Kouman: young people and media outlets in Côte d’Ivoire committed to peaceful elections

Funded by the EU, the Kouman project aims to reduce the risk of violence during the presidential and national assembly elections slated for 2025 and 2026 in Côte d’Ivoire. Swift, collective actions have been planned (with media outlets, CSOs and young people) to provide information about the issues involved in the electoral process, raise people’s awareness of the risks of violence generated by disinformation and hate speech, and incite young people to contribute to public debate and social cohesion by way of inclusive, constructive dialogue on social networks. The project includes an information campaign targeting the general public produced by Brut Afrique, the production of innovative media content for young people and a series of actions to build the capacity of community radio stations, to be combined with efforts to prevent election-related violence in neighbourhoods.

REM: Sudanese media outlets contributing to social cohesion

For the past five years, CFI has been striving alongside Sudanese outlets to promote reliable, inclusive information as an essential component of social cohesion. Following on from Aswatna and Kalimat Sudania, CFI will be launching REM (standing for Revitalising and Enhancing Media in Sudan) in 2025 to support the development of eight community radio stations, helping with organisation and providing training courses and subsidies to make sure they can thrive. Training will also be provided for journalists and content creators on new digital formats (mobile journalism and podcasts). Parallel to this, support will be provided for civil society organisations pushing back against hate speech, while encouraging collaboration with local media outlets.