Africa Fact-checking fellowship dubbed #AFF was designed as follow up and to succeed #FactsMatter237 fellowship which ran in late 2019. #FactsMatter237 was aimed at monitoring and mapping viral trends on social media related to the key thematic issues in Cameroon which has been the base of #AFF Cameroon.

In our pilot program, our fellows published more than 12 fact-checking reports on various issues in Cameroon, including a notable report by Frank William Batchou which was cited by the US embassy in Cameroon. After the success of the #FactsMatter fellowship and listening to feedback from various partners and fellows we opted to rebrand the program to Africa Fact-checking fellowship that would cover the whole of Africa. The new changes include the extension of the fellowship duration from two months to three months, the new program will also feature an enhanced program with more practical sessions and lessons by guest experts from various organizations.

This fellowship is an initiative by #defyhatenow in partnership Data Cameroon which aims at promoting fact-checking, data journalism, and digital rights among journalists, bloggers, and content creators in Africa. The three-month program is geared towards providing fellows with the skill sets and tools needed to tackle the current misinformation challenges in their countries of operation.

The program is based on a blended learning model that utilizes webinars, practical lessons, peer learning, and practical field assignments. Fellows will gain access to a rich set of tools and online resources as well as a network of experts and professionals from across the globe. This methodology of the fellowship requires fellows to have good and relevant experience working in the areas of media, policy, activism, youth engagement, media, and digital rights.

To know more please visit the #AFFCameroon website here.