The project will provide funding, consultations and training to newspaper companies in Sub-Saharan Africa that are looking to move into mobile or expand their existing mobile news services.
The Mobile News Grants and Training Scheme is part of WAN-IFRA's larger Mobile News for Africa project, which is aimed at implementing innovative content production and delivery models through new technologies, accompanied with new business models for newspapers in emerging markets and developing democracies. Mobile News for Africa is part of a partnership between WAN-IFRA and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to advance media development and press freedom worldwide.
The grant and training scheme follows a successful pilot project at the Observer newspaper in Uganda and the soon-to-be published handbook, Mobile Media Services At Sub-Saharan African Newspapers: A Guide To Implementing Mobile News And Mobile Business, co-published by WAN-IFRA and the African Media Initiative.
WAN-IFRA invites newspapers that are launching or expanding their mobile services to apply for small-scale technical assistance grants of up to €5000 and will include training and consultancy from African and international experts on mobile web, mobile advertising, mobile election monitoring and many other topics.
Applications will only be accepted from newspapers; applicants may work in partnership with other media outlets or NGOs, but projects must be led by the newspaper.
