CLOSED – Reporting on public sector accountability in times of emergencies

• Training dates: Course A – 3-7 August; Course B – 7 -11 September
• Slots available: 15 journalists
• Application deadline: 26 July (Expired)

The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), with support of the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda, invites applications from Ugandan journalists for a training course on Reporting Public Sector Accountability in Times of Emergencies.

The two-part course will be conducted at ACME’s premises in Kampala, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.

About the course

Journalists, by virtue of their work as society’s watchdogs, are at the centre of probing the public sector and interpreting for citizens what is happening, what is being done in their name and what is being done on their behalf. When journalists do their work well, the public can make informed demands on those with responsibility to account for their actions.

Often, however, the media do not report comprehensively or meaningfully on public affairs because they lack resources and knowledge on the functioning of the public sector. Therefore this training arms participants with knowledge on the workings of the public sector and the mechanisms that are supposed to ensure effective delivery of public services and goods for national development.. It further equips participants with the journalistic skills and techniques to more competently cover public sector accountability.

Course A will pay particular attention to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A case for training

It is with this in mind that ACME has developed a two-part course on Reporting Accountability in Times of Emergencies. The course is part of our Enhancing Media Capacity for Inclusive Development programme, which is supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Uganda.

The course aims to raise the profile of public sector accountability as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. It will also focus on increasing attention to public accountability generally in the national discourse on development through consistent media coverage.

By the end of the workshop, participants will understand and authoritatively report on:

• Covid-19 and other emergency budgeting and accountability processes;
• the policies and laws that govern the accountability sector in Uganda;
• how money is appropriated, allocated, disbursed and used by the public sector;
• Uganda’s audit and accountability institutions and processes; and
• innovations to improve public sector accountability.

How to apply

This course is open to all journalists in Uganda. Women and journalists stationed upcountry are particularly encouraged to apply.

Send an email to training@acme-ug.org that contains:

1. A letter of introduction and application to the course. The letter must include your bio data, compelling reasons on why you are interested in the course and specifics of how you intend to use the knowledge gained in your reporting.
2. Two samples of your best stories on accountability, Covid-19 or public finance.
3. A letter of support from your editorial supervisor stating that they will give you time off to attend both parts of the course in full. If you are a freelance reporter and unable to provide a letter of support, please state that this is so.

Send your application by 26 July.

Incomplete applications will be disregarded.