Call for applications – Covering the mining sector in Uganda

The African Centre for Media Excellence, with support of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, is calling for applications from journalists and civil society organisation communication officers based in greater eastern Uganda (the area from Karamoja to Namayingo) to attend a short training programme on the mining sector. The sector is changing, with reforms being carried out across the board, but all anchored in changes to the policy and the law. To be clear, this is a training that brings together 15 reporters who cover mining or who are interested in covering the sector and communications officers who work for CSOs based in the greater eastern Uganda. We believe a combined event for the two target groups will provide a valuable opportunity for networking, knowledge-sharing, and partnership-creation for mutual benefit.

The purpose is to increase the quality and quantity of reporting and communications advocacy on Uganda’s mining sector as a way to contribute toward better oversight and transparency.

The programme is divided into two main related events to be held two weeks apart: a five-day in-class training workshop in Kampala; and a four-day study tour of mining areas in eastern Uganda. Throughout, participants will discuss the mining value chain, Uganda’s mining policy and legislative framework, and the impact of mining on community livelihoods/benefits-sharing. The fully residential programme will introduce participants to new knowledge on Uganda’s mining sector, and new investigative and analytical reporting skills to enhance journalistic reporting and CSO public communications. This will be augmented by mentorship,reporting grants, access to expert sources, use of data, and innovative use of digital and online databases. The programme will be interactive, practical, and participant-driven.Participants will leave with a clear return-to-work action plan ready for implementation. Selected participants will be fully sponsored and required to commit to and complete all aspects of the programme before, during, and after.

• Venue: Kampala
• Date: 15—19 March 2021 (for Kampala leg)
• Target group: Journalists & CSO communications officers operating in the area running from Karamoja to Namayingo
• Number of participants: 15 (women are particularly encouraged to apply)

What to Do if Interested

Send an email to training@acme-ug.org by 27 February 2021.

Provide the following information in your email:

1. Your full name.
2. Your phone number.
3. Name and address (including website)of your media house or CSO.
4. Name, email, and phone number of your supervisor who will approve your participation in the training.
5. A one-page detailed write-up of your professional profile. For journalists: this should include, among other elements, how long you have worked as a journalist, areas you have reported on, and how you think attending this training will benefit your career. For CSO communications officers: this should include, among other elements, how long you have worked as a communications specialist, communications campaigns you have worked on, and how you think attending this training will benefit your career.
6. Story Samples (for the journalists: Include in your email up to three samples of your stories on oil, gas and mining. If you have not reported on these issues, provide story samples on other topics you have covered. Samples may be submitted as online links or attached as scanned copies or audio and video files.)

For inquiries write to training@acme-ug.org