As part of the IWMF’s partnership with Malaria No More, four journalists will travel to Rwanda from September 16-27, 2019 (11 days total: 9 days in country and 1 travel day each way) for a reporting fellowship on Rwanda’s efforts to end malaria, the impact U.S. investments in supporting those efforts are having on Rwandan women and girls, and the role that women are playing in leading the fight against malaria.
Fellows will participate in high-level briefings from experts at the outset of the trip to inform their reporting, and will have the opportunity to gain access to a variety of sources and sites related to the reporting trip theme, to network with other journalists, and to report collaboratively with their peers.
Travel for reporting will be within a three-hour radius of Kigali. The IWMF arranges travel and in-country logistics for all fellows. The IWMF also covers fellowship-related costs within the framework of the reporting trip including travel, visa fees, lodging, meals and fixers/interpreters, unless a selected journalist’s news organization wishes to assume these costs. Fellows living outside the U.S. are responsible for procuring all necessary visas for which they will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Application Instructions: The IWMF’s 2019 Rwanda Reporting Fellowship is open to individuals. Each applicant must provide their personal information and work samples, in addition to submitting a statement of interest, story plans, plans for publication and letter of support.
We are accepting applications from May 30, 2019 until June 23, 2019 at 11:59 EST
The fight against malaria
Malaria is one of oldest and deadliest diseases, devastating families, communities, and countries for millennia. Women and children are disproportionately impacted by this preventable, treatable disease.
Since 2000, sustained efforts by the U.S. and partner governments, non-profit organizations and individuals saved 7 million lives and prevented more than 1 billion cases, representing one of the greatest public health success stories of our time.
Despite tremendous gains, malaria cases in the highest burden countries increased in 2016 and 2017, according to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2018, putting progress to-date at risk. Today, more than half the world’s population is at risk of malaria, and a child dies every two minutes from this preventable disease.
Yet, we have the tools to end malaria. Continuing U.S. leadership and increasing investments by malaria-affected and donor countries to end malaria will save millions more lives, mostly pregnant women and children in Africa, and unlock immeasurable human potential.
Rwanda and malaria
Between 2000 and 2011, Rwanda reduced malaria cases by more than 80%. Like many other high malaria burden countries in Africa, malaria cases in Rwanda started rising again in 2012, but then Rwanda reversed course beginning in 2016. According to the WHO, Rwanda was one of only 4 countries globally that succeeded in driving down malaria cases between 2016 and 2017. For the first time since 2011, Rwanda reported a reduction in cases, with 430,000 fewer cases reported in 2017 compared with 2016, while most other high burden countries continued to see case increases.
With more than 12 million people and surrounded by countries carrying the highest burdens of malaria, Rwandans, from President Paul Kagame to community health workers, are striving to make Rwanda malaria-free. To do this, they’re working through an extensive network of public sector health centers and community health workers, and in close collaboration with partners, such as the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Much of Rwanda’s recent decrease in malaria cases can be attributed to community-level actions, support from an array of local and international partners, including PMI and the Global Fund, countrywide scale up of bed net distribution and vector control in high burden districts.
Eliminating malaria has many positive impacts on a country’s health and economy, women’s empowerment and professional opportunities, girls’ education, health systems strengthening, global health security and more. Ending malaria means more women and girls unlocking their full potential. With the world’s first female majority parliament, Rwanda is a leader in seeking gender equality. There are many stories to tell in Rwanda about the challenges and successes of fighting malaria to create positive impact for women and girls.
Apply by June 23, 2019 at 11:59 EST.
Eligibility Criteria All fellowship applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Affiliated or freelance women-identifying journalists with three (3) or more years of professional experience working in news media. Internships do not count toward professional experience.
We encourage all journalists who identify as women, which includes trans women, and non-binary people of all nationalities to apply
Non-native English speakers must have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the program.
Applicant must be able to show proof of interest from an editor or have a proven track record of publication in prominent media outlets.
About the IWMF
Founded in 1990, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, reporting opportunities and funding avenues specifically for female journalists. We are making more women’s bylines possible and work tirelessly to ensure a greater diversity of voices represented in the news industry worldwide.
About MNM
Malaria No More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. More than a decade into our mission, our work has contributed to historic progress toward this goal. Now, we’re mobilizing the political commitment, funding, and innovation required achieving what would be one of the greatest humanitarian accomplishments – ending malaria within our generation.
For more information https://iwmf.submittable.com/submit/141489/2019-rwanda-iwmf-malaria-no-more-reporting-trip-2019