The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has launched a health journalism fellowship.
The fellowship will empower African journalists to produce compelling, evidence-based public health stories that inform, engage, and drive policy dialogue.
According Africa CDC, this introduces a dedicated health journalism track under the prestigious African Union Media Fellowship (AUMF).
The flagship initiative supports media professionals and content creators to tell development-focused stories aligned with African Union priorities.
The priorities include governance, peace and security, migration, climate action, and digital innovation.
The fellowship enjoys World Bank’s support and focuses on building media capacity and strengthening Africa’s voice on health security.
The fellowship will support five journalists across Africa CDC’s Regional Coordinating Centres.
Fellows will go through a dynamic programme of mentorship, collaborative learning, and field engagement.
Margaret Edwin, Director of Communication and Public Information at Africa CDC.Africa CDC noted that Africa is navigating multiple health priorities.
This ranges from rising non-communicable diseases to re-emerging outbreaks and persistent gaps in health workforce financing.
“We need a new generation of storytellers who can unpack these challenges with depth, accuracy and empathy,”
Filling critical gap
“This fellowship fills a critical gap in how public health is reported and understood across African Union Member States.”
According to her, the fellowship will also empower journalists to elevate Africa’s voice in shaping its own health future.”
The inaugural 2025 cohort of fellows will work closely with Africa CDC to explore urgent public health topics.
These include how lessons learned from COVID-19, mpox, Ebola, Marburg, and other health emergencies are shaping current strategies and preparedness plans.
Fellows will examine the role of Africa CDC and its partnerships in building robust, agile, and inclusive health systems.
The will also unpack the state of vaccine development, distribution, and equity across the continent.
The fellows will equally a spotlight on local manufacturing and regional supply chains.
The journalists will equally explore how digital tools, laboratory networks, and data-driven systems are revolutionizing disease detection, response, and public trust.
Over the course of the 16-month fellowship, the selected journalists will be mentored by leading health experts.
They will also gain access to exclusive resources to strengthen their reporting and amplify Africa’s health priorities.
Network of professionals
The health fellows will join a continental network of media professionals under the broader AU Media Fellowship programme.
They will benefit from workshops, field visits, editorial guidance, and a learning tour of key global institutions, coordinated with the EU Delegation to the African Union and other partners.
The AU Media Fellowship prioritizes high-impact content, alignment with AU objectives, and expanded outreach, ensuring the programme remains sustainable, well anchored, and a powerful driver of storytelling for Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The fellowship is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the European Union Delegation to the African Union, alongside a broad coalition of African and international media, academic, and policy institutions.
Through the health journalism track, Africa CDC is reinforcing the African Union’s commitment to amplify African voices in shaping the continent’s health future.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://aumf.au.int/application. The call for applications is now open and will close on 14 August 2025.
