African Journalists - AJEOT 2022

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

The media and journalists set various agendas for legal and financial policies in different countries. However, the understanding and competence of journalists are important to set the correct tone for blockchain/cryptocurrency-based projects in Africa. The AJEOT program seeks to build the competence of African journalists by making them understand web3, blockchain solutions, dApps and DAO integrated into various policies as well as ask hard questions when engaging policymakers. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1038298/journalists-charged-to-question-and-challenge.html 

Solution in Details

AJEOT over the years has been a credible platform inviting journalists across the African countries who travel to Ghana to undertake a 3-day intensive residential training in public policy, law and ideas for economic development. https://ghanaiandemocrat.com/ajeot-2019-brought-global-scholars-to-ghana/ 

https://africanewsradio.com/index.php/fourth-ajeot-training-ends-on-a-high-note-with-participants-calling-for-more/  

The role of journalism is important to create and sustain freedom to trade and create wealth for prosperity. Democratically, Freedom of the press is enshrined in nearly all constitutional governments, and journalists as the 4th arm of government have had difficulties understanding their primary roles in shaping policies and driving agendas for change. The obvious function of journalists is to report the news; big events and small events. Some are boring but must be made interesting, more than the facts Renowned journalists go beyond. An important function is to ruffle feathers, dissect the policies of states, ask hard questions, and demand answers to enhance economic freedom for a prosperous society. People want to know what is going on- Reporting events of interest to create a free society for prosperity Will depend on the publication journalists work for and their understanding in economics, property rights, freedom to create wealth, and public policy frameworks. 

There is a complete ignoring of emerging technologies like blockchain that has the potential to create transparency, accountability for democracy and financial inclusion. Journalists in Africa have little to no competence in blockchain technology and its overwhelming impact for development. As a result, African Journalists rarely lead conversations on blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption for Africa’s development. There are fewer to no blockchain developers in Africa, laws and legislations to drive for adoption and virtually no regular conversations in the media on the transformations of blockchain. 

Through this training, journalists will be trained on the evolving blockchain technology and cryptocurrency adoption ideas and its impact to drive for policy development and legal environment for financial inclusion. The conversations initiated by journalists through their media would improve public opinion on blockchain adoption for social and economic prosperity. 

It is also important to train the African journalists to understand how they could report on blockchain innovations, cryptocurrency analysis and its integration into their reportage to enhance public debate, driving for legislations and infrastructures that create the environment for blockchain funders and asset holders to operate freely.

This is a Knowledge-based and practically provocative workshop to enhance the works of journalists in Africa to lead the conversations on blockchain for policy development and legislations that allow for blockchain innovators, asset holders and enthusiasts to operate freely.  

https://thenationonlineng.net/wanted-a-prosperous-africa-via-journalism/

Approach - The Builder Model

AJEOT uses the builder model to develop journalists’ analytical abilities to do more than just reporting. This model helps to equip journalists by developing the ability of journalists in key areas that are lacking. In Africa, most journalists set the agenda for the next election, and completely ignore the emerging future. We believe that the digital future should build readiness for journalists through training with a specific focus on blockchain, web3, and the digital future. 

The builder model helps to impact and develop individuals who participate in the training for a better understanding of policies that drive blockchain adoption. Countries in Africa have put in place barriers aimed at curtailing innovation of individuals building projects on emerging technologies like the blockchain. This approach will enlighten and develop journalists' knowledge in blockchain to create the environment that accommodates blockchain technology innovations. 

The AJEOT 2022

The African Journalist for Economic Opportunity training is an existing initiative that has developed journalists’ competence to better understand economics, fiscal policy, and policy framework to set the right tone for policy discourse. 

This time, we seek to focus on impacting journalists and build competence to set the agenda for the digital future, blockchain, and web3. This would help journalists to ask hard questions regarding legal and financial policy that seeks to curtail innovations. 

Also, AJEOT for the first time seeks to rotate the program in North, West, East, and South Africa as to scale up and develop more journalists across Africa. The proposal would focus on West Africa and subsequently rotate across the blocs in Africa. 

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

African Journalists to report on blockchain and cryptocurrency-related news and projects. Often in Africa, journalists are fed by what regulators conclude or the negative news associated with pseudo blockchain projects or scams. The solution would build the competence of journalists to understand blockchain, its operations, and the function of cryptocurrencies so as to engage meaningfully and set the tone for inclusiveness in policy discourse creating the environment for blockchain innovators to operate freely. Journalists will report on blockchain innovations, ongoing projects, awareness and create contents that set the tone to embrace legal environments for smooth operations. 

This would be helpful for blockchain projects and initiatives in Africa to become policy conversation darling for journalists who through the training would understand how blockchain technology offers quality decentralization and more democratization in every facet of our society. This would provide a better legal and financial environment to accelerate project execution with less difficulties in Africa as well as impact journalists to do their work well for the betterment of the society at large.

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

The main risk associated with the training is the cost for journalists to travel from different countries and participate in the training in Ghana. We hope to mitigate this by providing a soft grant that can cushion journalists with regards to traveling expenses.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

AJEOT is a three-day residential and intensive training for journalists. The team estimates executing the project within two months (8 weeks). The following timeline would be undertaken for successful implementation.

Planning - 1st - 2nd Week

• Start of Meeting
• Planning/Decision Making 
• Select a suitable hotel with conferences
• Selection of Facilitators/Speakers

Implementing - 3rd - 7th Week

• Opening of Journalist Training Application (Portal)
• Media Publicity 
• Selection of 30 participants in Africa
• Communicate selection and travel grant for the training
• Reading/Training Modules distributed to Selected participants 

Execution - 7th - 8th Week

• Arrival of Participants
• Commence a 3-day intensive Training Workshop
• Departure of Participants

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Budget ($)

Hotel Conference Cost - 3,000

Accommodation Cost - 6,000

Feeding - 7,000

Local Transport - $1,000

Participant Traveling Grant - 7,000

Media Publicity - $2,000

Logistics & Training Materials - 4,000

Marketing - 3,000

Team Fees - 2,000

Total - 35,000

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Peter Bismark

http://linkedin.com/in/peter-bismark-kwofie-93681486

Peter has 5 years experience as a private sector researcher and public policy subject matter expert. He is also a blockchain enthusiast and was the first Ghanaian to host a blockchain radio show in Africa. He is a consultant on business development and real estate. Peter has consistently proven to have authority in free market economics and using blockchain to enhance transparency and accountability. Due to his huge networks, he is able to put together mammoth gatherings to create awareness on current trends on technology and poverty friendly policies of the state. Peter is known in the policy space and very eloquent. Peter was a CA in Fund7 and Fund8 with most of his reviewed proposals getting funded.

https://newsghana.com.gh/journalists-charged-to-hold-duty-bearers-accountable/

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1038298/journalists-charged-to-question-and-challenge.html

https://ghananewss.com/prof-antwi-frankiln-cudjoe-teflondon-and-others-to-speak-at-ajeot-2020-in-ghana/

EBENEZER TACKIE OBLIE

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebenezer-tackie-oblie-yamusah-acim-866b4764

Ebenezer serves as the Executive Director of the Policy Research Centre-CPRC, a policy think tank based in Accra. He is also a founding member of the Ghana Growth and Development Platform, a member of the Ghana Writers Association as well as the Ghana Readers Association. He also acts as the CEO of Calogeron Ghana Limited, a small construction and technical service company in Accra.

As a Development Activist, he has written numerous articles on development policy and has contributed to a number of discussion papers, current issue notes (CIN) and policy briefs. Prior to establishing the CPRC, He founded the National Advocates against Corruption and Injustice (NAACAI), an anti-corruption organization in Ghana. He has collaborated with other reputable think tanks such as Imani Ghana, Institute of Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI) and Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) on electoral reforms in Ghana. He has appeared on many reputable radio and television stations such as Joy Tv to discuss policy issues in Ghana.

He also works with other reputable organisations to train the next generation of leaders and libertarians in Africa. As policy reconnoiter, his major concern is the promotion of the ideals of the free market, championing human rights and Democracy in Ghana and in Africa and promoting the tenets of libertarianism.

Ebenezer Tackie Oblie is also chartered marketer with over 10 years’ managerial positions in sales, marketing, team leadership, Branding and strategy. He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in the Unite Kingdom. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Corporate Governance from the International Organization for Capacity Building, London.

Nathaniel Dwamena

He has a B. A (Hons) in Geography and Rural Development. He is a researcher and has more than seven years of experience in think tank development, non-profit management, and business development consulting. He was part of the team contracted by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Ghana) to conduct a study on red tape for doing business in Ghana. He successfully completed think tank training in Nigeria and project management training in Kenya, which aided in his successful graduation from the Atlas Leadership Academy, Atlas Network (USA). He is a member of Wada and has been involved in Catalyst since Fund 7 and funded proposer in Fund 8

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-dwamena-02578a127/?originalSubdomain=gh

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

If funded, in the long run, we would request additional support. However, in the short term, it is highly unlikely to request further funding. Also AJEOT seeks to leave on several partners to support/fund the project and make it a success.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

AJEOT training has speakers presenting modules designed to sharpen the skills of journalists for policy discourse framework and blockchain integration. The following indicators would be helpful to track progress;

• Number of Applications received 
• Number of media mentionings 
• Number of Participants
• Number of Journalists Completing Training Successfully
• Number of Initiatives Undertaken by Journalists After Training for legislation and policy discourse 
• Number of publications on Blockchain innovation projects

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

Our vision for success is the impact the training makes on journalists and the number of initiatives they undertake that contribute to making the world freer and building preparedness for blockchain and a digital future. This includes but not limited to; initiating policy discourse on blockchain adoption through content and Op-Ed, hosting blockchain technology radio and TV shows, dedicating columns for blockchain discussions, generating blockchain news, engaging policymakers on blockchain for development, Opinion polls on blockchain and Cryptocurrencies, starting Africa Blockchain Magazines, etc

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

This is entirely a new proposal