Lagos, Nigeria – 3 September 2025 – African Women in Media (AWiM) has concluded the TRAKD Project with support from UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). The project focused on equipping African journalists with the tools and skills to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV) and to apply ethical use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms.
The initiative ran from December 2024 to August 2025. It built directly on the Kigali Declaration on the Elimination of Violence in and through the Media by 2034. By the end of the project, the number of organisations signing on to the declaration rose from 70 to 106.
Training and Tools
Thirty-three journalists, editors, and content creators from more than 20 African countries took part in a seven-week blended training. Women made up 90 percent of participants. The training combined technical skills with practical newsroom tools such as Ethical Reporting Prompt Guides and Consent Clearance Logs.
Capstone projects developed by participants ranged from gender-aware editorial policies to newsroom playbooks for ethical AI use. These outputs are already being adapted by newsrooms across Africa.
Podcasts and Awareness Campaigns
A four-part podcast series on AI and TF-GBV recorded more than 128,000 views and 93,000 engagements. This surpassed engagement targets by a wide margin and created conversations on the links between technology, safety, and gender-based violence.
Regional awareness sessions further strengthened commitment to the Kigali Declaration. They created space for editors, policymakers, and media professionals to connect the declaration to newsroom practice.
Measurable Results
Knowledge of AI and gender-based violence among trainees rose from 41 percent at baseline to 100 percent by the end of the programme. Ethical reporting knowledge grew from 59 percent to 80 percent. Digital security practices improved from 36 percent to 80 percent.
Looking Ahead
To sustain momentum, AWiM has launched Communities of Practice linked to both the AU-CEVAWG framework and the Kigali Declaration. These spaces will support ongoing collaboration, peer learning, and policy advocacy. AWiM will also expand training, support the integration of AI ethics into editorial policies, and continue regional campaigns to promote gender-safe newsrooms.
One participant summed it up clearly: “This training changed how I approach survivor stories and AI tools. I now understand the ethical risks and how to protect against reinforcing harm.”
The TRAKD Project shows what is possible when journalism, technology, and gender justice are addressed together.
For more information about the Kigali Declaration, visit www.africanwomeninmedia.com/declaration/ or contact: Lobna Msilini { assistant@africanwomeninmedia.com}
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About African Women in Media
African Women in Media (AWiM) is a network for African women working in media industries globally. We aim to positively impact the way media functions in relation to women, and our vision is that one day African women and women working in media in Africa will have equal representation in media industries.
Visit our website: https://africanwomeninmedia.com/
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About the Kigali Declaration on the Elimination of Gender Violence in and through Media in Africa by 2034
The Kigali Declaration on the Elimination of Gender Violence in and through Media in Africa by 2034 is a 10-year action plan setting the minimum standards for media stakeholders. Established on 1 December 2023 at the African Women in Media ‘Gender and Media Violence’ Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, it aims to improve media practices, ensuring fair representation of African women and responsible reporting on gender-based violence.
About UNESCOs International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)
UNESCOs International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) is the only multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community around media development through promoting media development within developing countries, countries in transition, and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations. It provides support for media projects while seeking accord to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic press.
