Paving the way for investigative journalism in West Africa

The peer-to-peer investigative journalism network PAIR is thriving in West African countries, creating a network across borders

Rapid growth in the investigative network PAIR (Programme for African Investigative Reporting), has taken place across the programme’s pilot countries of Togo, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Launched in September 2009, PAIR, supported by IMS, has endeavored to provide greater oversight over human rights, good governance and stakeholder groups by supporting investigative journalism in these countries.

Major advances

Twenty investigations have been approved by the PAIR network and nine have already been published or broadcast in local media and on the PAIR website. Journalists have used the training and support to cover stories such as prostitution in Ghana, contaminated water in Benin and birth defects in the cotton fields of Burkina Faso.

PAIR also works to build the capacity of media houses and enhance the professional skills of individual journalists. To this end, partners from the participating countries have had the opportunity to attend five national seminars, two regional seminars and one global conference in Geneva. At these events, the journalists are able to learn new skills, present their investigative work and establish contact with a wide network of investigative journalists.

About PAIR

The five West African pilot countries, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, were chosen for the programme because of an expressed demand for higher quality and greater quantity of investigative reports. PAIR works to strengthen investigative journalism in these countries by providing journalists with advice, coaching and funding of individual investigations in their home country.