Women Data Journalists are Reshaping Africa’s Story and Their Own Careers

By: Irene Wangui | 02/06/2020
In just three years, the WanaData network has grown to include nearly 100 journalists and data experts across six countries.

A growing network of African women journalists and data experts is leading data-driven projects that are elevating female voices and shedding light on under-reported stories. The pan-African network, known as WanaData Africa, is changing the continent’s digital media landscape by reshaping the careers of its members, redefining them as newsroom innovators.

WanaData, which means “Daughters of Data” in Swahili, has grown in just three years to include nearly 100 women journalists and data experts across six countries. Members of the network — launched in 2017 in Nigeria with guidance from an ICFJ Knight Fellow — have collectively published more than 100 stories, including cross-border projects. 

The network recently launched Trafficking Africa, for example, a transnational reporting project that will explore the national and international dimensions of human trafficking. Other cross-border projects include BornPerfect, which highlights stories of those affected by female genital mutilation; and GenderGap, a project that focuses gender inequality in income, property rights and education. 

WanaData is now led by Catherine Gicheru, a veteran Kenyan editor and current ICFJ Knight Fellow. Gicheru, who works with digital pioneer Code for Africa during her fellowship, oversees nine chapters in six countries. Since the first chapter was launched in Nigeria by Code for Africa and ICFJ, new chapters have been established in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Senegal.  

“WanaData has shaped up to be a powerful vehicle for collaboration and learning for women journalists who sometimes have little access to such opportunities within the newsroom,” Gicheru said. 

Fortified with valuable data skills, the women are producing coverage that is garnering widespread attention and propelling their careers forward.

The network, led by an ICFJ Knight Fellow, offers training, reporting grants and mentorship. 

Vanessa Offiong, a WanaData member in Nigeria was promoted to assistant editor at her newspaper, Daily Trust. “The stories I worked on funded by the WanaData Nigeria chapter gave me a boost in this regard as they brought something completely new to our newsroom,” she said. “I have learned to incorporate maps and other visual elements in my reporting.” 

Wakini Njogu, a WanaData member in Kenya, also credits the training and mentorship received through the network with helping her career. "Before joining WanaData, I had never worked with data,” she said. “In just a year's time, I have gained data scraping and visualization skills, which have opened multiple doors for me professionally.”

The network offers training, reporting grants and mentorship. WanaData meet-ups are held monthly by each chapter. Members receive editorial support as well as access to a wide range of experts and tools, such as 360° cameras, drones and digital storytelling platforms. In addition, Code for Africa experts also help members access data resources and gain technical skills to produce their stories. 

WanaData hopes to amplify women’s voices in the media by featuring more female experts, thought leaders and professionals who focus on under-reported stories that affect women, according to Gicheru. 

“Ultimately, the idea is to create a collective of women data journalists who will produce robust content that will change Africa’s story,” she said.

All photographs provided by Code for Africa.

News Category
Country/Region

Latest News

ICFJ Fellow Builds Community of Women Journalists in Post-Assad Syria

When Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown at the end of 2024, Mais Katt, a Syrian journalist who has lived in exile for 14 years, immediately returned to her country. She was one of the first journalism trainers to enter Damascus after the fall of the regime. Her goal? Help prepare women journalists to take advantage of their newfound freedoms.

ICFJ Fellow Investigates Government Failures in West Bank Refugee Camps

Aziza Nofal, a Palestinian freelance journalist and an ICFJ Jim Hoge Reporting Fellow, through her fellowship, conducted a months-long investigation into the shortage of aid for refugees living in West Bank refugee camps. When Nofal was covering Israeli incursions into West Bank refugee camps for outlets like Al Jazeera, she observed a lack of support from Palestinian authorities.

Hold the Line Coalition Welcomes Maria Ressa and Rappler's Acquittal on Foreign Ownership Case, Urges Closure of Remaining Case

A Filipino court has acquitted Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, along with five Rappler directors, in a long-standing anti-dummy case. Filed in 2018 under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the case was based on the allegation that Rappler had violated constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of media.