Rachelle Some, aspiring investigative journalist in Burkina Faso. Photo: Helene Chéret/FUJ

The Programme for African Investigative Reporting (PAIR) is a peer-to-peer programme which supports and develops investigative journalism in Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso

The PAIR model has been developed by International Media Support and the Danish Association of Investigative Journalism (FUJ) and is carried out in cooperation with Media Foundation of West Africa. The programme will run from 1 September 2009 - 1 September 2012. PAIR is inspired by SCOOP, a network for supporting investigative journalism in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

Visit PAIR's website here.

What does PAIR do

PAIR works to enhance the professional skills and knowledge of the participating journalists and media houses. The aim is to establish support structures for investigative reporting in five pilot countries: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso - through advice, coaching and funding of investigations. With support from PAIR, the goal is for eleven to twenty-one national investigations to be published/broadcast per country. Knowledge exchange and cooperation between journalists in the five pilot countries and Denmark is also a key component of the programme.

The origin of PAIR

In 2007, a number of African journalists approached the Danish Association for Investigative Journalism (FUJ) to inquire about an African version of SCOOP, a support network run by FUJ and IMS for investigative journalists in Eastern Europe and Caucasus. As a result, PAIR was established with the aim of strengthening professional investigative reporting skills amongst journalists and in media houses and help to fund opportunities for investigative reporting. Investigative journalism can strengthen transparency and civil society in West Africa by shedding light on the misuse of power or other activities which have a negative effect on society.

PAIR in five pilot countries

A pilot version of the programme is being carried out in five African countries - Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The countries were selected based on the opportunities that each presented for advancing investigative journalism.

As neighbouring countries they share common problems: poverty, corruption, people and drug trafficking, use and abuse of migrant labour. Burkina Faso, for example, is a big supplier of labour to Ghana and the Ivory Coast) to mention a few. Moreover, three of the five countries have close cooperation with Denmark, the media in most of these countries is fairly developed, but all share the need for support in developing the field of investigative reporting.