Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Launches Financial Journalism Training Program in Ethiopia

Distinguished speakers and guests at the launch of the BMIA JFT programme in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa – Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) today announced the launch of its Financial Journalism Training (FJT) program in Ethiopia at a ceremony attended by government, academic and industry leaders in Addis Ababa. Fifty-five delegates will participate in the first intake of the training, which is designed to advance business and financial journalism and to increase the pool of skilled financial journalists and analysts who embrace data-driven journalism across Africa.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with support from the Ford Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Financial Journalism Training (FJT) is the flagship program of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa. The program provides journalists with the training necessary to enhance their financial and business reporting skills and knowledge, delivered by esteemed faculty from leading business and journalism schools across participating African countries.

In Ethiopia, the program will be delivered in partnership with Addis Ababa University and Unity University, with support from implementing partner Strathmore University Business School (SBS) in Kenya. Over the next seven months, participants will engage in a series of modules that will strengthen their skills in and understanding of data analysis, capital markets, accounting, public policy, economics and the transforming media landscape. In addition to faculty-led training, financial journalism sessions will be delivered by Bloomberg News reporters. Delegates will also receive a free, six-month subscription to the Bloomberg Terminal, offering access to global data, news and analysis.

Dr. Samuel Kifle, President, Addis Ababa University said: “By providing rigorous training from our esteemed faculty and Bloomberg experts, the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Financial Journalism Training program will equip an expanded pool of journalists with new skills to report on the stories shaping our economy. Together, we look forward to advancing business and financial journalism in Ethiopia.”

“We’re delighted to partner with Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa to bring its successful financial journalism training program to Ethiopia for the first time, said Dr. Arega Yirdaw, President, Unity University. “From enhancing their data analysis skills to deepening their understanding of capital markets, graduates of the program will come away with practical skills to move their careers forward.”

The cohort of delegates comprises professionals from media establishments, development and financial organizations, and government agencies within Ethiopia.  Ethiopia is the ninth African country to adopt the program, following successful implementation in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Dr. Belete Molla, Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology said: “Strengthening business and financial journalism in Ethiopia will positively impact sustainable economic growth. We welcome the introduction of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa’s training program and its wider contribution to journalism across the continent.”

At a ceremony in Addis Ababa, media, academic and industry leaders were joined by senior representatives from the Ethiopian government to celebrate the program’s launch and welcome the first intake of delegates.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Brook Taye, Director General, Ethiopian Investment Holdings said: “I am pleased that Bloomberg, along with Addis Ababa University, Unity University, and Strathmore University Business School, have partnered to bring this program to Ethiopia. We believe that equipping journalists with improved capacity to report on business and financial matters is complementary to Ethiopia’s continued economic growth and progress.”

“More than 900 delegates across Africa have now completed BMIA’s Financial Journalism Training programme, which is designed to deliver an innovative, integrated and practical world-class executive training program that is firmly rooted in African market realities,” said Erana Stennett, Director of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa and Head of Bloomberg Corporate Philanthropy in Africa & the Middle East. “We’re delighted to welcome our first intake of participants in Ethiopia today and look forward to them joining this cohort in advancing the quality of data driven, financial journalism across the continent.”

The first phase of the BMIA FJT program was successfully conducted in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa from 2015 to 2017. By the end of 2017, over 500 journalists and mid-career professionals had completed the six-month certificate program. Inspired by the success of this initial phase, Bloomberg expanded the training to five additional African countries: Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, graduating 339 journalists and communications professionals between 2018-2024, most recently in Abidjan and Dakar.

BMIA has also sponsored four annual conferences for media owners and senior leaders in business, government and civil society, with the most recent taking place in Cape Town in October 2023. The program has also offered a Fellowship for editors and senior journalists, which has been completed by 45 Fellows, and a fund to promote community media and citizen journalism – the Community Media Fund – which has awarded grants to12 organizations in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

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About Bloomberg Africa Media Initiative (BMIA)
Launched by Mike Bloomberg in South Africa in 2014, the Bloomberg Africa Media Initiative (BMIA) is a pan-Africa program designed to accelerate development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry as well as promote good governance in Africa and beyond. The initiative has four components: It provides cross-disciplinary educational programs to increase the number of highly trained business and financial journalists, as well as supports research to stimulate new media innovations, convene international leaders to promote interactive dialogue and build strong relationships to enhance the quality of financial coverage and the availability of reliable and timely data on the continent. For more information on BMIA please visit bmia.org. Follow the conversation online using #BMIAFJT

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.