iWatch Africa Consultancy – Call for media trainers in Ghana

Consultancy – Call for media trainers in Ghana

Terms of Reference:

Working Together to Curb Illicit Financial Flows from Sub-Saharan Africa Project

Activity Name	Illicit Financial Flows, Financial Transparency, and accountability – Sub-Saharan African Journalism Training Scheme in Accra
Outcome	OUTCOME 1: More local journalists with excellent professional skills and high reporting standards, expose IFFs and tax manipulations and report on the wide-ranging impacts of (gaps in) taxation, raising public awareness, informing decisions, and holding those in power to account
Output	Improved knowledge and skills of journalists related to IFFs and tax manipulations and stronger motivation to report
Training Date	18-19 April 2024 (Tentative)

Introduction

iWatch Africa

iWatch Africa is a non-governmental media and policy organization based in Ghana. We are focused on media development initiatives including tracking and reporting on digital rights, trans-national organized crime, Illicit Financial Flows, human rights abuse, climate change and environmental abuses in Africa. We are part of Thomson Reuters Foundation’s 3-year project on Illicit Financial Flows in Africa, focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique and Ghana.

Thomson Reuters Foundation

Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, champions media freedom, inclusive economies, and human rights globally. Registered in the UK and USA, we drive systemic change through news, legal assistance, and convening initiatives. Currently, we’re leading a 3-year project on Illicit Financial Flows in Africa, focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique and Ghana.

Background

Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) denote the illicit transfer of funds across borders, encompassing actions deemed illegal, unethical, or harmful to the economies and societies involved. These activities encompass tax evasion, money laundering, corruption, and illicit trade, all of which yield severe economic, social, and political repercussions for both developed and developing nations.

Pinpointing the exact scale of IFFs proves challenging due to their clandestine nature. Nonetheless, estimates from entities like Global Financial Integrity (GFI) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) suggest annual losses amounting to trillions of dollars due to IFFs. Developing countries bear a disproportionate burden, with illicit outflows often surpassing official development assistance and foreign direct investment.

In contrast to developed nations, where income tax stands as a primary revenue source, developing countries heavily rely on trade-related taxes. Despite the establishment of initiatives like the East Africa Community (EAC) Customs Union and Trade Protocol in 2005 to bolster intra-regional trade and enhance member countries’ productive capacities through trade agreements and tariff schedules, recent research by the Anti-Corruption Evidence initiative (ACE) reveals a significant rise in rent-seeking behavior over the past 15 years. This surge, attributed to trade misinvoicing and smuggling, results in substantial revenue losses. Notably, GFI estimates indicate that trade misinvoicing alone accounts for two-thirds of all IFFs, totaling $600-900 billion for developing countries annually. Tariff evasion, while a global issue, exacerbates in nations struggling with enforcement of tariff rates and customs regulations, leading importing firms to engage in trade misinvoicing to evade tariffs or move capital abroad.

For instance, in Ghana, Illicit Financial Flows show its face through money laundering, tax evasion, under-invoicing, internet fraud, the extractive industry, fishing industry, forex market imports and the real estate sector.

In 2019, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) reported that an audit of Customs Management Systems discovered that about 1.8 billion dollars had been transferred outside the country. With regards to exports, EOCO with support from the Precious Minerals Marketing Commission (PMMC) examined about 10 gold companies for the period of 2018 to 2020 and from these 10 companies, it was noticed that about 1.1 billion dollars’ worth of gold was transferred outside the country.

Given this context, iWatch Africa with support from the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), intends to provide training for journalists. The goal is to empower journalists with the necessary skills to craft stories that expose concealed financial activities, raise public consciousness, and aid in the fight against corruption, tax evasion, and other types of financial misconduct that hinder sustainable development in Tanzania.

Objective

iWatch Africa and TRF advocate for journalists to possess comprehensive knowledge of IFFs. Equipping journalists with the skills to investigate and report on these matters ensures that the public gains awareness of how these practices deplete resources and hinder development. Journalists will consequently assume a crucial role in ensuring accountability for governments, corporations, and individuals engaged in IFFs.

Scope of work

1. Investigative Journalism: Techniques and Practices
2. Building and Pitching Your Investigation: Strategies for Effective Communication
3. Planning and Sourcing: Developing a Comprehensive Approach
4. Sources and Searching: Methods for Gathering Information
5. Tax and DRM (Domestic Resource Mobilization): Understanding Current Trends
6. Review, Learning Points, Action Planning: Reflecting on Progress and Setting Goals
7. Tax Avoidance, Offshoring, and Tax Havens: Exploring Strategies and Consequences
8. Gender and Human Rights: Examining Intersectional Issues
9. Credibility, Accuracy, and Media Trust: Upholding Journalistic Integrity
10. Pitching Session: Presenting Your Investigation with Impact
11. Organizing and Protecting Data, Sources, and Self: Safeguarding Information and Security
12. Money Laundering: Uncovering Illicit Financial Activities
13. Legal Issues: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Investigative Journalism
14. Extractive Industries: Investigating the Impact and Practices
15. Review, Learning Points, Action Planning: Iterating Strategies for Improvement

Modality

An array of modalities will be employed to deliver comprehensive training sessions, incorporating dynamic PowerPoint presentations, interactive discussions, hands-on activities, multimedia demonstrations, case studies, role-playing exercises, and real-world simulations.

Targeted Audience

This capacity building session intends to strengthen the knowledge of 10 journalists in Ghana.

Duration

The training will be held in April, 18-19 2024 Accra, Ghana. After the training, the consultant will be provided with 10 working days to submit the training report before the final payment is made.

Expected outcomes.

Following the training, journalists who have undergone the program will need to produce

and disseminate thoroughly researched, influential articles concerning Illicit Financial

Flows (IFFs) across various media platforms. Equipped journalists will also be allowed to

partner with experts to improve their coverage of IFF practices.

How to Apply

1. Qualifications

We are seeking local trainers who demonstrate a strong background and expertise in their respective fields. To ensure the highest quality of candidates, applicants should meet the following qualifications:

2. Relevant Experience: Applicants should possess a proven track record in delivering training sessions or workshops related to Illicit Financial Flows. This should be reflected in their CVs and cover letters.
3. Recent Training Workshops: Applicants must provide details of the last two training workshops they conducted. This information should include the topics covered, the duration of the workshops, and the target audience. It should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to effectively plan, organize, and deliver training sessions.
4. Regional Work Experience: Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working within the region. Applicants should provide references to any work they have done in the region, highlighting their familiarity with local contexts, challenges, and opportunities.
5. Media/Professional Networks: Applicants should showcase their involvement in relevant media or professional networks within the region. This could include memberships, affiliations, or partnerships with organizations, associations, or groups related to the field of training.
6. Alumni Organizations: Candidates who are associated with alumni organizations related to education, training, or professional development are encouraged to highlight these affiliations in their application. Alumni networks can serve as valuable resources for networking, collaboration, and support.
7. Communication Skills: Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for effective training delivery. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to convey complex information clearly and engage with diverse audiences.
8. Adaptability: The ability to adapt training approaches to meet the needs of different audiences and learning styles is crucial. Applicants should provide examples of how they have tailored their training methods to accommodate various learning preferences and abilities.

8. Team Player: The ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders is essential. Applicants should demonstrate their capacity to work well within a team environment, contributing positively to group dynamics and achieving common goals.
9. Please provide us with your cv and a cover letter if interested.
10. All documents should be sent to info@iwatchafrica.org with the subject “Journalism Training Scheme” by 5th April, 2024. 

Only shorlisted applicants will be contacted. If you do not hear from us by the end of April, 2024 then your application was not successful. Thank you.