Seats of Change is a Vice Versa Global initiative that strengthens the community journalism ecosystem to amplify women’s leadership in county governance and advance women’s rights. Working with community journalists in Turkana, Kilifi, Nairobi, and Makueni, the project documents women’s everyday leadership in local governance and decision-making, highlights the rights they champion, and exposes the barriers they face. Through written stories, short documentaries, a digital magazine, and an impact screening, Seats of Change builds lasting pathways for community-rooted journalism to shape public narratives, advance women’s rights, influence policy, and contribute to more inclusive governance in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the GEWE Strategy (2018–2028).

Role

We are seeking Trainer–Mentors who see journalism as a tool for transformation. Through Seats of Change, you’ll help emerging community journalists grow their skills and voice , guiding them to produce ethical, rights-informed, and solutions-oriented stories that spotlight women’s leadership and everyday struggles for dignity and equality. This work strengthens not only individual storytellers but also the collective narrative of rights and representation in Kenya.

Training

• Deliver interactive sessions on gender-sensitive reporting, governance journalism, solutions journalism, and data-driven storytelling, with a strong emphasis on ethics and digital safety.
• Equip community journalists with practical skills to connect local stories to rights and advocacy agendas.

Mentorship

• Provide one-on-one mentorship to 2–3 journalists, holding bi-weekly check-ins to guide their progress.
• Lead monthly editorial clinics and peer-learning sessions that strengthen collaboration and shared growth.
• Support journalists through every stage of the storytelling process — from idea to pitch, draft to publication — ensuring that all outputs are accurate, ethical, solutions-oriented, and rights-informed.

Editorial Support & Learning

• Foster a collaborative and reflective editorial culture within the journalist cohort.
• Document and share lessons learned, contributing to the project’s broader learning, reflection, and reporting processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Media, Communications, or related field.
• 4–5 years of experience in journalism, editorial leadership, or media training.
• Demonstrated expertise in governance and rights reporting, gender-sensitive journalism, and multimedia storytelling.
• Proven experience training or mentoring early-career/community journalists.
• Familiarity with Kenyan governance structures and gender frameworks (AU Agenda 2063, GEWE Strategy).
• Strong facilitation, editing, and interpersonal skills.

Desired Competencies

• Sound editorial judgement and ethical grounding.
• Ability to combine technical teaching with long-term mentorship.
• Organised, adaptable, and supportive in diverse contexts.
• Commitment to non-partisan, rights-based approaches.
• Respect for grassroots voices and community realities.
• Previous published editorial works

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to shape the next generation of community journalists.
• A central role in reframing governance narratives around rights and women’s leadership.
• Collaboration with a dynamic, mission-driven international team.
• Competitive consultancy fee based on experience and scope of work.