The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has announced the opening of applications for its Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2.2) Project, calling on journalists from seven Nigerian states to participate in the investigative reporting fellowship.
The SPARK initiative, which began with SPARK 1 and later advanced to SPARK 2, is now in its second phase of implementation under SPARK 2.2, expanding its focus and deepening its impact on governance and accountability reporting in Nigeria.
Read about SPARK 1 HERE and SPARK 2 HERE.
The project, which runs in Anambra, Oyo, Ogun, Niger, Kano, Jigawa, and Nasarawa, seeks to highlight pressing governance and development challenges, with a focus on maternal healthcare and agricultural productivity.
Under the maternal healthcare component, participating journalists will investigate systemic barriers limiting access to services, as well as gaps in the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) despite continued government investment.
In agriculture, the fellowship will examine the struggles of smallholder women farmers (SHWFs), including limited access to credit and farming inputs, income constraints, and gender-based challenges that affect their productivity and economic empowerment.
The project will adopt a systems-level, gender-sensitive approach to uncover the root causes of these challenges and produce data-driven reports that drive accountability.
Applications open August 8
The application process will open on Friday, August 8, 2025, and close on Thursday, August 14, 2025. To be eligible, applicants must have:
- at least three years of journalism experience in print, electronic, or online media,
- show a track record in investigative reporting,
- reside in one of the seven focus states,
- they must also own a laptop, a smartphone,
- and have active social media accounts.
The ICIR encouraged female journalists and persons with disabilities who meet the requirements to apply, noting that disability is not a barrier to participation.
Applications are to be submitted online via HERE
(Icirnigeria.org)
