Capacity Building of the SJC in Rwanda, Fojo Journalistutbildning i Rwanda, Fojo Fojo Media Institute submitted a proposal to the embassy of Sweden in Kigali for funding of SEK 17 million to implement a programme "Capacity Building of the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Rwanda" in Rwanda the period 2015-2018. 

The programme aims at "On a long-term basis, contribute to building sustainable capacity for the development of an independent, balanced and professional Rwandan media that allow for increased democratic participation among media producers, citizens and other stakeholders". This general objective will be achieved through a specific objective that aims at "Journalism education and training at SJC/GLMC that is more adapted to the needs of professional demands from the media industry as well as the Rwandan audiences’ right to professional, independent and relevant reporting, addressing identified capacity gaps for the increasing opportunities provided by Rwanda’s growing mediainfrastructure and policy reforms." This will be through:1) SJC/GLMC provide high quality education to enrolled students and contribute to the international research field of professional
journalism; 2) Students understand media’s social, economic and political role in a democracy and are able to produce professional journalism in a converged media landscape; 3) A strong mutual relationship developed between SJC/GLMC and the media industry, where the two influence each other to jointly professionalise Rwandan media and bridge the gap between academia and practice; and 4) A well-functioning media institute efficiently and effectively delivering services to students and staff.

Fojo Media Institute will implement the programme together with the local School of Journalism and Communication at University of Rwanda. 

The programme’s total budget is 17 million SEK, out of which Fojo Media Institute’s own funding is approximately 17 million SEK (2.3 million USD) the total amount contributed by the embassy. The total of ..........million SEK will be  forwarded from Fojo to the School of Journalism and Communication. Fojo Media Institute har inkommit med ett projektförslag till svenska ambassaden i Kigali för att genomföra ett kapacitetsuppbyggnadsprojekt med School of Journalism (SJC) vid Rwandas statliga universitet, University of Rwanda, under perioden 2015-2019. Stöd kommer också att ges till Great Lakes Media Center (GLMC), som är en enhet under SJC. SJC:s 4-åriga utbildning i journalistik startades 1996. Skolan har cirka 250 studenter och nio lärare. GLMC utbildar verksamma journalister i ett två-årigt program, och håller också kortare kurser på specifika teman. Budgeten för projektet är 17 miljoner kronor. 

Projektet syftar till att skapa en journalistutbildning som är anpassad till mediaindustrins behov såväl som rwandiska medborgares rätt till professionell, oberoende och relevant journalistik. För att uppnå detta mål avser Fojo stärka SJC:s och GLMC:s akademiska kompetens och stödja dem att bygga upp ett mastersprogram i journalistik. Läroplaner och kursplaner ska utvecklas, akademisk personal ska utbildas i pedagogik och regionala och internationella nätverk ska stärkas. Dessutom ska utbytet mellan medieindustrin och SJC/GLMC förbättras och utvidgas. Slutligen ska mer effektiva institutionella och administrativa strukturer och rutiner etableras på SJC/GLMC.

Projektet kommer att vara ett av flera svenskstödda insatser i mediasektorn i Rwanda. Sammantaget syftar dessa insatser till att på lång sikt bidra till att bygga kapacitet för utvecklingen av oberoende, balanserade och professionella rwandiska medier som möjliggör ökad demokratisk delaktighet bland medieproducenter, medborgare och andra intressenter. The contribution includes two consecutive projects: 

1) Capacity Building of the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), University of Rwanda, 2015-2021.
2) Capacity Building of the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), University of Rwanda, and Strengthening of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) as a Public Service Media Provider, January 2020  31 May 2021. The latter covers the so-called bridging period/project, an extension of the original project, which included Swedish Radio Media Development Office (SR MDO) and was co-funded by the Embassy and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The Objectives for the Capacity Building of SJC project (2015-21):  

Overall objective: On a long-term basis, contribute to building sustainable capacity for the development of an independent, balanced and professional Rwandan media that allow for increased democratic participation among media producers, citizens and other stakeholders.

Specific objective: Journalism education and training at SJC that is more adapted to the needs of professional demands from the media industry as well as the Rwandan audiences right to professional, independent and relevant reporting, addressing identified capacity gaps for the increasing opportunities provided by Rwandas growing media infrastructure and policy reforms.

Outcome 1: SJC provide high quality education to enrolled students and contribute to the international research field of professional journalism
Outcome 2: Students understand medias social, economic and political role in a democracy and are able to produce professional journalism in a converged media landscape
Outcome 3: A strong mutual relationship developed between SJC and the media industry, where the two influence each other to jointly professionalise Rwandan media and bridge the gap between academia and practice
Outcome 4: A well-functioning media institute efficiently and effectively delivering services to
students and staff

Changes in the Outcomes during the 'bridging project" 2020-21: 

Outcome 4 was discontinued during the bridging period while three new outcomes were added to
the project. 

Outcome 5: First steps towards strengthening gender-sensitivity among media practitioners and
academics in the field of journalism
Outcome 6: A new sector-wide media programme prepared
Outcome 7: Journalists at RBA strengthened in their capacity to produce and publish news and
programs