The African Media Initiative (AMI) has teamed up with the Local Development Research Institute (LDRI) to develop technology and data literacy training programs for media professionals.

The two organizations will seek to deliver a range of services, including design and facilitation for development of technology solutions for the African media industry, as well as the development of a pan-African training curriculum on data literacy.

As AMI enters its second phase of operations, it is seeking to strengthen its digital Innovations and Content Development program, building on the technical and functional expertise it developed in the first phase of operations, from 2010-2014.

LDRI, with its expertise and experience in capacity building for technology and data, will be AMI’s lead partner in implementing the digital innovations that will be rolled out over the next five years.

While announcing the partnership, AMI CEO Eric Chinje said: “AMI is excited to welcome new partners who will work with AMI to facilitate technology adaptation by the media fraternity in Africa, and enable them to seize all opportunities present in this digital era.”

LDRI Executive Director Muchiri Nyaggah added that public participation is only possible when citizens are aware of the issues that affect them and understand the role they can play. Muchiri said, “the media is of critical importance to participation due to the role it plays as an infomediary in the broader ecosystem. LDRI is therefore excited to be working with AMI in building capacity within Africa’s media practitioners on the use of data to tell Africa’s development story.”

LDRI will be taking over AMI’s Digital Innovations Programme docket that was previously run by Justin Arenstein and Nqobile Sibisi, both of whom left AMI at the end of 2014.