About the project
How do we tell stories that change the way people think about work, dignity and social impact?
Across Africa, nonprofit organisations are creating meaningful employment, strengthening communities, advancing social justice and improving lives. Yet many of these contributions remain unseen or underappreciated. Through its research on Dignified and Fulfilling Work, the Centre for African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) has generated compelling evidence about the nonprofit sector’s role in creating meaningful work and contributing to sustainable development.
PACKS Africa, in partnership with CAPSI, is launching Reimagining Work, Reclaiming Dignity: Youth Voices from West Africa. This regional Creative Knowledge Translation initiative will turn the research into public stories through documentary filmmaking, photography, digital storytelling, visual arts, creative writing, performance, multimedia production and other creative forms.
The project brings together young creatives from Francophone and Anglophone West Africa to work with researchers, communications specialists, nonprofit organisations and development practitioners. Together they will explore new ways of making research more accessible, engaging and relevant to diverse audiences across the region.
It is a chance to use creativity to produce outstanding work and to help shape public conversations about work, dignity, purpose and Africa’s development.
The opportunity
PACKS Africa invites Expressions of Interest from talented, motivated young creatives across West Africa who want to use creativity to advance positive social change.
Successful applicants will join a multidisciplinary regional team that develops high-quality creative outputs inspired by CAPSI’s research. Working in collaborative teams, with guidance from experienced mentors, you will help communicate research evidence in ways that are accurate, compelling, culturally relevant and accessible to a broad public audience.
The initiative values originality, collaboration, curiosity, professionalism and a willingness to learn.
Whether your expertise lies in film, photography, design, writing, performance, music, animation or digital media, you can apply your talent to an issue of regional significance while building new professional skills and networks.
Who should apply
We welcome applications from emerging creatives who are committed to excellence and want to use their craft for public engagement and social impact. You should:
- Be between 18 and 35 years old (this age limit does not apply to persons with disabilities).
- Be a citizen or resident of a Francophone or Anglophone West African country.
- Show talent or experience in one or more creative disciplines.
- Have a strong interest in storytelling, communication, culture or the creative industries.
- Be willing to collaborate across languages, cultures and disciplines.
- Be available for the full duration of the project.
We particularly encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities and creatives from underrepresented communities, because diverse perspectives enrich storytelling and strengthen regional collaboration. Experience in research communication is not required. We are looking for creativity, commitment, curiosity and a willingness to grow.
Creative roles
We welcome applications from individuals working in, or aspiring to work in, any of these areas. Applicants with interdisciplinary skills or experience across several creative forms are strongly encouraged.
- Documentary filmmaking and directing
- Videography and cinematography
- Photography and photojournalism
- Graphic design and visual communication
- Illustration and digital art
- Animation and motion graphics
- Creative writing and scriptwriting
- Spoken word, poetry and performance
- Music composition and sound production
- Podcast production and audio storytelling
- Journalism and multimedia reporting
- Social media content creation
- Digital storytelling and interactive media
- Community arts and participatory theatre
- Multimedia production and creative technologies
What selected participants will receive
Selected Creative Associates receive a package of professional, financial and leadership development opportunities.
Professional project engagement
Contribute to a high-profile regional initiative that communicates influential African research to diverse audiences across West Africa.
Financial compensation
Remuneration of USD 150.00 per selected candidate, in line with agreed responsibilities, outputs and level of engagement.
Mentorship
Structured mentorship from experienced professionals in creative practice, documentary production, communications, evidence use, leadership and knowledge mobilisation. All selected participants are inducted into the Pathik Pathak Fellowship and Challenge (PPFC), which offers continued mentorship, peer learning, leadership development, networking and access to future PACKS Africa initiatives.
Capacity development
Practical workshops and masterclasses on:
- Creative Knowledge Translation
- Documentary storytelling
- Ethical and responsible communication
- Research interpretation
- Audience engagement
- Collaborative production
- Leadership and professional development
Regional collaboration
Work alongside talented young creatives from Francophone and Anglophone West Africa, building cross-cultural learning and professional relationships.
Professional recognition
Formal recognition for your work through project credits, public exhibitions, screenings, digital showcases and regional dissemination events.
Pathik Pathak Fellowship & Challenge (PPFC)
All successful candidates are automatically enrolled in our fellowship programme, the Pathik Pathak Fellowship and Challenge. It aims to build a pool of young evidence leaders on the African continent through rigorous weekly activities that last at least 12 months and can extend to 24 months.
Two sets of competencies are developed throughout. Because the aim is to grow corporate leaders for the practice, corporate competencies receive greater attention.
Corporate competencies
- Knowledge for organisation development
- Administrative skills
- Ethical leadership skills
- Ability to turn open ideas into viable initiatives
Technical EIDM competencies
- Knowledge for evidence ecosystem governance
- Critical thinking for evidence use
- Analytical thinking for evidence production
- Communication and knowledge brokering
A responsive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework guides implementation and feeds learning back into each round of the programme. The targeted outcome is for mentees to take up executive leadership roles in evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) institutions across the public, private and civic sectors.
About PACKS Africa
Established in 2017, PACKS Africa works at the intersection of knowledge management, evidence-informed decision making, research translation, capacity strengthening and institutional learning. We recognise that the availability of research evidence does not, by itself, guarantee better decisions. Evidence must be understood within the institutional, political, social, cultural and epistemic contexts in which decisions are made.
Our vision is a Pan-African development process fuelled by evidence-informed policies. We strengthen not only the production and communication of evidence, but also the people, systems, relationships and capabilities through which knowledge becomes useful and actionable.
Our work spans research, advisory services, capacity development, evidence ecosystem analysis, mentorship and the development of tools and approaches for strengthening evidence use.
At the heart of this work is a commitment to an Africa in which African institutions and professionals are equipped to generate, interrogate, manage, translate and use knowledge on their own terms, while engaging productively with global knowledge systems.
We apply decolonial framing across our programming, including core operations and business support. Our tools include the Thandika Mkandawire Evidence Use Index (formerly the Context Matters matrix), the Babia Analytical Framework, and a framework for evaluating decoloniality in development practice. In almost a decade, our operations have touched outcomes in 48 Sub-Saharan African countries.
This initiative amplifies that work by blending creativity with capacity development, youth leadership and evidence use. Do you have what it takes to join us?
How to apply
- Submit your application: Complete the online application form (in English) by Friday, 16 October 2026.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates are contacted for a virtual interview.
- Outcome: All candidates are told the final result by Friday, 30 October 2026.
Open the online application form
Questions? Write to info@packs-africa.org.
A regional initiative of PACKS Africa in partnership with the Centre on African Philanthropy & Social Investment (CAPSI). Contact: info@packs-africa.org
