AFCN Concludes Training to Enhance the Sustainability of Fact-Checking Organizations
April 9, 2026
The Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) from ARIJ, concluded a specialized training held over two days, April 8 and 9, 2026, & titled: “Enhancing the Sustainability of Fact-Checking Organizations: From Funding to Reporting and Proposal Writing.”
The training had active participation from representatives of 14 fact-checking organizations within the AFCN community. The training was presented by a team of experts, including:
– Sustainability Expert of Non-profit Organizations, Bridget Gallagher.
– ARIJ’s Director General, Rawan Damen.
– ARIJ’s Grants Manager, Layan Shuhaiber.
– ARIJ’s Arab Fact-Checkers Network Manager, Saja Mortada.
Spanning the two days, the training aimed to equip participating organizations with the necessary strategic skills and tools to ensure their continuity and development. The sessions focused on four main themes:
– Understanding the funding sources for fact-checking organizations and practicing mechanisms for identifying suitable donors for each organization.
– Enhancing financial and institutional sustainability and building practical models for diversifying income sources.
– Establishing the foundations of documentation and data management, and training on how to prepare narrative reports with high professionalism.
– Training on methodologies for writing successful and attractive project proposals for funding, with a focus on formulating accurate and measurable objectives.
“The training was like a roadmap, and it was a valuable benefit for us as a nascent fact-checking organization. It was also an opportunity to learn about the experiences of other organizations and to master the fundamentals and skills of developing work plans and communication, which enhances the platform’s chance for sustainability and development” said Sami Sabbir, Editor in Chief at the Moroccan fact-checking organization Ghirbal, expressing his benefit from the training.
Nihal Abdel Latif, Project Coordinator at the Sudanese fact-checking organization Beam Reports, added: “The training was comprehensive and integrated across all steps that enhance the chances of organizations or even individuals obtaining funding and maintaining a positive, sustainable relationship with donors.”
Dai Gamal, Executive Director at Akhbar Meter, praised the training, stating: “All the knowledge learnt was presented in a simple and enjoyable manner that was easy for everyone to grasp, whether they had experience or not.”
It is worth noting that this training is part of the “SA7” project, one of ARIJ’s AFCN strategic projects supported by the French Media Development Agency (CFI).
