Organizer Information
Connect & Create is the Sub-Saharan Africa component of the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture (AEPC) programme, funded by the European Union. The programme is led by the Goethe-Institut and Expertise France, in partnership with the Institut français, with the aim of strengthening cultural cooperation between Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union through equitable, inclusive and sustainable partnerships.
The Connect & Create programme includes 16 Creative Tandems, bringing together African lead organisations and European partner organisations across 12 Sub-Saharan African countries. The Relay Scheme is designed to connect these projects with local audiences while providing professional development for emerging communication professionals.
Title & Description
Connect & Create – Strengthening Cultural Ties Between Africa and Europe
The Connect & Create Relay Scheme is an 11-month professional development and mentoring programme for young communications and media professionals working around cultural and creative industries.
Selected Relays will be responsible for developing and implementing the communication strategy of one Creative Tandem project in their country of residence. Their role combines local reporting, content creation, audience engagement, editorial mediation and observation of local cultural dynamics.
Participants will receive 10 thematic online training sessions led by Imago Medias, covering areas such as storytelling, social media, editorial planning, press kits and media relations. They will also receive individual mentoring while working on a real cultural project.
Categories
- Communication
- Journalism, Media
- Content Creation
- Cultural Communication
- Social Media
- Performing Arts
- Music
- Cultural and Creative Industries
Eligibility
- Be a journalist, communications professional, content creator, influencer or media host/presenter.
- Be over 18 years old.
- Have 2–5 years of professional experience in communications, journalism, media or content creation.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in performing arts, music and the wider cultural and creative industries.
- Have an active audience and demonstrated local presence through social media, a local media outlet, community or similar platform.
- Reside in one of the 12 participating countries: South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda or Senegal.
- Have fluency in English or French.
Program Benefits & Awards
- An 11-month programme of collective training and professional support.
- Individual mentoring through a mentor/mentee partnership.
- The opportunity to manage the communication strategy of a Creative Tandem project in their country.
- An allowance provided as part of the activities carried out for the supported project.
- A training certificate.
- Access to a peer network spanning 12 African countries.
- Continued connection with the wider Connect & Create ecosystem, Expertise France and Institut français.
A total of 16 Relays will be selected, with one Relay assigned to each Creative Tandem project. South Africa, Mali, Mozambique and Senegal will each have two Relays because each country hosts two Creative Tandem projects.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 October 2026
- Profile pre-selection: 14 October–3 November 2026
- Stage 2 proposal submission: 5–19 November 2026
- Evaluation and final selection: 20 November–2 December 2026
- Results announced: 7 December 2026
- Contracting: 7 December 2026–15 January 2027
- Programme starts: Late January/early February 2027
- Programme duration: 11 months
Location
Paris, France
Additional Details
The selection process has two stages. In Stage 1, a selection committee will pre-select up to 32 candidates based on experience and motivation, local presence and audience, and relevance to the programme's objectives.
In Stage 2, pre-selected candidates will be introduced to relevant Creative Tandem project(s) in their country and asked to submit a short communication strategy proposal. The final 16 Relays will be selected based on these proposals.
The Creative Tandem projects cover a broad range of cultural activities, including dance, theatre, circus, music, film and visual media, urban cultures, cultural entrepreneurship, ecological artistic practices and intercultural exchange.
Applications that are incomplete or incorrectly completed will not be considered.