Covid-19 training in Sudan gets smart on WhatsApp

08/07/2020

An innovative online learning course to support the reporting of Covid-19 in Sudan has reached nearly 2000 people across all sectors of media.

The course, designed to be easy to access on mobile phones, has been delivered by Thomson Foundation in partnership with British Council Sudan, funded by UK Aid and backed by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Abdelwahab Gumaa works as an economics editor at Alwifaq newspaper and also online.

He says what set the COVID-19 course apart is that it is available through WhatsApp, easily accessible and very flexible.

Taking the course was like rubbing Aladdin's lamp, each time a genie would come out and I would get something new, he says. I was able to not only take the course, but be assessed and receive a signed certificate in less than an hour!

Tailor-made for smartphones The course in Arabic is tailor made for Sudan with Sudanese examples and case studies and it addresses fake news.

It taught that journalists should never take information at face value before fact checking, says Abdelwahab. I did learn this long ago but being asked questions about it on the course reminded me about it.

Mohamed Abdelaziz is a senior reporter at Alsudani Newspaper and credits being able to access the course on WhatsApp as a good way of delivering training.

There weren't any long videos that ate up all my mobile data so it wasn't costly, he says. And I liked the flexibility and the fact that I could pause and come back to it whenever I wanted.

Course accessed across Sudan Thomson Foundation has been working in Sudan in partnership with the British Council since 2012.

I think our deep understanding of the media landscape and the very particular challenges there helped inform how we approached the design of the course. says Helen Scott, Director of Thomson Foundation's Sudan programme.

We knew connectivity is a major issue, and that the course material needed to be localised, in Sudanese Arabic, with Sudanese case studies and examples.

We're also delighted the course has been accessed across the country, not only in Khartoum, with groups in Darfur enrolling. We also know it has reached bloggers in displaced people's (IDP) camps.

The course can be accessed through the following link which is also published on the Sudan Ministry of Information and Culture's platforms and shared through WhatsApp.

For updates on media training please follow: @MOCI_SD, @ukinsudan, and @thomfound on Facebook and Twitter, @BritishCouncilSudan on Facebook and british_council_sd on Instagram.

Related content

Reporting Covid-19 in Sudan

A short on course available online and via WhatsApp

Accurate reporting in a time of crisis

Alumni ensure coverage of uprising is fair and verifiable

On the road in Southern Sudan

Trainer Derek Ivens on training outside Khartoum

Helen Scott Editorial Associate

About: Helen is an experienced trainer, consultant and project manager with a background in programme making and management. She is the Director of Thomson Foundation's Sudan programme.

We get around. Explore our project map

LINK:	http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/latest/covid-19-training-in-sudan-get...
	See more stories from thompsonfoundation

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026