2023 Ethel Payne Fellow Ashaki Hall Completes Gender Equity Reports

Ashaki Hall, the 2023 NABJ Ethel Payne Fellowship recipient, has completed her comprehensive reporting project titled “To Understand Gender Equity, We First Look to Africa.” This project comprises a two-part interview alongside a research paper, focusing on the pivotal International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994.

Photo Credit: Rwandan Women Doctors for Reproductive Justice.

Hall notes that the conference led to the formulation of the “Program of Action,” which underscored the importance of reproductive health and gender equality on a global scale. Furthermore, the project delves into the efforts towards gender equity and parity in three African countries: Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique. Through detailed examination, the project explores each country’s unique initiatives, policies and challenges, shedding light on their progress as well as areas requiring improvement.

To access Ashaki’s research and interviews,  click on the following titles:

• “To Understand Gender Equity, We First Look to Africa”
• “Mozambique Gender Justice”
• “Enabled Enlightenment”

About Ashaki

Ashaki Hall brings a wealth of experience to her reporting, with a significant background in the reproductive health and justice movement spanning over a decade. She has facilitated courageous conversations and assisted organizations in fostering cultures of inclusion and belonging. Hall’s passion lies in the intersections between health equity and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). She is also an adept public health researcher, specializing in crafting curriculum content tailored for nurses, doctors, public health practitioners, and youth organizations. Notably, Hall’s work on reproductive rights and health has garnered recognition from prestigious publications such as Scalawag Magazine, Canopy Atlanta, and The Guardian. Her contributions have also been acknowledged by esteemed institutions like the United Nations, American Public Health Association, and the Global Black Collective.

The NABJ Ethel Payne Fellowship, a $5,000 award, is bestowed upon deserving journalists like Ashaki Hall. This travel award affords NABJ members the opportunity to gain valuable foreign correspondence experience in Africa, enabling them to complete projects or singular reports on the continent. Named in honor of Ethel Payne, the first female African American commentator employed by a U.S. network (CBS) in 1972, the fellowship continues to support and recognize outstanding journalism.

For more information about the fellowship and details on applying for the 2025 fellowship, please visit: NABJ Ethel Payne Fellowship.