In the beginning of March 2025 24 Nordic journalists and editors met in Nairobi for the New Narratives Study Tour to Kenya, which was arranged by International Project Lead at the Constructive Institute, Cynara Vetch, in collaboration with the Danish Foreign Ministry.

During the study tour we visited the UN Environment Programme at the only UN headquarters in the Global South.

We also visited the news media Africa No Filter who gave us new perspectives on the African story of triumph that hardly reaches global audiences.

And we met Kenyan market leaders in broadcasting, Royal Media Services Limited as well as the BBC News hub in Africa led by Juliet Njeri.

Our innovation safari took us to entrepreneurs and innovators in various fields including education with Little Lions School in Kibera.

We met young scientists at Octavia Carbon and Ampersand who have been creating solutions to combat climate change.

We also heard insights at the People Dialogue festival that focused on the voices of young people influencing good governance and accountability for a brighter future.

“Our goal was to bridge the gap between an old perception of Africans as victims caught in hopelessness and a more nuanced picture of reality on the fastest growing continent on Planet Earth with so many creative and innovative people we can learn from. It demands a new narrative in the media”

Ulrik Haagerup, Founder and CEO of Constructive Institute

Key takeaways from our visit:

• We need African led stories about the “bio diversity billionaire” that this continent is.
• Entrepreneurs are solving some of Africa’s most pressing problems.
• The continent has an abundant clean energy and an enviably young work force. Africa can help the world with its climate transition while growing employment opportunities and driving green economic growth.
• The future of political leadership in Africa is ethical, young and female.

This study tour is just the first step in our New Narratives project funded by the Udenrigsministeriet and with great support from Denmark in Kenya. Next up we will bring 10 dynamic African editors to Copenhagen to meet with Danish newsrooms.

“What actually made the most impression was the HUMOR that permeated all conversations. It seems that Kenyans use humor as both a shield and a weapon in their fight for better and fairer conditions. You are really amazing, I really like all of the Kenyans we met”

Eva Højrup, Fellow at the Constructive Institute

Contact International Project Lead, Cynara Vetch, for more information on our projects in Nairobi: