Dara Ajala is a programs and development expert with experience advancing innovation, sustainability, and resilience in independent media. She currently leads MDIF’s programs across West and East Africa. Prior to this, she was Program Manager for the Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP), where she helped shaped strategy and built partnerships that supported transformative growth across the sector. Her approach balanced ecosystem-level strategy with on-the-ground support, contributing to stronger business models and the amplification of local voices.
Dara’s work has spanned strategy design, capacity-building, and storytelling, ensuring that lessons from the field inform broader conversations on the future of journalism. She is committed to approaches that strengthen media systems, encourage innovation, and create long-term impact in complex and challenging environments.