Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) has launched its first call for media grants under the new Forest Governance Media Initiative (FGMI).
This global effort seeks to bolster coverage of critical forest issues in five key tropical countries: Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Despite international pledges from over 130 countries to halt forest loss by 2030, forests remain under immense pressure from climate shocks and poor rule of law.
The forest governance grant aims to spotlight urgent challenges such as a lack of transparency, illegal logging, and the exclusion of local communities from decision-making processes.
Funded by UK International Development, the grants focus on strengthening the capacity of journalists to produce evidence-based stories on forest policies and solutions.
Projects should aim to amplify the voices of marginalized groups, including women and Indigenous peoples, who are often disproportionately harmed by environmental degradation.
Funding and benefits
EJN expects to award up to nine grants, with at least one organization supported in each of the target countries.
Each grant is valued at 10,000 GBP, though the selection committee may consider larger amounts for projects utilizing innovative or resource-intensive approaches.
These funds can be used for a wide variety of activities, including training workshops, story grants, and the development of digital tools like mapping or data visualization.
Grantees may also use a small portion of the budget to purchase necessary equipment to reach their project outcomes.
Beyond financial support, selected organizations will receive technical mentoring and join a network that facilitates peer-to-peer learning among media outlets in different regions.
Successful applicants will gain a platform to distribute high-quality content that drives cross-sectoral collaboration between researchers and policymakers.
Application requirements and eligibility
This opportunity is open to media organizations, journalist networks, civil society groups, and academic institutions based in the five target nations.
While NGOs may apply to build capacity, judges will give preference to professional journalists, media organizations, and journalism schools.
Proposals must be submitted in English, and applicants must disclose any use of generative AI tools used in revising their applications.
Applicants are required to provide a detailed budget justification and demonstrate their ability to carry out the project effectively.
Projects focusing solely on content production must result in robust outputs, such as a series of podcasts or multi-part investigations comprising at least 10 stories.
Applications rooted in political campaigning or advocacy will not be considered, as EJN maintains strict standards for fair and balanced journalism.
Deadline
The application window is open now, with selected grantees expected to be notified in March 2026 for a project start in April 2026.
All projects must be completed within a six-to-twelve-month timeframe, concluding no later than March 2027.Visit the Forest Governance grant application call page to apply. Explore our global opportunities page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
