The Jamma Conservation and Communities is inviting applications for its Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant, supporting journalists, writers, filmmakers, and multimedia storytellers to produce publishable stories that explore conservation through the lens of people and communities.

Grants range from USD 5,000 to USD 12,000 depending on story format and complexity. Applicants must demonstrate professional experience and propose original stories with a strong African focus, highlighting how human realities intersect with conservation outcomes.

Program Overview

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant aims to commission high-quality, publishable stories that reveal the complex interactions between people and conservation.

Key goals include:

• Highlighting human-centred approaches to conservation

• Exploring the lived experiences, rights, and livelihoods of communities affected by conservation policies

• Producing content suitable for publication or broadcast on established media platforms

• Sharing stories of innovation, resilience, challenges, and trade-offs in conservation contexts

The program focuses on stories that integrate ecological and human perspectives, showing both successes and limitations of conservation approaches in real-world settings.

Grant Focus Areas

Applicants should center stories on:

• Human rights and livelihoods in conservation contexts

• Governance and decision-making affecting land and resource access

• Cultural, economic, and social impacts of conservation

• Coexistence with wildlife and natural resource management

• Examples of success, tension, or unintended consequences

• Stories of innovation, hope, and resilience

• Avoidance of purely sentimental, simplified, or promotional narratives

Funding

Funding is available across three tiers based on story format and complexity:

• Up to USD 5,000 – Written, audio, or single-format stories

• Up to USD 8,000 – Multi-part stories or more complex reporting

• Up to USD 12,000 – Visual or film-based projects

Budgets are assessed for realism and proportionality, not simply for maximum funding.

Who Is Eligible?

• Experienced journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, audio producers, or multimedia storytellers

• Professional experience with prior published or broadcast work or a recognised independent channel

• Ability to demonstrate a clear publication or broadcast pathway for the proposed story

• Proposed stories must have a strong African focus, grounded in African contexts, communities, or landscapes

• Submission must include at least three examples of previous work

What Is Not Supported

The grant does not support:

• Promotional or advocacy content

• Generic wildlife stories without a human dimension

• Simplistic narratives framing conservation as purely successful or failing

• Stories that remove social, political, or economic context

• Content produced primarily for organisational communications or marketing purposes

• Projects requiring extensive editorial development or technical capacity-building to reach publishable standards

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Prepare Proposal – Develop an original story concept grounded in African conservation contexts

2. Demonstrate Professional Experience – Provide prior published or broadcast work (minimum three examples)

3. Select Story Format – Choose single-format, multi-part, or visual/film-based story to determine funding tier

4. Submit Application – Include story synopsis, planned publication/broadcast pathway, and budget

5. Assessment – Applications are evaluated on originality, quality, feasibility, human-centred focus, and African context relevance

Tips and Common Mistakes

• Avoid submitting stories without a clear human-centred focus

• Ensure that budgets are realistic and proportional to the scope of the story

• Do not submit stories that require major editorial or technical support to be publishable

• Focus on stories that are grounded in real communities and African landscapes

• Avoid narratives that are overly promotional, simplified, or sentimental

Why It Matters

This program promotes human-centred conservation storytelling, recognising that long-term conservation success depends on understanding people, rights, and livelihoods.

It:

• Strengthens professional storytelling in conservation

• Amplifies African voices and perspectives

• Highlights innovations, tensions, and trade-offs in conservation work

• Contributes to a deeper understanding of how conservation intersects with human realities

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply?

Experienced journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, audio producers, and multimedia storytellers with professional published or broadcast work.

2. What story topics are eligible?

Stories must explore human-centred conservation with a strong African focus, showing real-world impacts, governance, rights, and community interactions.

3. What is the maximum funding available?

Funding ranges from USD 5,000 to USD 12,000, depending on story format and complexity.

4. Are international applicants eligible?

Yes. Applicants can be based anywhere in the world, but stories must focus on African contexts.

5. Can advocacy or promotional content be funded?

No. The grant does not support advocacy, promotional content, or marketing-focused stories.

6. How many prior works must applicants provide?

At least three examples of previous published or broadcast work.

7. Can projects requiring editorial support be funded?

Projects that need extensive editorial development or technical support to reach publishable quality are unlikely to be supported.

Conclusion

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant empowers professional storytellers to create impactful, publishable stories that centre people in conservation narratives.

By funding original, high-quality stories focused on African contexts, this program advances understanding of the complex relationship between people and conservation, highlighting challenges, successes, and opportunities for sustainable, human-centred outcomes.