Media Grants to Strengthen Reporting on Forest Governance Issues in Africa and Asia

Deadline: 26-Feb-2026

The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is inviting grant applications to support high-quality, evidence-based journalism on forest governance in key forest countries. The grants aim to strengthen journalistic capacity, amplify marginalized voices, and improve public understanding of sustainable and equitable forest management at national and international levels.

Overview of the Earth Journalism Network Forest Governance Grants

The Earth Journalism Network is seeking proposals for projects that enhance the ability of journalists and media organizations to produce impactful reporting on forest governance. The initiative focuses on strengthening media capacity, supporting in-depth investigations, and improving coverage of policies, practices, and power dynamics affecting forests and forest-dependent communities.

Core Objectives of the Grant Programme

The grant programme is designed to:

• Strengthen journalistic skills and editorial capacity on forest governance

• Support evidence-based, investigative, and solutions-oriented reporting

• Amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)

• Increase public awareness of threats to forests and pathways to sustainability

• Improve accountability in forest-related policies, trade, and enforcement

Priority Focus Areas and Themes

Supported projects should address one or more of the following thematic priorities:

• Journalistic capacity building and newsroom strengthening

• In-depth reporting on forest governance systems and failures

• Marginalized community perspectives and land rights

• Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation

• Solutions for equitable and sustainable forest management

Country-Specific Reporting Priorities

Projects may focus on one or more of the following country contexts:

• Indonesia: deforestation linked to oil palm plantations and mining, IPLC land rights, forest law enforcement, social forestry, SVLK and FLEGT-licensed timber

• Vietnam: timber trade, REDD+, FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement implementation, benefit sharing mechanisms

• Cameroon: REDD+, community forestry, illegal logging, cocoa plantations, forest law enforcement

• Liberia: illegal logging, mining, deforestation, financial crimes, EU–Liberia forest governance agreements

• Ghana: impacts of gold mining and cocoa production on forests, FLEGT licensing

International Forest Governance and Trade Issues

The programme also supports reporting on global and regional processes affecting forest countries, including:

• EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products

• REDD+ mechanisms and climate finance

• Global Biodiversity Framework implementation

• International timber trade and legality systems

Funding Amount and Number of Grants

The grant programme will support:

• Nine selected organizations

• Funding of 10,000 GBP per organization

• At least one grant awarded per eligible country
  Smaller budgets are generally more competitive, though larger grants may be considered for innovative or resource-intensive proposals.

Project Duration and Timeline

All supported projects must adhere to the following timeframe:

• Project start: April 2026

• Project duration: six to twelve months

• Final completion deadline: no later than March 2027

Content and Output Requirements

Projects focused primarily on content production must:

• Deliver substantial journalistic outputs such as multi-part investigations, documentary series, or podcast series

• Include capacity-building components if producing fewer than ten stories

• Demonstrate strong editorial planning and audience impact

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Media organizations and newsrooms

• Journalist networks and professional associations

• Civil society organizations engaged in journalism or media support

• Academic institutions with journalism or media programmes
  Applicants must be based in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cameroon, Liberia, or Ghana. Preference is given to applicants with a clear professional journalism affiliation.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The following applications will not be considered:

• Advocacy-driven or political campaigning proposals

• Projects without a strong journalistic focus

• Applicants lacking editorial independence or credibility

Why This Grant Matters

This grant is critical for:

• Improving accountability in forest governance and trade

• Strengthening independent journalism in forest-rich countries

• Elevating underreported community and Indigenous perspectives

• Supporting informed public debate on deforestation and climate change

• Enhancing global understanding of forest-related policies and impacts

How the Grant Programme Works

The programme follows a structured approach:

1. Applicants submit detailed project proposals aligned with priority themes

2. Proposals are assessed for editorial quality, feasibility, and impact

3. Selected organizations receive funding and editorial support

4. Projects are implemented with regular progress reporting

5. Final outputs are published and disseminated to target audiences

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Review eligibility criteria and priority focus areas

2. Define a clear journalistic angle and target audience

3. Develop a detailed work plan, budget, and timeline

4. Demonstrate editorial independence and professional standards

5. Submit the complete application before the stated deadline

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting advocacy or campaigning-focused proposals

• Proposing superficial or single-story outputs without depth

• Weak evidence, sourcing, or investigative methodology

• Unrealistic timelines or underdeveloped budgets

• Ignoring country-specific or international priority themes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Earth Journalism Network?

The Earth Journalism Network is a global initiative that supports journalists and media organizations to improve coverage of environmental and climate issues.

How much funding is available per project?

Each selected organization will receive 10,000 GBP, with flexibility for innovative proposals requiring higher budgets.

How many organizations will be funded?

A total of nine organizations will be supported, with at least one selected from each eligible country.

When must projects start and end?

Projects must begin in April 2026 and be completed within six to twelve months, no later than March 2027.

Can individual journalists apply?

The call prioritizes media organizations and networks; individual journalists may apply if affiliated with a professional journalism entity.

Are advocacy projects eligible?

No, applications rooted in advocacy or political campaigning will not be considered.

What types of outputs are expected?

Expected outputs include investigative series, multimedia packages, podcasts, or other substantial journalistic products.

Conclusion

The Earth Journalism Network forest governance grants offer a strategic opportunity for media organizations in key forest countries to strengthen journalistic capacity and produce impactful reporting. By supporting independent, evidence-based journalism, the programme contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and sustainability in forest governance at national and global levels.

For more information, visit Earth Journalism Network.