Call for Proposals: Fisheries Story Grant Program (Liberia)

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is offering Fisheries Story Grants of up to US$500 to journalists and media practitioners in Liberia’s nine coastal counties. The grants support evidence-based and ethical stories on fisheries transparency, illegal fishing, labor conditions, small-scale fisheries, food security, and sustainable fisheries governance.

About the Fisheries Story Grants

The Fisheries Story Grants are part of the Fisheries Transparency Project in Liberia, funded by Oceans 5 and implemented by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).

The initiative supports high-quality journalism and storytelling that can increase public awareness and accountability in Liberia’s fisheries sector.

The grants are intended to help journalists investigate and communicate issues affecting:

Fisheries transparency and governance
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Small-scale fishing communities
Food security and coastal livelihoods
Labor conditions on foreign-flagged fishing vessels
Fisheries monitoring and vessel tracking
Traditional fishing rights
Competition over marine resources
Community-led fisheries management
Protection of Liberia’s Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ)

Why the Fisheries Story Grants Matter

Liberia’s fisheries sector plays an important role in food security, employment and coastal livelihoods. However, illegal fishing, weak transparency, labor abuses and competition for marine resources can negatively affect fishing communities.

The Fisheries Story Grants aim to strengthen public-interest journalism and evidence-based storytelling around these challenges.

Supported stories can help:

Increase transparency in fisheries management.
Highlight the experiences of coastal communities.
Investigate illegal and unsustainable fishing practices.
Draw attention to labor rights and working conditions at sea.
Promote protection of small-scale fishers.
Support informed public discussion and policy advocacy.
Encourage stronger fisheries governance and accountability.

What Types of Stories Are Supported?

Applicants can propose stories addressing important fisheries-related issues in Liberia.

Potential topics include:

Fisheries transparency: How fisheries resources are managed and monitored.
Illegal fishing: Evidence and impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Coastal communities: How fisheries practices affect livelihoods and food security.
Inshore Exclusion Zone: The importance of protecting the IEZ for small-scale fishers.
Labor conditions: Working conditions and potential abuses experienced by Liberians working on foreign-flagged vessels.
Vessel monitoring systems: How vessel monitoring technology is used to improve fisheries oversight.
Community-led management: Local initiatives designed to protect and sustainably manage fisheries.
Traditional fishing rights: Challenges affecting traditional fishing practices and access to marine resources.
Resource competition: Conflicts or pressures arising from competition for fisheries resources.

Proposals should focus on evidence-based, ethical and impactful storytelling rather than general commentary without supporting evidence.

Funding Amount

Selected applicants can receive up to US$500 per story.

At least four grants are expected to be awarded, although the final number may depend on the quality and number of applications received.

Applicants should prepare realistic budgets based on the proposed story.

The grant does not support the purchase of new equipment. Applicants are expected to use their existing equipment and resources for story production.

Who Is Eligible?

The Fisheries Story Grants are open to journalists and media practitioners based in Liberia’s nine coastal counties.

Eligible applicants include:

Professional journalists
Freelance journalists
Media practitioners
Online journalists
Print journalists
Television journalists
Radio journalists

Applicants must be based in one of Liberia’s nine coastal counties.

Stories may be produced in:

English
Local or colloquial languages, provided an English translation is included

What Formats Can Be Submitted?

The grant supports several forms of journalism and media production.

Eligible formats include:

News articles
Feature articles
Video documentaries
Audio or radio documentaries
Blogs
Other suitable online, print, television or radio storytelling formats

Applicants should identify the media outlet or platform where they expect to publish or broadcast the completed story.

What Should a Strong Proposal Demonstrate?

A competitive proposal should clearly explain the story idea and why it matters.

Applicants should demonstrate:

A clear fisheries-related issue or investigation.
Evidence that the proposed story addresses a relevant public-interest concern.
An ethical approach to gathering and presenting information.
A realistic plan for producing the story.
Existing resources and equipment available for production.
A clear intended publication or broadcast platform.
Potential impact on public awareness, accountability or fisheries governance.
A realistic budget within the US$500 maximum grant amount.

How the Fisheries Story Grant Works

Applicants can approach the opportunity as a focused journalism project.

Step 1: Identify a fisheries issue

Select a specific and important fisheries-related issue affecting Liberia, particularly coastal communities.

Step 2: Develop the story concept

Define the central question, people or communities involved, available evidence and expected public-interest value.

Step 3: Choose the appropriate format

Decide whether the story will be produced as an article, documentary, radio feature, blog or another eligible format.

Step 4: Prepare a production plan

Explain how research, interviews, field reporting, documentation and verification will be conducted.

Step 5: Prepare the budget

Request only the costs necessary to produce the story. New equipment purchases should not be included.

Step 6: Identify the publication or broadcast outlet

State where the completed story is expected to appear, such as an online platform, newspaper, television station or radio station.

Step 7: Submit the proposal

Submit the completed proposal according to the application instructions provided by the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Important Application Tips

Applicants should keep several points in mind when developing their proposals:

Focus on a specific fisheries issue rather than an overly broad topic.
Explain why the issue matters to Liberian communities.
Use evidence and credible sources wherever possible.
Consider the perspectives of affected fishing communities.
Follow ethical journalism and safeguarding principles.
Clearly identify the intended audience.
Explain where the story will be published or broadcast.
Keep the budget realistic and within US$500.
Do not budget for new equipment.
If producing a story in a colloquial language, include an English translation.
Demonstrate how the story could contribute to transparency, accountability or public understanding.

Potential Impact of Supported Stories

The Fisheries Story Grants can provide journalists with resources to investigate issues that may otherwise receive limited coverage.

Well-produced stories can contribute to greater awareness of:

The effects of illegal fishing on local fishers.
Fisheries-related threats to food security.
Labor conditions aboard fishing vessels.
The importance of the Inshore Exclusion Zone.
Marine resource management.
Fisheries monitoring and transparency.
Community-led conservation and management.
Policy and governance challenges affecting Liberia’s fisheries sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fisheries Story Grant?

The Fisheries Story Grant is a small journalism grant supporting evidence-based and ethical stories about fisheries transparency, governance, illegal fishing, labor conditions, small-scale fisheries and related issues in Liberia.

How much funding is available?

Successful applicants can receive up to US$500 per story. At least four grants are expected to be awarded, subject to the number and quality of applications.

Who can apply for the grant?

Journalists and media practitioners, including freelancers, who are based in Liberia’s nine coastal counties can apply.

What types of stories can be produced?

Applicants can produce news or feature articles, video documentaries, audio or radio documentaries, blogs and other suitable media stories addressing relevant fisheries issues.

Can applicants request funding to purchase equipment?

No. The grant does not support the purchase of new equipment. Applicants are expected to use their existing resources for story production.

Can stories be produced in local languages?

Yes. Stories can be produced in English or colloquial languages. Stories produced in a colloquial language must include an English translation.

Do applicants need to identify where the story will be published?

Yes. Applicants must indicate the publication or broadcast outlet or platform where they expect to publish or broadcast their completed story.

Conclusion

The Fisheries Story Grants provide an opportunity for Liberian journalists and media practitioners to investigate and communicate important issues affecting the country’s fisheries sector. With grants of up to US$500, the initiative supports public-interest storytelling on illegal fishing, fisheries transparency, labor rights, food security, small-scale fisheries and sustainable marine resource management.

Journalists based in Liberia’s nine coastal counties with a strong, evidence-based story idea can use the opportunity to amplify community voices and contribute to greater transparency and accountability in fisheries governance.