RFAs: Local Stories on the Role of Civic Participation Program (Ukraine)

Deadline: 24-Jun-2026

The Local Stories on the Role of Civic Participation Program is designed to support regional journalists in producing high-quality media content that explores the relationship between citizens, local authorities, and community development.

The fellowship encourages fact-based reporting on civic engagement, democratic governance, transparency, social initiatives, and community-driven solutions to local challenges. It also supports journalism that combats misinformation and promotes informed public dialogue.

Through financial support and professional mentoring, the program aims to strengthen local journalism and increase public awareness of civic participation’s role in democratic development.

Fellowship Details

• Program Name: Local Stories on the Role of Civic Participation Program
• Target Group: Regional and local journalists
• Fellowship Amount: USD 500
• Implementation Period: July–August 2026
• Minimum Required Outputs: Two media materials
• Selection Method: Independent expert jury evaluation
• Support Provided: Financial fellowship and mentoring assistance

Purpose of the Fellowship

The fellowship seeks to encourage the production of media content that demonstrates how civic participation contributes to solving local problems and strengthening democratic processes.

Key objectives include:

• Promoting quality journalism on civic engagement.
• Highlighting cooperation between communities and local authorities.
• Supporting transparency and accountability in local governance.
• Raising awareness of community development initiatives.
• Encouraging evidence-based reporting.
• Countering misinformation, fake news, and information manipulation.
• Supporting informed public discussion on democratic practices.
• Examining post-war reconstruction challenges and opportunities.

Key Themes

Applicants should focus their proposed media content on one or more of the program’s priority themes.

Civic Participation and Community Problem Solving

Content may explore:

• Community-led solutions to local challenges.
• Citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
• Public participation in local development projects.
• Examples of successful civic engagement initiatives.

Transparency and Local Democracy

Possible topics include:

• Transparent governance practices.
• Public access to information.
• Accountability of local authorities.
• Democratic decision-making processes.
• Citizen oversight and monitoring mechanisms.

Community Development and Local Life

Applicants may cover:

• Social development initiatives.
• Local economic development efforts.
• Community resilience projects.
• Cultural and social cohesion activities.
• Grassroots community-building efforts.

Civic Activism and Volunteer Initiatives

Relevant stories may include:

• Volunteer movements.
• Community activism campaigns.
• Civil society initiatives.
• Youth engagement projects.
• Local leadership examples.

Countering Misinformation and Fake News

Potential topics include:

• Media literacy efforts.
• Fact-checking initiatives.
• Information verification practices.
• The impact of misinformation on communities.
• Strategies for combating information manipulation.

Post-War Reconstruction and Recovery

Content may address:

• Community recovery efforts.
• Local reconstruction challenges.
• Citizen participation in rebuilding processes.
• Governance during reconstruction.
• Long-term development priorities in affected areas.

Supported Content Formats

The fellowship supports a variety of storytelling formats.

Eligible formats include:

• Multimedia longreads.
• Video reports.
• Thematic feature articles.
• Analytical articles.
• Audio storytelling.
• Podcasts.
• Multimedia journalism projects.

Applicants are encouraged to use innovative storytelling approaches and multimedia tools where appropriate.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements.

Eligible candidates include:

• Journalists working for regional media outlets.
• Journalists working for local media organizations.
• Freelance journalists collaborating with regional or local media.
• Media professionals capable of publishing fellowship-supported materials through eligible media outlets.

Applicants must also:

• Have sole proprietorship registration.
• Be able to complete project activities within the specified timeframe.
• Submit only one proposal.
• Propose at least two planned media materials.
• Provide a portfolio containing at least two published examples related to civic participation, civic activism, or community engagement.

Why This Fellowship Matters

Local journalism plays an important role in strengthening democratic participation and community development.

This fellowship helps journalists:

• Produce in-depth and impactful reporting.
• Highlight underreported local issues.
• Promote civic engagement and public dialogue.
• Strengthen professional journalism standards.
• Improve storytelling and multimedia reporting skills.
• Increase public understanding of governance and community issues.
• Counter misinformation through credible reporting.

The program also contributes to stronger local democracies by encouraging informed citizen participation.

How the Fellowship Works

The fellowship follows a structured process from application to publication.

Step 1: Develop a Story Proposal

Applicants should identify relevant local issues connected to the program themes and develop a clear content concept.

The proposal should explain:

• The selected topic.
• Its relevance to local communities.
• Planned story angles.
• Expected public value and impact.

Step 2: Submit Required Documents

Applicants should prepare:

• Fellowship application form.
• Project proposal.
• Portfolio samples.
• Evidence of eligibility requirements.
• Publication plan for the proposed content.

Step 3: Evaluation Process

Applications will be reviewed by an independent jury of experts.

Reviewers will assess:

• Relevance to fellowship themes.
• Significance of the proposed topic.
• Clarity and quality of the content concept.
• Potential audience reach.
• Expected social impact.
• Planned use of multimedia tools.
• Applicant’s experience and portfolio.

Step 4: Fellowship Selection

Successful applicants will be selected based on the evaluation criteria and overall proposal quality.

Step 5: Content Production

Selected fellows will:

• Produce at least two media materials.
• Work with mentors throughout the fellowship.
• Apply ethical journalism standards.
• Complete all activities within the fellowship period.

Step 6: Publication and Dissemination

Completed materials should be published through regional or local media outlets and made accessible to the intended audience.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications may receive up to 50 points.

The jury will evaluate proposals based on:

• Relevance to program themes.
• Importance of the selected topic.
• Quality of topic justification.
• Clarity and detail of the content concept.
• Potential audience reach.
• Expected community impact.
• Use of multimedia storytelling tools.
• Demonstrated journalism experience.
• Quality of submitted portfolio materials.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their chances by:

• Selecting a timely and relevant local issue.
• Demonstrating clear public interest value.
• Showing how the story supports civic participation.
• Presenting a well-structured content plan.
• Including strong multimedia elements.
• Demonstrating audience engagement potential.
• Providing high-quality portfolio samples.
• Explaining the expected impact of the proposed reporting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Proposing topics unrelated to fellowship themes.
• Providing vague story concepts.
• Failing to explain community relevance.
• Overlooking multimedia opportunities.
• Submitting weak or unrelated portfolio samples.
• Proposing unrealistic production schedules.
• Ignoring ethical journalism considerations.

Expected Impact

The fellowship is expected to contribute to:

• Increased public awareness of civic participation.
• Stronger local journalism.
• Improved coverage of governance and democracy issues.
• Greater transparency and accountability.
• Enhanced community engagement.
• Better public understanding of reconstruction and recovery challenges.
• Reduced impact of misinformation and fake news.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the value of the fellowship?

• Each selected fellow will receive USD 500.

Who can apply?

• Regional journalists, local journalists, and freelance journalists collaborating with eligible media organizations may apply.

How many media materials must be produced?

• Fellows must produce a minimum of two media materials during the fellowship period.

What content formats are eligible?

• Multimedia longreads, video reports, analytical articles, thematic features, podcasts, audio content, and other multimedia journalism formats are eligible.

Is mentoring support provided?

• Yes. Selected fellows will receive mentoring support to improve storytelling, ethical reporting, and coverage of democratic practices.

How are applications evaluated?

• Applications are reviewed by an independent expert jury using established scoring criteria worth up to 50 points.

What topics are most relevant to the fellowship?

• Civic participation, local governance, transparency, community development, civic activism, misinformation, democratic practices, and post-war reconstruction are among the key priority themes.

Conclusion

The Local Stories on the Role of Civic Participation Program provides an important opportunity for regional journalists to produce impactful reporting on civic engagement, democratic governance, and community development. By combining financial support with professional mentoring, the fellowship encourages high-quality journalism that strengthens public dialogue, promotes transparency, and highlights the role of citizens in shaping local communities.

Journalists with a strong interest in civic participation, local democracy, community activism, and fact-based storytelling should consider applying for this fellowship to expand their reporting impact and contribute to informed public discourse.

For more information, visit Public Space.