Deadline: 13 November 2017
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network is seeking applications for its second round of reporting grants to support fisheries and environment journalism in West Africa as part of a wider and recently launched capacity building project in the region.
With the overall goal of improving journalists’ ability to expertly tackle the often overlapping issues of overfishing, illegal fishing, food security and ocean governance, the project aims to further explore the economic and social consequences of overfishing on coastal communities, through stories and investigations.
The two-year project reflects the goals of Target 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG14) adopted in 2015 by the UN General Assembly to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”
Story Themes
- EJN welcomes all story ideas relating to fisheries management in West Africa. EJN is looking to bring awareness to new and/or underreported threats or solutions to the management of West African fisheries. Stories and applications may be in either English or French.
- Special consideration will be given to applicants looking to conduct in-depth, investigative or enterprise reporting on the following topics:
- the impact of overfishing and IUU fishing on coastal communities,
- the use of destructive fishing practices, bycatch and fish aggregating devices
- community-led fisheries management initiatives
- poverty reduction and food security through sustainable fisheries
- challenges of transboundary management of fisheries and shared stock
- In addition, EJN is especially looking to receive applications from the journalists who attended the African Journalists for Sustainable Fisheries Workshop.
Funding Information
EJN is offering up to $500 per grant with some flexibility for deep, investigative stories using innovative approaches to storytelling.
Eligibility Criteria
- Working Journalists (online, print, television) and other expert media practitioners based in West African countries are welcome to apply.
- Applicants who have a track record of reporting on fisheries or other environmental issues will have an advantage, but EJN is open to supporting professional journalists who can offer other types of expertise (for instance, in business reporting).
- EJN encourages freelancers and staff from all types of media outlets—both large and small—to submit applications, but please indicate where applicants expect to publish or broadcast their story.
- EJN encourages journalists who attended the African Journalists for Sustainable Fisheries Workshop to apply for the grants.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
Eligible Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, the island of Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe and Togo.
For more information, please visit Earth Journalism Network.