InfoCongo Stories, Maps and Data Visualization Grant for Journalists 2017

InfoCongo invites journalists, designers, developers, cartographers and data experts to submit a proposal for our Stories, Maps and Data Visualization Grants.

Application Deadline: 20th May 2017

Eligible Countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia

About the Award: InfoCongo.org is a news and data platform of Internews´ Earth Journalism Network in Central Africa. Launched in August 2015, the initiative aims to identify and amplify local and international reporters dedicated to covering environmental issues in the region. Our main focus is to show the impacts of environmental change on human lives and ecosystems. For this reason, we prioritize stories about forests, water, climate change, wildlife, extractive industries, conflicts and crimes.

InfoCongo uses geo-referenced information, mapping and data visualization to tell stories and we welcome collaboration with fellow journalists, designers, developers, mapmakers and others to help us communicate the region’s most pressing issues. The grant opportunity is open to media and design professionals from Congo Basin countries, as well as to other nationalities interested in these issues or already working in the region.

Type: Grants

Eligibility: Our fund offers small grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 to support stories and visuals that reveal and illuminate pressing issues in the Congo Basin. Proposals should focus on the production of one or more story, map or data visualization element.

We welcome proposals from independent journalists and also from established (small and big) media outlets. Graphic designers, mapmakers, videographer and photographers are also welcome to apply, provided they can show examples of past work. Ideally, applicants should be based in a Congo Basin country and/or demonstrate that the impact of the story on their audience will positively influence development in the Congo region.

Proposals must indicate an outlet in which the applicant plans to publish. These outlets are free to air or publish the material first, so long as they agree to joint publication on InfoCongo.org and the Earth Journalism Network website. If selected, a signed agreement will require commitment from the media outlet to publish or broadcast the story, assuming it meets editorial standards.

Selection Criteria: We are interested in proposals that focus on:

• Illegal exploitation and trade in wildlife and forest resources in the Congo Basin;
• The cost of human conflicts on forest and conservation;
• Climate change and forest-related stories;
• The social and environmental costs and benefits of specific national and regional development projects such as dams, mines, industrial zones, ports, oil and gas projects, roadways and economic land and forestry concessions;
• Environmental Impact Assessments and responsible investment policy and practice, and other social and environmental safeguards;
• Positive stories highlighting best practices for regional development projects, policies or practice.

Value of Award: InfoCongo will consider stipend requests for journalists, web developers, photographers, videographers, data analysts and cartographers. Expenses for travel, research and/or database access, and translation may also be covered. Fixed costs for office supplies or equipment, however, will not be covered.

We expect budgets to not exceed $1,500 per proposal.

How to Apply: As part of the application process, applicants will need to provide an itemized budget that estimates expenses for the project and details how the funds will be used. Budget will be reviewed based on the criteria outlined above (see “What Expenses May Be Covered?”).

Please download this budget form to complete your application

Visit Grants Webpage for details

Award Provider: Earth Journalism Network