Deadline: June 30, 2026
Applications are open for the EJN Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions Story Grants 2026. Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) aims to build the capacity of journalists and social media content creators to produce engaging stories that communicate biodiversity values and increase the quality and quantity of media stories on biodiversity, as well as nature-based solutions to climate change and other environmental threats.
In partnership with NABU through the SYMBIOTIC Project, EJN is pleased to offer up to 25 story grants to selected journalists and social media content creators from the SYMBIOTIC target countries—Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and Madagascar—to report on biodiversity and nature-based solutions. In addition to funding, selected journalists will receive support from experienced mentors through the story production process.
Story Themes
They welcome story ideas that focus on biodiversity and nature-based solutions to climate change and other environmental threats.
Themes that applicants may explore, include but are not limited to:
- The importance of biodiversity for non-environmental sectors such as education, media, finance and planning
- Local community actions to protect biodiversity that are linked with national planning and global frameworks
- Effectiveness of the implementation of national biodiversity action plans
- Examples of effective nature-based solutions
- Benefits of human co-existence with wildlife
- Value chain and other types of innovations that reduce or remove threats to biodiversity
- Biodiversity-friendly agriculture
- Coastal and mangrove management
- Embedding biodiversity in governance reforms
- Institutionalizing Indigenous biodiversity knowledge and practices
Grant
- They expect to award up to 25 grants with an average budget of EUR 1, 800 each.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan or Madagascar.
- Groups of journalists and content creators are eligible, especially for cross-border story ideas. However, the application must be made in the name of one lead applicant. Lead applicants are responsible for communicating with EJN and receiving funds on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
- For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will only be accepting applications in English Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio), social media content creators and other expert media practitioners with professional reporting experience. We welcome applications from early-career and experienced reporters/creators. We encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations–international, national, local and community-based.
- Applicants are required to be transparent about the use of generative AI tools, if any, to revise their proposals. EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, submitting AI-generated content as their own.
Judging Criteria
Applicants should consider the following points when devising their story proposals:
- Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Why does this story matter and to whom? Is the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly defined?
- Angle: If the story has been covered, does your proposal bring new insights to the topic or offer a fresh angle?
- Reach: Does the proposed media outlet have a wide reach? Journalists publishing their work at outlets that typically restrict content behind paywalls are encouraged to secure commitments to publish from additional outlets, or request an exception to ensure their EJN-supported story remains accessible to audiences.
- Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and spur action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.
- Plan for timely publication: Reporters, whether freelance or employed at a media outlet, will need to include a letter of support from an editor in their application, committing to publish the stories by October 31, 2026.
Application
For more information, visit EJN Grant.
