Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant Program

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant supports experienced journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, audio producers, and multimedia storytellers to produce high-quality stories exploring conservation as it is lived and experienced by people in African contexts. The grant aims to encourage more nuanced and complex conservation narratives by moving beyond simplified or sentimental portrayals. It supports stories that place people and their experiences at the centre while examining the social, political, economic, and environmental dimensions of conservation. Applicants can apply for one of three funding tiers: up to USD 5,000, up to USD 8,000, or up to USD 12,000.

About the Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant

The grant was established to address the need for more complex and people-centred narratives about conservation. Conservation stories are often presented primarily through environmental or wildlife perspectives. This grant encourages storytellers to explore how conservation actually affects and is shaped by people, communities, institutions, economies, and local decision-making. Supported stories should bring human perspectives to the forefront and explore the realities that influence conservation outcomes. What Is the Grant Looking For? The programme seeks strong, original stories that examine conservation through the experiences of people living and working in African contexts.

Stories can explore:

- People’s rights - Livelihoods - Governance - Local knowledge - Individual and community choices - Land use - Access to resources - Local economies - Health - Culture - Coexistence with wildlife - Food systems - Energy - Climate adaptation Applicants are encouraged to explore both the positive and difficult dimensions of conservation. Focus on Human Experiences A central feature of the grant is its focus on conservation as a lived experience. Applicants should consider how conservation policies, projects, decisions, and outcomes affect people in their daily lives. This can include examining how communities experience changes in land access, resource availability, livelihoods, wildlife interactions, governance systems, or environmental conditions. The goal is to produce stories that provide context and show the complexity behind conservation outcomes. Exploring Conservation Successes and Challenges The grant does not require stories to present conservation entirely as either successful or unsuccessful. Applicants are encouraged to investigate the realities that shape conservation, including: - Successes - Challenges - Tensions - Trade-offs - Conflicting interests - Community experiences - Social and economic consequences - Different perspectives on conservation decisions This approach can help audiences understand conservation as a complex process influenced by human choices, institutions, livelihoods, rights, and environmental conditions. Who Can Apply? The opportunity is designed for experienced storytellers and media professionals working in relevant fields. Eligible professional backgrounds include: - Journalists - Writers - Filmmakers - Photographers - Audio producers - Multimedia storytellers Applicants should have the professional experience necessary to produce high-quality work suitable for publication or broadcast. Publication and Broadcast Experience Applicants must demonstrate previous experience sharing their work with an established audience.

They should have either:

- Prior publication or broadcast experience, or - An established independent channel with a recognised audience This requirement is intended to ensure that supported stories have the potential to reach audiences through credible and established distribution channels. African Focus Requirement Proposed stories must have a strong African focus. Applicants should clearly demonstrate how their proposed story relates to conservation and human experiences within African contexts. The African focus should be central to the proposed storytelling rather than being a secondary element. Previous Work Samples Applicants must submit at least three examples of previous work. These samples should help demonstrate the applicant’s storytelling experience and ability to produce high-quality journalism, creative work, or multimedia content. Applicants should select examples that best demonstrate their professional storytelling abilities and relevance to the proposed project. Funding Tiers Applicants can select from three available funding levels. Up to USD 5,000 This tier is suitable for appropriately scoped storytelling projects that can be completed with a budget of up to USD 5,000. Up to USD 8,000 Applicants with projects requiring a larger level of support can request up to USD 8,000. Up to USD 12,000 The highest funding tier provides up to USD 12,000 for eligible storytelling projects. Applicants must ensure that their proposed budget aligns with one of the three available funding tiers. Eligible Storytelling Themes The grant provides flexibility for storytellers to investigate different dimensions of conservation.

Potential themes include:

- Conservation and governance - Natural resource use - Community livelihoods - Wildlife coexistence - Food systems - Energy access and use - Public health - Climate adaptation - Land-use decisions - Rights and resource access - Local knowledge - Conservation economies The strongest proposals are likely to connect these themes to real people, communities, experiences, and decisions. Why Context Matters in Conservation Storytelling Conservation outcomes are influenced by more than environmental conditions alone. People’s rights, livelihoods, access to resources, governance structures, knowledge, and choices can all shape how conservation works in practice. Human-centred storytelling can help audiences understand these connections and provide a more complete picture of conservation in African contexts. What Makes a Strong Story Proposal? A s