Africa-China Reporting Project Grants 2019 for African Journalists

Application Deadline: 14th April 2019

Offered annually? Yes


Eligible Countries: African countries and China

About the Award: The Project is seeking applications from journalists for two different types of reporting grants:

• Audio/visual reporting grants: For audio or video reporting projects by journalists established at media houses and preferably with the necessary equipment readily available, as the grant will likely not be sufficient to cover hiring of equipment and full production costs
• Investigative reporting grants: For print and/or online investigations by journalists working at media houses as well as freelance journalists. Preference will be given to applicants able to include established publishing platforms and the involvement of investigating or other partners in their proposals

This is the first time that the Project has opened a call specifically for audio/visual reporting grants; in 2018 the Project launched the first call for investigative reporting grants. Via this call for both audio/visual and investigative reporting grants the Project seeks to promote dynamic storytelling and reporting of Africa-China investigations focusing on specific issues that are in the public interest and have a relevance to China’s and Chinese interests’ roles, activities and impact in Africa.
The Project encourages journalists to submit proposals that aim to bring to light fresh and nuanced investigations with new findings about complex Africa-China relations, and if possible that involves other partners and institutions who can collaborate on and expand the investigations (the Project can potentially assist applicants to form partnerships with investigating partners in Asia and elsewhere). Of importance is for applicants to present fresh and important ideas and a feasible plan to carry them out.

Fields of Research: Within the Africa-China framework there are various issues where fresh and ground-breaking reporting can be undertaken, such as the following:

• Economy: Corporate activities, criminal networks, business links, etc.
• Development and infrastructure: Ground-breaking and/or problematic projects and deals, community impact, etc.
• Social: Health, public services, etc.
• Governance: Government dealings/engagements, aid and development assistance, education and sponsorships, etc.
• Environment: Following-up on the ban in ivory trade, complexities of implementation; poaching & trafficking; pollution, etc.
• Agriculture: Ground-breaking agricultural developments/exchanges, crop yields and new strains, etc.

• And more topics such as Industrialisation; Chinese company activities; Dangerous and/or illegal industrial operations; Community engagement & mobilization; Chinese support and activities in favor of regional integration; Chinese private security in Africa and the arms trade; Activities of and engagements with Chinese communities in Africa; Anti-piracy measures; Chinese corporate social responsibility in Africa, etc.

These are suggested themes, but there could be many others, and as long as the focus is within the broad Africa-China framework the Project will consider each proposal on its own merits.

Type: Grants

Eligibility:The Project is looking for experienced investigative journalists who have new and fresh ideas and the means to deliver them.

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Grants: 

• The grants are intended to provide funding for travel, accommodation and sundry daily expenses, but not car hire, purchase of equipment or professional fees, or to buy publication space
• Grants are generally as much as $3000
• Grant recipients will be paid 75% of the grant total at the outset, and the remaining 25% when (and if) the feature is published on a news media platform/publication

Duration of Grants: The reporting project should be completed and published within three months of the receipt of the grant funding unless otherwise agreed

How to Apply:  Please address an email with the heading APPLICATION: AUDIO-VISUAL REPORTING GRANT or APPLICATION: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING GRANT and containing the following items (in attachments in MS Word or PDF formats) to ACRPapplications@gmail.com by no later than 14 April:

• Applicant CV, and list of previous Africa-China reporting and/or previous investigative or audio/visual journalism reporting
• Proposal for story to be investigated, with a clear proposed headline at the start and a brief report of WHAT will be investigated and HOW, including a detailed methodology for how and where the investigation will be undertaken
• Audio/visual reporting proposals should include a draft production storyboard to support the methodology
• An indication of where the investigation will be published or aired, and which partners if any will be used or required and how this will expand the investigation
• A detailed budget with specific line items totalling as much as US$3,000

Visit Grants Webpage for details