EJN Media Grants 2026 — Up to £10,000 to Strengthen Forest Governance Reporting in Africa & Asia

High-quality, evidence-based journalism plays a critical role in uncovering threats to forests, amplifying the voices of affected communities, and informing public debate on policy and sustainability. The EJN Media Grants 2026 provide targeted funding to media organisations and journalistic institutions in Africa and Asia to strengthen reporting on forest governance issues — from illegal logging to policy enforcement gaps and community land rights.

This funding opportunity, supported by UK international development resources, empowers journalists and newsrooms to elevate under-reported environmental stories and spotlight both challenges and solutions tied to forest management.

What Are the EJN Media Grants 2026?

The EJN Media Grants 2026 are competitive grants designed to support projects that:

• Increase media coverage and public understanding of forest governance issues
• Build journalistic capacity for evidence-based and engaging reporting
• Amplify the voices of marginalised communities affected by forest governance dynamics
• Attract attention from policymakers, stakeholders, and international audiences to key forest governance challenges and solutions

Each selected media organisation will receive funding to develop strategic, impactful reporting initiatives tailored to national and regional contexts.

Funding & Grant Amount

• Grant Size: Up to £10,000 per project
• Number of Grants: Up to nine grants anticipated
• At least one grant per eligible country
• Smaller, focused budgets may be more competitive, while larger amounts may be awarded for resource-intensive, innovative projects

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible organisations and applicants must meet the following:

• Location: Must be based in Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Vietnam, or Indonesia
• Applicant Type:
  • Media organisations and newsrooms
  • Journalist networks and professional associations
  • Civil society organisations or academic institutions engaged in journalism capacity building
• Preference: Projects led by or affiliated with professional journalists or journalism schools are prioritised
• Language: Applications must be submitted in English (organisers cannot process other languages)
• Non-political: Projects rooted in advocacy or political campaigning will not be considered
• Transparency: Applicants must be transparent about any use of AI tools in proposal development
• Standards: Grantees must commit to high standards of journalism, including inclusion of diverse voices and balanced sourcing

Focus Areas & Priority Themes

Supported projects may address one or more of the following forest governance topics:

• Impacts of illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion
• Land rights of indigenous and local communities
• Implementation and enforcement of forest law and policy
• Forest trade agreements and legality systems (e.g., timber certification, FLEGT/VPA)
• Climate-related drivers of deforestation and solutions
• Equitable and sustainable forest management strategies

Judging Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by a panel of journalism and environmental experts based on:

• Quality and clarity of the proposal
• Relevance to the objectives of the grant programme
• Potential impact and innovation in project design
• Financial viability and cost-effectiveness
• Capacity of the applicant to execute the project
• Geographic representation of grantees

Application Deadline

📅 February 26, 2026
This deadline is firm — submissions must be completed and received before the closing time to be considered.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Review the eligibility criteria and priority themes
2. Define a clear reporting project concept, target audience, and expected impact
3. Prepare a detailed budget and work plan that aligns with grant objectives
4. Complete the official online application before the deadline

👉 Apply via the official grant portal

Why This Grant Matters

Forest governance is central to addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social equity. Independent journalism in forest-rich countries plays a pivotal role in revealing the complexities behind resource use, policy enforcement, and community resilience.

The EJN Media Grants 2026 empower journalists to produce in-depth, evidence-based content that contributes to more informed public discussions and stronger accountability in forest policy systems.