The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant 2026 is inviting experienced journalists, filmmakers, photographers and audio storytellers to develop high-quality, publishable stories that examine conservation through the experiences, realities and perspectives of people across Africa.

The grant is designed for storytellers who can move beyond conventional wildlife and conservation narratives and produce thoughtful, evidence-based stories that explore how conservation interacts with communities, livelihoods, rights, governance, economies, health, culture, land use and coexistence with wildlife.

With funding of up to US$12,000, applicants can seek support through three funding tiers depending on the scale and requirements of their proposed story. The next application round opens on 1 September 2026, with applications closing on 29 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

This opportunity is particularly relevant to established storytellers who already have the professional skills, editorial experience and access necessary to produce work suitable for publication, broadcast or distribution through an established media outlet or independent platform.

Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant 2026 at a Glance

What Is the Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant?

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant is a commissioning grant intended to support high-quality and publishable storytelling about conservation in Africa.

The central idea behind the grant is that conservation should not be presented solely through ecological or wildlife perspectives. Conservation policies and projects affect real people, communities and economies, and those human realities can be essential to understanding whether conservation efforts succeed, fail or produce unintended consequences.

The grant therefore seeks stories that investigate conservation through issues such as:

• Human rights
• Community livelihoods
• Governance
• Resource access
• Land use
• Local economies
• Health
• Culture
• Food systems
• Energy
• Climate adaptation
• Wildlife coexistence
• Community decision-making
• Conservation-related trade-offs
• Social and political realities surrounding conservation

Rather than encouraging simplistic narratives, the grant is looking for storytellers who can demonstrate depth, curiosity, careful reporting and respect for complexity.

Successful stories may examine situations where human-centred conservation is producing positive outcomes, situations where it is failing, or the complicated space between success and failure.

Why Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Matters

Conservation stories are sometimes presented in highly simplified ways. A project may be portrayed as an uncomplicated success, or a conservation challenge may be presented as an uncomplicated failure.

However, conservation frequently involves competing interests and difficult decisions.

For example, a conservation initiative can have positive ecological outcomes while simultaneously creating challenges for communities whose livelihoods depend on land or natural resources. Similarly, community participation can contribute to better conservation outcomes, but only when participation is meaningful and communities have a genuine role in decision-making.

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant seeks to bring these realities into public discussion.

The supported stories can therefore help audiences understand:

1. Who is affected by conservation decisions
2. Who benefits from conservation initiatives
3. Who bears the costs
4. How communities interact with natural resources
5. How conservation policies affect livelihoods
6. How governance influences conservation outcomes
7. How people coexist with wildlife
8. What happens when conservation principles are absent
9. How communities innovate in response to environmental challenges
10. What can be learned from both successful and unsuccessful conservation efforts

This makes the opportunity particularly valuable for professional storytellers interested in producing journalism and creative work that contributes to a deeper understanding of conservation in African societies.

What Kind of Stories Is the Grant Looking For?

The grant does not prescribe one particular format or storytelling angle.

Instead, applicants are encouraged to develop strong, original stories that place people and context at the centre of conservation narratives.

Proposed stories may explore three broad areas.

1. Where Human-Centred Conservation Works

Applicants can investigate examples where conservation approaches that recognise human realities have contributed to better outcomes.

A story might explore:

• How community participation improves conservation
• How local knowledge influences environmental management
• How conservation supports livelihoods
• How communities and wildlife successfully coexist
• How inclusive governance improves conservation outcomes
• How locally led initiatives produce sustainable solutions

The important element is not simply to celebrate a successful project but to investigate what made the approach work and what can be learned from it.

2. Where Human-Centred Conservation Falls Short

The grant is also interested in stories that critically examine situations where conservation approaches have failed to adequately account for people and their realities.

Such stories could investigate:

• Exclusion of communities from decision-making
• Conflicts over natural-resource access
• Displacement or livelihood challenges
• Governance failures
• Unintended consequences of conservation policies
• Tensions between conservation goals and local economic needs
• Gaps between conservation policy and implementation

These stories should provide appropriate context rather than simply portraying conservation as either good or bad.

3. The Tensions and Trade-Offs Between Success and Failure

Some of the most compelling conservation stories may not fit neatly into either success or failure.

The grant welcomes stories that explore the complexities, contradictions and trade-offs surrounding conservation.

For example, a story could examine how a conservation initiative produces environmental benefits while creating economic challenges for certain communities, or how communities balance wildlife protection with food security.

The objective is to encourage storytelling that reflects conservation as it is actually experienced by people.

Potential Themes for Applicants

Applicants do not have to select from a fixed list of themes. However, the grant indicates that stories could engage with areas such as:

• Conservation governance
• Natural-resource use
• Community livelihoods
• Wildlife and human coexistence
• Food systems
• Energy
• Health
• Climate adaptation
• Land-use decisions
• Community rights
• Local knowledge
• Conservation economics
• Environmental justice
• Community resilience
• Social and political dimensions of conservation

The subject matter should ultimately connect back to the central principle: putting people and their lived realities at the heart of conservation storytelling.

What the Grant Is Not Looking For

Understanding what is excluded is just as important as understanding what is encouraged.

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant is not intended to support the following types of work:

Promotional or advocacy content

The grant is not designed to finance material primarily intended to promote an organisation, campaign, conservation project or institution.

Generic wildlife stories

A wildlife story without a strong human dimension is unlikely to meet the grant’s central purpose.

Oversimplified conservation narratives

Stories presenting conservation as purely successful or purely failing without investigating the underlying complexities are not the intended focus.

Stories without social, political or economic context

Applicants are expected to explore the wider circumstances in which conservation takes place.

Organisational marketing material

Content primarily produced for organisational communications or marketing purposes is outside the grant’s intended scope.

Applicants should therefore approach their proposal as independent, thoughtful storytelling, rather than as promotional communications for an organisation.

Who Is the Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant For?

The grant is aimed at experienced professional storytellers with the ability to produce work that meets established editorial and professional standards.

The opportunity specifically identifies:

• Journalists
• Filmmakers
• Photographers
• Audio storytellers

The ideal applicant should already have the relevant skills, experience and access necessary to take a story from concept to a professional, publishable or broadcast-ready product.

This is important because the grant is not primarily a training or capacity-building programme.

The organisers indicate that they are unlikely to support proposals requiring extensive editorial development, capacity-building or technical assistance before the work can reach publishable quality.

Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate previous work and professional readiness.

Publication, Broadcast or Distribution Requirement

One of the most important eligibility requirements is that applicants must already have a credible pathway for their proposed story to reach an audience.

Because of the high level of interest in the grant, applications must demonstrate an established route to publication, broadcast or distribution.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following conditions:

1. Confirmed commitment from an established media organisation

The applicant may have a confirmed commitment from an established:

• Media outlet
• Broadcaster
• Distribution platform

to publish, broadcast or distribute the proposed story.

2. Applying through a media outlet or platform

An applicant may apply on behalf of, or have publishing or commissioning authority within, the organisation that will eventually publish, broadcast or distribute the story.

3. Established independent platform

Applicants may also intend to publish, broadcast or distribute the story through their own established independent channel or platform, provided that the platform already has an existing audience.

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of the relevant publication or distribution pathway.

This means that having a strong story idea alone may not be enough. Applicants should begin thinking about where the finished work will appear and how it will reach its intended audience.

Funding Available: Up to US$12,000

The grant offers three different funding levels.

Tier 1: Up to US$5,000

Applicants with smaller-scale storytelling projects can apply for funding of up to US$5,000.

Tier 2: Up to US$8,000

Applicants requiring a larger budget can seek up to US$8,000.

Tier 3: Up to US$12,000

The highest funding category provides up to US$12,000 for suitable storytelling projects.

Important note about the funding tiers

Applicants do not have to request the maximum amount available under a particular tier.

Budgets are assessed according to:

• Realism
• Proportionality
• The requirements of the proposed project
• The scale of the proposed storytelling work

Applicants should therefore prepare a budget that is clearly connected to the proposed story rather than simply requesting the largest possible amount.

What Should Applicants Submit?

Applications are submitted online and require several important components.

Applicants should prepare:

1. A short story pitch

The pitch should communicate the central idea of the proposed story and explain why it is important.

A strong pitch should make clear:

• What the story is about
• Who is at the centre of the story
• What conservation issue is being explored
• Why the story matters
• What makes the story original
• What human realities the story will reveal

2. Examples of previous work

Applicants must demonstrate their professional storytelling experience through examples of previous work.

These examples are important because the grant is aimed at experienced storytellers who can work to professional editorial standards.

3. Evidence of a publication or distribution pathway

Applicants should provide evidence showing where the proposed story can be published, broadcast or distributed.

This could involve:

• A confirmed media commitment
• A commissioning arrangement
• Evidence of authority within a media organisation
• An established independent platform with an existing audience

4. A summary budget

Applicants must provide a budget corresponding to the funding tier they are applying for.

The budget should be realistic and proportional to the proposed work.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

The selection panel will assess applications according to several key criteria.

1. Quality and clarity of the story pitch

The proposed story should be clearly presented and demonstrate a compelling narrative idea.

The selection panel will need to understand what the applicant intends to investigate and why the story deserves support.

2. Alignment with Human-Centred Conservation

The story should clearly demonstrate that conservation will be examined through a human-centred perspective.

Applicants should avoid proposals that focus solely on wildlife or ecological issues without adequately addressing people, communities and context.

3. Professional experience and editorial readiness

The applicant should demonstrate the experience and skills necessary to produce a professional-quality story.

Previous work samples are therefore an important part of the application.

4. Feasibility and budget realism

The proposed project should be achievable within the requested funding amount.

Applicants should demonstrate that their budget is appropriate for the scale and requirements of the story.

Is the Grant Competitive?

Yes.

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant is a competitive funding opportunity.

Meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.

The organisers state that only applications meeting the eligibility requirements will be considered for review, and not all eligible applications will receive funding.

Applicants should therefore make their proposals as clear, compelling and well-supported as possible.

Can Previous Applicants Apply Again?

Yes.

Applicants who applied during the previous round are welcome to apply again.

However, previous applicants should not simply resubmit their old application.

Because the organisers have made changes to the application form and the information requested, previous applicants must:

1. Complete a new application.
2. Provide the information requested for the current round.
3. Ensure their proposed story meets the current eligibility requirements.
4. Provide updated evidence where necessary.

Important Dates for the 2026 Grant

The application timeline is straightforward.

Application opening date

1 September 2026

Application deadline

29 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT

Applicants should not wait until the final day to submit their application.

Because the application requires a story pitch, previous work samples, publication or distribution evidence and a budget, prospective applicants should begin preparing their materials before the deadline.

How to Apply for the Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant

Applications are submitted online through the grant’s application platform.

Applicants should prepare the required materials before beginning the submission process.

Application checklist

Before submitting, make sure you have:

• A clear and compelling story pitch
• Examples of your previous professional work
• Evidence of your publication, broadcast or distribution pathway
• A realistic budget
• A clear connection to Human-Centred Conservation
• A proposal that places people and context at the centre
• A story that is suitable for professional publication, broadcast or distribution

Application deadline: 29 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

Apply HERE

Official Grant Information and Terms

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the full terms and conditions before submitting an application.

The official grant page provides information about the opportunity, application process and eligibility requirements.

Visit the Official Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant page HERE

Applicants should also review the full Terms and Conditions before applying.

For questions concerning eligibility or the application process, applicants can contact info@jamma.co. The organisers advise applicants to first review the grant page and Terms and Conditions because many common questions are already addressed there. Individual feedback on applications will not be provided.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Although the grant is competitive, applicants can improve their applications by focusing on the elements the selection panel is looking for.

1. Develop a genuinely human-centred story

Do not simply take a conventional wildlife or conservation story and add a human-interest element.

Instead, build the story around the people whose lives, decisions, rights, livelihoods or communities are connected to the conservation issue.

2. Demonstrate complexity

Avoid portraying conservation as simply a success story or a failure.

Show the tensions, trade-offs, contradictions and realities that exist on the ground.

3. Explain why the story matters

Your pitch should make the significance of the story immediately understandable.

Explain what audiences can learn from the story and why the issue deserves greater attention.

4. Demonstrate professional readiness

Choose previous work samples that best demonstrate your ability to investigate, report, photograph, film or otherwise tell complex stories professionally.

5. Establish your distribution pathway early

This is particularly important.

Before applying, identify where the story could realistically be published, broadcast or distributed and obtain appropriate evidence of that pathway.

6. Keep the budget realistic

Do not automatically request US$12,000 simply because it is the maximum.

Your budget should correspond to the actual requirements of your story.

Conclusion

The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant 2026 presents an important opportunity for experienced African-focused storytellers to investigate conservation beyond conventional wildlife narratives.

With funding of up to US$12,000, the grant can support journalists, filmmakers, photographers and audio storytellers who have the professional experience and access needed to produce high-quality work for established media outlets, broadcasters or independent platforms.

The strongest proposals will be those that place people at the centre of conservation stories while maintaining the complexity of the social, political, economic and environmental realities involved. Applicants should demonstrate professional experience, a compelling story pitch, a realistic budget and a credible pathway for publication, broadcast or distribution.

The 2026 application period opens on 1 September 2026 and closes on 29 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Prospective applicants should begin preparing their story pitch, previous work samples, distribution evidence and budget well before the deadline.

Discover more global Grant Opportunities on OFY HERE