Applications are open for the Pulitzer Center Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants 2025. The Pulitzer Center's Africa Outreach Program, launched in 2022, engages young professionals and impacted communities on issues of deforestation, ocean and marine resource management, water resources preservation, and the impacts of climate change on labor and workers highlighted in Pulitzer Center-supported stories.
About Pulitzer Center Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants
Opportunity Details
- Date Published: April 03, 2025
- Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
- Category: Grants
- Eligible Locations: Africa
The "Knowledge and Action Talks" outreach program-which includes a series of forums, dialogue sessions, collaborations with participatory local radio programs, online campaigns, and exhibitions-enabled young professionals and communities to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and reflect on crucial economic, social, and environmental issues with representatives from the media, public administration, business and civil society, and think tanks.
Building on its model of leveraging Pulitzer Center-supported stories, the Africa outreach program is launching the Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants, also known as "ACE Micro Grants," a call for outreach proposals for local movements in Africa to apply with innovative ideas for outreach activities that clearly and creatively integrate one or more Pulitzer Center stories, while targeting young professionals or communities on topics including the rainforest, ocean and marine protection, spaces, and the impacts of climate change on labor and workers.
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THEY SUPPORT
Examples of activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Multi-stakeholder dialogue:Facilitating transparent and meaningful dialogues that bring together affected communities, journalists, decision-makers, and think tanks to advance climate and environmental action;
- Community engagement:Knowledge-sharing activities between journalists and communities to amplify underreported issues and underrepresented voices;
- Creative campaigns: Supporting creative campaigns to raise awareness on climate and environmental issues by amplifying journalism reporting and the diverse voice of affected communities;
- Other innovative projects: Creative ideas such as art exhibitions or other innovative media and platforms are also accepted.
Type of activities that are beyond the scope of this grant:
- Projects that are not using Pulitzer Center-supported reporting or does not involve Pulitzer Center-supported journalists;
- Projects targeting the formal education system: those targeting university, primary and secondary schools, students, teachers, professors, academics, or researchers;
- Projects related to journalism capacity-building, training, or reporting grants;
- Projects whose main purpose and activities are totally or partially irrelevant to outreach;
- Direct advocacy or lobbying, such as participating in congressional or parliamentary meetings;
- Campaigns that involve or indirectly endorse political candidates or parties.
Benefits of Pulitzer Center Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants
- Grants range from USD $2,500 to USD $3,000. They expect projects to be implemented and concluded within four months of approval.
Pulitzer Center Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants Requirements
- Types of organizations: This micro grant is intended for grassroots organizations, civil society organizations and coalitions, youth movements, and other groups working on issues relating to the intersection of climate and labour, the environment, journalism, civil rights, and active citizenship in Africa.
- Capacity for collaboration: A track record of co-creating impactful projects with other organizations and operational capacity to manage micro-grant resources from an international organization.
- Alignment with key issues: Proven experience working on the identified topics (climate change, the rainforest, the ocean, and transparency and governance).
- Affiliation or past experience with the chosen target: Direct connection with the chosen target (young professionals or impacted communities), either through membership or through evidence of past experience of collaboration.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Journalism-inspired: All projects must utilize at least one reporting and involve one journalist supported by the Pulitzer Center as a central part of the project. The journalists can be involved at various levels, for project development and consultation, for example. Their participation will need to be confirmed once the project has been selected.
- Audience-centric: Describe the project's target audience and why this project is important for them. It is important to note that the target audience should be between the ages of 25 and 45 and should not be part of the formal education system;
- Impact-focused: Designed to achieve short-term outcomes that align with:
- Improving the awareness and critical thinking of communities on key climate, environment, and intersectional issues;
- Contributing to more informed and transparent dialogues and decisions, practices, and policies related to climate, the environment, and its intersectional issues;
- Equipping communities with information to take action at the local or global level.
PROJECT DURATION
The maximum duration for the proposal's implementation is four months (June–September). Upon approval of the project proposal and the signing of the agreement with the Pulitzer Center, the funds will be transferred to the grant-receiving organization's bank account. Formal start and end dates for the project will be established in the agreement with the Pulitzer Center. Applicants must submit financial and narrative reports at the end of the grant period, and outcomes achieved. Partners are not obliged to collect detailed receipts.
Application Date and Process
The application must include the following (see the link below):
- A general description of the proposed project in no more than 400 words. This should include the objectives, problem statement and rationale, proposed activities, intended impact of the proposed project, and the Pulitzer Center-supported reporting and, where relevant, the journalist to be involved in this project;
- Description of the target audience and projection (number) of the total audience reached;
- Strategy (or methodology);
- Activity implementation timeline;
- A preliminary budget estimate, including a cost forecast;
- If the proposed activities include knowledge exchange activities with Indigenous peoples or traditional communities, a statement from a community member demonstrating consent must be submitted. This can be in the form of a message or letter;
- A copy of the curriculum vitae (only) of the applicant organization's representative, including a letter of recommendation (from department heads or the directors of your organization/workplace).
- Proof of a connection with the community (affiliation or past collaborative experience).
Please read the guidelines for detailed information on eligibility and micro-grant procedures in English here.
Application Deadline
30 April, 2025
Scholarship Application Portal
Apply for Pulitzer Center Africa Climate and Environment Micro Grants