Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant

Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant is sponsored by Human-Centred Conservation. This grant supports high-quality, publishable stories that explore conservation as it is lived and experienced by people. It encourages nuanced storytelling that reflects the complexity of conservation in African contexts and brings human perspectives to the forefront.

Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant - Jamma Conservation and Communities Hit enter to search or ESC to close Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant Applications open in September Supporting high-quality journalism and storytelling that explores conservation through human realities in Africa. A commissioning grant for experienced journalists, filmmakers, photographers, and audio storytellers.

Meet the March 2026 Human-Centred Storytelling Grantees The Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant supports high-quality, publishable stories that explore conservation as it is lived and experienced by people. Too often, public narratives about conservation are simplified, sentimental, or detached from social, political, and economic realities.

This grant responds to the need for deeper, more nuanced storytelling that reflects the complexity of conservation in African contexts and brings human perspectives to the forefront. The grant commissions experienced storytellers who already work to professional editorial standards and who have the access, skills, and ambition to produce work suitable for publication or broadcast through established media platforms.

What Is Human-Centred Conservation? Human-Centred Conservation recognises that conservation outcomes are shaped not only by ecological considerations, but by people, their rights, livelihoods, governance systems, knowledge, and choices.

It acknowledges that long-term conservation success depends on how conservation intersects with lived realities, including land use, resource access, economies, health, culture, and coexistence with wildlife. Stories supported through this grant reflect these realities, whether by showing where human-centred approaches contribute to better outcomes, or where their absence undermines conservation efforts.

What Kind of Stories Are We Looking For? We are seeking strong, original stories that explore conservation through a human-centred lens. This means stories that recognise that conservation outcomes are shaped not only by ecology, but by people, their rights, livelihoods, governance systems, knowledge, choices, and the realities of living with wildlife and natural resources.

Where Human-Centred Conservation works, and what enables it Where it falls short, and how the absence of these principles limits conservation outcomes The tensions, trade-offs, and lived experiences that sit between success and failure We are equally interested in stories of hope, innovation, and resilience, as well as stories that surface challenges, contradictions, or unintended consequences.

We are not prescriptive about format or angle. Stories may engage with themes such as governance, resource use, livelihoods, coexistence with wildlife, food systems, energy, health, climate adaptation, or land-use decisions – but these are not requirements. What matters is that the story places people and context at the centre, and avoids simplified or purely sentimental narratives.

What we are looking for is evidence of careful thinking and reporting: curiosity, depth, respect for complexity, and attention to how conservation is lived and experienced.

What We Are Not Looking For This grant is not intended to support: Promotional or advocacy content Generic wildlife stories without a strong human dimension Simplified narratives that frame conservation as either purely successful or purely failing Stories that remove social, political, or economic context Content produced primarily for organisational communications or marketing purposes We are also unlikely to support proposals that require extensive editorial development, capacity-building, or technical support to reach publishable quality.

Applicants may apply for one of the following funding tiers: Suitable for written, audio, or single-format stories Suitable for multi-part stories or more complex reporting Suitable for visual or film-based projects Budgets do not need to reach the maximum tier amount. All budgets will be assessed for realism and proportionality.

Publication, Broadcast or Distribution Requirement Due to the high level of interest in the grant, we can only consider applications that already have a credible and established pathway to publication, broadcast or distribution.

To be eligible, applicants must meet at least one of the following: Have a confirmed commitment from an established media outlet, broadcaster or distribution platform to publish, broadcast or distribute the proposed story. Be applying on behalf of, or have publishing or commissioning authority within, the media outlet, broadcaster or platform that will publish, broadcast or distribute the story.

Intend to publish, broadcast or distribute the story through their own established independent channel or platform with an existing audience. Applicants will be asked to provide evidence of the relevant publication or distribution pathway as part of their application.

Applications are submitted online via our application platform and include: Examples of previous work Information and supporting evidence of the proposed publication, broadcast or distribution pathway A summary budget aligned with the selected funding tier This is a competitive process. Only applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered for review. Applied in the previous round?

Previous applicants are welcome to apply again and will be considered for funding. As we have made some changes to the application form and the information we ask applicants to provide, you will need to complete and submit a new application for this round. This is a competitive process.

Only applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered for review. Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel based on: Quality and clarity of the story pitch Alignment with the principles of Human-Centred Conservation Evidence of professional experience and editorial readiness Feasibility and realism of the proposed budget Not all eligible applications will be funded.

Application opening date – 1 September 2026 Deadline – 29 September 2026, 23:59 GMT For questions about eligibility or the application process, please contact: info@jamma. co Before contacting us, please check this page and the Terms & Conditions, which cover the most common questions about the grant. Due to the high volume of enquiries, we may not be able to respond to questions already addressed in these resources.

We are unable to provide individual feedback on applications. Before applying please read the Full Terms & Conditions Beneath the Baobab Podcast Human-Centred Conservation Storytelling Grant Photography Competition 2026 Eland School is a community-based education initiative in the Khomani San community of South Africa’s Kalahari, delivering culturally sensitive early education.

The school integrates the national curriculum with Indigenous knowledge and traditions to strengthen cultural identity and prepare learners for successful transition into secondary education. Northern Cape, South Africa EVDO Digital Community Support Centre In many African rural areas, access to digital tools and support remains limited, leaving people of all ages disconnected from opportunity .

This project is creating a central hub where community members can access support, build CVs, search for jobs, and stay informed. Rietfontein, South Africa African Community Resource Rights Alliance Is a registered Indigenous-led organisation working to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Africa. This study examines the welfare impacts on wildlife from both human-caused and naturally induced mortality.

Oxford – partners with ALU in Kigali, Rwanda. Research impacts and relates to Southern Africa Exploring the Role of Hunting as a form of Sustainable Use in Conservation and Wildlife Management This project conducts rigorous research to examine the potential role of regulated hunting in conservation.

Oxford based but research will impact Africa Disrupting Nature’s Discourse This groundbreaking project is the first to comprehensively assess the combined economic, conservation, and cultural benefits of non-commercial wild animal harvests in North America and southern Africa.

Based in Canada – North America and Southern Africa This project aims to unlock the $30 billion potential of Southern Africa’s wildlife economy by strengthening Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) practices.

Based in Florida but carried out in (Mozambique, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) Enhancing the Impact of the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group This initiative strengthens the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi) to expand its reach and influence, especially within the Global South.

Based in London with Global membership network spreading to Eastern and Southern Africa region IUCN Human-Wildlife Conflict Specialist Group This project provides critical support to governments developing policies to manage human-wildlife conflict (HWC), an escalating issue as human populations expand into wildlife habitats.

Global network with a focus in Africa Aquaculture for Sustainable Livelihoods This project introduces sustainable fish farming practices to the Mkushi and Luano districts, where food security and income stability are pressing challenges. This project takes a multi-faceted approach to improving livelihoods, health, and education in Zambia’s Mkushi and Luano regions.

Strengthening Human-Wildlife Coexistence for Sustainable Conservation Human-wildlife conflict (HWC), especially with elephants, is a growing challenge in Mozambique, endangering conservation and community livelihoods. As populations expand, conflicts intensify, leading to crop destruction, property loss, and diminishing tolerance for wildlife. This project supports a comprehensive HWC management system across 32 high-impact districts.

Strengthening the Organisational Capacity of CLN Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) across Southern Africa often face barriers to having their voices heard in decisions about natural resources that directly impact their lives.

The Community Leaders Network (CLN) plays an essential role in advocating for these communities on issues like natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism.

Namibia – Windhoek (but spreads out to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, and Madagascar) Conserving Leopards in a Changing Landscape This project addresses leopard conservation in the Western Cape, South Africa, a region where human encroachment and habitat fragmentation threaten wildlife.

Based in Eastern and Western Cape – South Africa This project investigates perceptions around controversial conservation issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Based in Oxford but carried out in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe This project amplifies the voices of Southern African rural communities who rely on sustainable wildlife management for their livelihoods and cultural heritage.

Based in Zimbabwe (but network spreads across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, and Madagascar)