Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2026 to 2027

Applications are open for the Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2026 to 2027, an international journalism opportunity designed to support journalists reporting on local solutions to global crises, with a particular focus on gender. The inaugural fellowship will select up to five journalists from countries eligible for Official Development Assistance.

The fellowship is offered by the Equality Fund in partnership with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and African Women in Media. It is designed to strengthen fact based journalism that brings attention to locally driven responses to major global challenges and helps ensure that the experiences and solutions of communities are represented in public conversations.

Selected fellows will participate in six months of programming from January 2027, followed by an additional three months to complete and publish their reporting. Fellows will receive a CAD 4,000 stipend, reporting support, professional development opportunities and access to experienced journalists and experts.

About the Fellowship

The Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship seeks to support journalists who can tell compelling, fact based stories about local solutions to global crises. The programme places particular emphasis on gender and on reporting that highlights people and communities developing responses to complex challenges.

Possible areas of reporting include climate change, gender based violence, authoritarianism, anti rights movements, sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic injustice, war and conflict.

The fellowship will run from January to September 2027. The first six months will focus on programming, learning and development, while the additional three months will allow fellows to finalize their publication.

Fellows will retain editorial independence and intellectual property rights over their work. They are expected to follow trauma informed reporting practices and, where possible, conduct community roundtables as part of their reporting process.

Fellowship Benefits

• CAD 4,000 fellowship stipend

• Up to CAD 500 for reporting expenses

• Six months of structured fellowship programming

• Additional three months to finalize and publish reporting

• Monthly online meetings with journalists and subject matter experts

• Journalism and ethics learning sessions

• Safety training from the International Women's Media Foundation and Freedom of the Press Foundation

• Access to experienced journalists and experts

• One in person fellowship convening

• Travel expenses for the in person convening

• Editorial independence throughout the fellowship

• Opportunity to publish reporting on local solutions to global crises

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to full time journalists

• Open to independent freelance journalists

• Minimum of three years of journalism experience

• Must be located in an ODA recipient country

• Must be reporting on communities in an ODA recipient country

• Should report primarily on their own communities and geographies

• Must provide three strong journalism samples demonstrating relevant reporting experience

• Must be fluent in English

• Must be able to participate in meetings during daytime hours in Eastern Standard Time

• Must have a strong affinity with the Equality Fund mission and values

• Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply

• Women, non binary and transgender journalists are particularly encouraged to apply

• Must have a bank account capable of receiving international Electronic Wire Transfers

The fellowship welcomes women, men and LGBTQI+ journalists. Applicants should also be prepared to follow trauma informed reporting practices and participate in community engagement activities where possible.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be considered based on their journalism experience, quality and range of previous work, connection to the communities they report on, and alignment with the purpose of the fellowship.

The selection process will take place in phases. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide a letter of editorial commitment from a news outlet. In cases where an applicant intends to self publish, this may be replaced with a suitable fact checking plan.

Applicants should also note that the use of artificial intelligence in the fellowship proposal and application is not permitted. Any use of AI during the journalistic process must be disclosed to the programme and approved in advance.

Required Application Materials

• Completed fellowship application

• Three strong journalism samples

• Information demonstrating at least three years of journalism experience

• Details about the applicant's journalism and reporting background

• Proposed reporting concept related to local solutions to global crises

• Information demonstrating connection to the community or geography being reported on

• Editorial commitment letter from a news outlet if requested during the later stage of the application

• Fact checking plan if the work will be self published and this is accepted in place of an editorial commitment

• Bank account capable of receiving international Electronic Wire Transfers

Shortlisted applicants should be prepared to provide additional information as part of the phased selection process.

How to Apply

1. Review the Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship eligibility requirements and confirm that you are located in and reporting on an ODA recipient country.
2. Prepare three strong journalism samples that demonstrate your reporting experience and range.
3. Develop a reporting idea focused on local solutions to a global crisis, with attention to gender where relevant.
4. Prepare the required application information and submit the fellowship application through the official application process.
5. Ensure that you can participate in online meetings during daytime hours in Eastern Standard Time.
6. If shortlisted, prepare the additional materials requested during the next stage, including an editorial commitment letter or an appropriate fact checking plan for eligible self published work.