Deadline alert: Applications close on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11pm US Eastern Time. That’s 5am on Monday 9 November in Lagos, 6am in Johannesburg and Cairo, and 7am in Nairobi. Apply now.
The Equality Fund, a Canadian global fund for gender equality, has launched its first Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship. It will choose 5 journalists from countries that receive official development aid (ODA), which includes almost every African country, to report on local solutions to global crises, with a focus on gender. Each fellow gets a CAD 4,000 stipend, up to CAD 500 for reporting costs, mentoring from leading journalists, and a funded in-person meeting.
The fellowship is run with African Women in Media (AWiM) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).
At a Glance
| Organiser | Equality Fund, with African Women in Media and CJFE |
| Places | Up to 5 journalists |
| Stipend | CAD 4,000, plus up to CAD 500 in reporting expenses |
| Duration | January – September 2027 (6 months of programming, then 3 months to finish publishing) |
| Format | Monthly online meetings plus one in-person meeting (travel covered) |
| Who can apply | Working journalists in ODA-recipient countries with at least 3 years’ experience |
| Deadline | 8 November 2026, 11pm US Eastern Time |
What the Fellowship Is About
Each fellow must publish at least one story about local solutions to global crises, with a focus on gender, reported from their own community. The Equality Fund gives these examples of global crises:
- climate change
- gender-based violence
- authoritarianism and anti-rights movements
- rollbacks of sexual and reproductive health and rights
- economic injustice
- war and conflict
Benefits
- A CAD 4,000 stipend
- Up to CAD 500 for reporting expenses
- Monthly online sessions with experienced journalists and experts, including climate journalist Nina Lakhani (The Guardian, Drilled) and journalism ethics professor Kelly Kimball (CUNY)
- Safety training from the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation
- One in-person convening, with travel expenses covered. The location and dates haven’t been announced yet.
- Full editorial independence. You keep the rights to your work, and freelancers can also keep any fee the publishing outlet pays them.
Eligibility
- A working journalist on any platform (text, digital, video or audio), either full-time or freelance.
- At least three years of journalism experience.
- Based in and reporting on communities in an ODA-recipient country. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cameroon and almost every other African country are on the list.
- Three strong work samples that show a range of relevant reporting.
- Fluent English, and able to join meetings during daytime hours in US Eastern Time.
- A bank account that can receive international wire transfers.
- Applications are welcome from women, men and LGBTQI+ people. Women, non-binary and trans people are especially encouraged.
Important: using AI to write your proposal or application is not allowed. Any AI used during your reporting must be disclosed and approved in advance.
How to Apply
- Read the official application guidelines and FAQ (links below).
- Prepare your three best journalism samples and a story idea about a local solution to a global crisis, with a gender focus.
- Fill in the online application form before 8 November 2026, 11pm US Eastern Time.
- If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be asked for a letter of editorial commitment from a news outlet. If you self-publish, a fact-checking plan may be accepted instead.
Official application guidelines and form · Official fellowship announcement
Questions: [email protected], with the subject line “Questions for Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship”.
Tips
- Pitch a solution, not just a problem. Show who in your community is responding to the crisis and how.
- Start talking to an editor now. A letter of commitment from an outlet will make your application stronger at the next stage.
- Write it yourself. AI-written applications are not allowed.
