Hivos and IIED, together with Climate Tracker, are happy to launch the Sustainable Food Media Fellowship to fund journalists from Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia to work on investigative reports.

We are looking for young journalists from Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia who want to write incredible stories about the production of food and access to sustainable diets in their home country. This will be a great opportunity for 10-15 journalists to conduct important investigative reports and receive an exclusive 4-week journalism training designed by Climate Tracker’s team. The chosen fellows will receive an investigative story grant to cover food issues back in their home country – all mentored by the Climate Tracker Team.

Your role as a fellow

As a fellow, you will be required to attend and fully participate in the 4-week journalism course as well as submit all assignments and homework associated with the course. Upon your completion of the course you will then be asked to come up with a constructive pitch and work plan for a food story in your country. Climate Tracker will help you throughout this process. Once your pitch and work plan has been approved, you will enter an 8-weeks fellowship period where you will receive the grant and will have to work on your story. You will be required to update your Climate Tracker mentor with your progress on a weekly basis. As a fellow you are also expected to engage with other members in the team via our newly created Slack community, where Climate Tracker team will be sharing any useful information and stories.

I’m interested! What do I have to do?

Join the competition by signing up on the Climate Tracker app and submitting the following:

• Your CV (upload it to any online drive and share the link)
• Samples of your previous work (preferably related to sustainable diets and agriculture topics)
• A pitch for a food story idea in your country

Your food story idea can focus on key challenges, innovations or solutions on any of the following themes:

• Food and nutrition security in the context of Covid-19
• The nexus of Climate Change and its impact on Agriculture
• Agriculture and its Environmental footprint

The combination of the best work, and best pitches will win this incredible opportunity. The call for applications will close at midnight on 26 June (GMT+3). Start thinking about your ideas and apply now!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible for this opportunity?

In order to be eligible for this opportunity you have to be:

• From Kenya, Uganda or Zambia (not necessary to be based there)
• 18 to 35 years old
• Have a proven record of journalism work

2. What’s the timeline?

• 26 June (midnight, GMT+3): deadline to submit applications
• 29 June: shortlisted applicants are notified
• 3 July: Final results are announced
• 3-31 July: 4-week online journalism course
• 3 August – 28 September: 8-week reporting fellowship

3. What can I submit as work samples?

Your work sample should be a piece (preferably related to the competition theme) published in local, national or international media outlets. Unfortunately, we can’t accept self-owned blog entities.

4. Does it have to be a written publication?

No! As long as you can send us a link or some evidence of your work in the media to highlight sustainable diets and food challenges, we’ll accept it. We love getting radio clips, PDFs of printed journalism, podcast links and TV snippets.

5. I don’t have a lot of experience in journalism, can you help me?

Absolutely! Climate Tracker is passionate about helping people build their writing and journalism skills. Check out the toolkits they have on their website here. You can also reach out to them directly at Lina@climatetracker.org