The Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2027 is inviting applications from working journalists in Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries who report on their own communities and geographies. The new fellowship will support journalists producing fact-based stories about local solutions to global crises, with a particular focus on gender.
Launched by the Equality Fund in partnership with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) and African Women in Media (AWiM), the programme will select a cohort of up to five journalists for six months of programming, followed by an additional three months to finalise publication.
The fellowship provides a CAD 4,000 stipend, up to CAD 500 in reporting expenses, professional learning opportunities and an in-person convening with travel expenses included.
The fellowship is designed to support journalists whose reporting brings attention to solutions being developed within communities facing major global challenges.
The programme will run from January to September 2027, including six months of fellowship programming and up to three additional months for fellows to complete and publish their stories.
Each fellow is expected to publish at least one story focusing on local solutions to global crises, with gender as a central consideration.
The initiative is open to journalists working across different media formats, including text, digital, video and audio.
Key Details
- Fellowship: Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship
- Cohort: Up to 5 journalists
- Eligible applicants: Working journalists in ODA-recipient countries
- Programme period: January–September 2027
- Programming: 6 months
- Publication period: Additional 3 months
- Stipend: CAD 4,000
- Reporting expenses: Up to CAD 500
- Format: Text, digital, video and audio journalism
- Employment status: Full-time and independent freelance journalists eligible
- In-person convening: Included, with travel expenses covered
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open to working journalists based in ODA-recipient countries. Applicants should be reporting on their own communities and geographical areas.
The programme welcomes applications from women, men and LGBTQI+ people, according to the fellowship’s published selection criteria.
Both full-time journalists and independent freelance journalists can apply. The opportunity is therefore designed to accommodate journalists working within established news organisations as well as eligible independent journalists.
Applicants should demonstrate an interest in producing reporting that explores local responses and solutions to significant global challenges, particularly where those responses intersect with gender.
What Stories Does the Fellowship Support?
The central objective of the fellowship is for each journalist to produce at least one published story about local solutions to global crises, with a focus on gender.
The Equality Fund identifies several examples of global crises that could form the broader context of proposed reporting.
These include:
- Climate change
- Gender-based violence
- Authoritarianism
- Anti-rights movements
- Sexual and reproductive rights and health
- Economic injustice
- War and conflict
Rather than focusing only on the challenges themselves, fellows will be expected to identify and report on local solutions emerging within their communities.
This approach can highlight people, organisations, initiatives and community responses addressing complex problems while bringing greater visibility to locally driven solutions.
Fellowship Financial Support
Selected journalists will receive a CAD 4,000 stipend during the fellowship.
In addition, fellows can receive up to CAD 500 in reporting expenses to support the production of their journalism.
The programme will also include an in-person convening, with travel expenses included. The location and timing of this gathering will be determined by the organisers.
These financial and professional support elements are intended to give selected journalists resources to develop and complete their reporting projects.
Training and Professional Development
Fellows will participate in monthly online meetings led by journalists and experts.
The programme’s contributors include journalists and academics working in areas such as journalism, climate reporting and ethics. The fellowship also includes safety training from the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
The combination of reporting support, expert sessions and safety training is intended to help fellows strengthen their journalistic work while navigating the practical challenges involved in reporting on sensitive subjects.
Editorial Commitment Requirement
The fellowship uses a phased application process.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide a letter of editorial commitment from a news outlet.
For applicants who self-publish, the organisers state that this requirement may, in some cases, be substituted with a fact-checking plan.
Applicants should therefore consider how their proposed story will be published and be prepared to demonstrate an appropriate editorial or verification process if shortlisted.
AI Use in the Application
An important requirement concerns artificial intelligence.
The fellowship states that AI cannot be used in the proposal or application.
The use of AI during the journalistic process must also be disclosed to the programme and approved in advance.
Applicants should carefully follow this requirement when preparing and submitting their applications.
How to Apply
Interested journalists should review the official application guidelines before submitting an application.
The fellowship will be launched in phases during Fall 2026, with the programme scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The organisers intend to select up to five journalists for the inaugural cohort.
Read the guidelines and apply: Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship – Application Guidelines
Applicants with questions can contact Hannah Sung, Director of the Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship, via the fellowship’s published contact email.
Why Journalists Should Consider the Opportunity
The Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship offers journalists in ODA-eligible countries an opportunity to develop reporting that connects gender, local action and global challenges.
Selected fellows will receive financial support, reporting assistance, professional development, expert-led sessions and safety training while working toward publication of their stories.
The programme is particularly relevant to journalists who have identified locally driven responses to issues such as climate change, gender-based violence, economic injustice, conflict or threats to rights and are interested in bringing those stories to wider audiences.
With the inaugural cohort limited to up to five journalists, prospective applicants should carefully review the selection criteria and prepare a clear reporting concept that demonstrates a strong connection to their own community and the fellowship’s focus on local solutions.
Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2027 at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cohort | Up to 5 journalists |
| Eligible countries | ODA-eligible countries |
| Who can apply | Working journalists, including freelancers |
| Focus | Local solutions to global crises with a gender focus |
| Stipend | CAD 4,000 |
| Reporting expenses | Up to CAD 500 |
| Programme | January–September 2027 |
| Publication requirement | At least one story per fellow |
| Training | Monthly online sessions and safety training |
| In-person event | Yes, with travel expenses included |
| Application process | Phased |
| Application status | Launching in Fall 2026 |
Journalists interested in the opportunity should consult the official Equality Fund application guidelines for the latest application instructions, eligibility information and requirements before submitting their proposals.
