Investigative environmental journalism grants

Siri Olsson

By GRID-Arendal

May 21^st, 2019

GRID-Arendal, through its Environmental Crime Programme, seeks grant applications for investigative journalism projects. Two grant recipients will receive NOK 25,000 (approximately 2,500 Euros) each for investigations focusing on illegal fisheries and illegal logging. We are looking for stories that break new ground and expose possible connections to organized crime or human rights in a country that is on the DAC list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients.

The grant covers out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document retrieval, interviews, equipment rental and other documentation costs.

Valentin Emelin, GRID-Arendal's Environmental Crime programme leader, says:

"We are looking for compelling stories with clear positive impact on people and the environment based on sound investigative work."

The economic scale of environmental crime is substantial - especially on illegal logging and fisheries - and probably just as large as or well exceed global ODA of around USD 135 billion. GRID-Arendal /Riccardo Pravettoni

Why environmental crime?

Environmental crime is a threat to sustainable development, especially the environment, security and the global economy. Currently, the scale of different forms of environmental crime is likely in the range of USD 91–259 billion or 1–2 times the size of global ODA. It is the fourth largest area of organized crime in the world with a 5-7% annual growth rate and one of the hardest to tackle. Though it has proven links with such crimes as fraud, forgery, smuggling and even human trafficking and terrorism, it is still considered a “soft” crime and there are very few examples of convictions.

There is a pressing need to put environmental crime in the spotlight of international attention, and this is where investigative journalism can make a difference. Valentin Emelin explains:

"Our goal is to contribute to this cause by supporting investigative journalists with a specific interest in environmental crime. Participation in this grants programme will be a rewarding experience that will enhance the grantee’s professional experience."

Eligibility criteria

Proposals must come from a professional journalist with experience in the field of investigative journalism.
The proposal should be in line with this year’s priorities – illegal fisheries and illegal logging (one grant will be given for each topic).
The applicant should have done some preliminary work in their field of research;
The applicant agrees to give credit to GRID-Arendal if/when the story is published and grants GRID-Arendal the right to re-publish the story.

Application requirements

The applicant's resume
Two letters of recommendation
List of applicant's previous publications
Detailed and clear plan for evidence gathering. It should include: (1) the applicant's topic and preliminary work; (2) geographic focus; (3) expected results; (4) evidence gathering procedures; (5) timeline from start to end; (6) proposed title of the story
Detailed publishing plan explaining where and how the applicant is planning to publish the story and in which language(s).
All application documents must be written in English and budgets expressed in Norwegian kroner.

The above requirements should be submitted as one PDF file.

Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the requirements will be automatically discarded.

How to apply

Applications should be addressed to Valentin Emelin (yemelin@grida.no), Environmental Crime Programme Leader, and Siri Olsson (siri.olsson@grida.no), Research Assistant, GRID-Arendal. The deadline for submission of application is 16 June 2019. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee at GRID-Arendal and winners will be announced on 12 August 2019 on GRID-Arendal’s website and during an event at Arendalsuka 2019.