Africa No Filter, an advocacy organisation that seeks to shift stereotypical narratives about Africa by supporting storytelling that reflects a dynamic continent of progress, innovation, and opportunity, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Voices for Climate Justice Initiative from African journalists, content creators, and other storytellers to produce compelling stories on climate justice.
The 12-month initiative will support 15 to 20 selected storytellers with training, mentorship, and content amplification to tell powerful stories that connect climate change with debt, gender, and fossil fuels across Africa.
The initiative is in partnership with Comic Relief and open to storytellers from Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Angola, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi, and Zambia, who are at least 18 years old. Selected participants will receive training in climate justice, data storytelling and narrative framing, and will work with researchers and partners to develop accurate and engaging stories based on research. They will also receive grants of up to US$4,000 to support the development and production of their stories.
The programme will also provide mentorship to help participants strengthen their storytelling ideas and develop them into compelling content that can stimulate public conversation and inspire action. Through the mentorship process, selected storytellers will receive guidance as they develop their stories, work with researchers and partners, interpret relevant data and evidence, and find creative ways to communicate complex climate justice issues to their audiences.
The initiative particularly seeks creative storytelling ideas that explain how climate change, debt, gender, and fossil fuels affect people and communities across Africa. Stories may be produced in different formats, including videos, podcasts, articles, murals, and data visualisations. Proposed ideas should reflect lived experiences while helping audiences better understand how loan-based climate finance can increase debt burdens and disproportionately affect women and gender-marginalised communities.
Eligible applicants include journalists, content creators, podcasters, vloggers, muralists, and data visualisers with an active and engaged platform or community.
Content creators and data visualisers are required to have a combined audience of at least 5,000 followers across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and Snapchat. Journalists may demonstrate their reach through the circulation or audience of their publication. Applicants are also expected to have maintained an active and highly engaged platform for more than one year.
Selected participants must commit to producing and sharing a minimum of four pieces of content focused on gender, debt, and fossil fuels over a period of at least six months. Content creators must be independent and not represented by an agent, while journalists may be affiliated with a publication or media outlet provided that the submitted work and content rights remain their own.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to Africa No Filter’s storytelling principles, including ethical and survivor-centred approaches when addressing gender-related impacts. Proposed stories should avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes about Africa and Africans and should instead highlight lived experiences, agency, solutions, and perspectives that contribute to a more balanced understanding of climate justice on the continent.
Interested applicants are required to prepare a pitch deck of no more than five slides or a video pitch of no more than 60 seconds explaining their storytelling idea and how it connects gender, debt, and fossil fuels in Africa.
Applicants must then complete the online application through the Africa No Filter application portal. The application should include links to their relevant social media platforms, publication, or community network, as well as a brief description of the audience or community they intend to reach. All submitted content must be in English or French.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with candidates assessed on the originality of their proposed idea, its relevance to the gender-debt-fossil fuel focus, alignment with Africa No Filter’s approach to storytelling beyond stereotypes, and the applicant’s reach or standing within their platform or community.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for virtual interviews with the selection jury. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding the status of their applications.
Applications close on September 25, 2026.
For more information, visit https://africanofilter.org/what-we-do/community/voices-for-climate-justice/
