The Bertha Foundation, an organization that partners with activists and movements advocating for transformative social change, has announced the launch of its sixth Bertha Challenge Fellowships for activists and investigative journalists. The Foundation is offering Fellows the opportunity to dedicate a year to addressing a significant social justice issue and producing a comprehensive body of work at the end of the programme.
The call is open to activists and investigative journalists who have a clear grasp of the complex relationship between farming, the climate crisis, political decision-makers, and the alarming control by large corporations of farming today. The Fellowship which will begin in January 2025 will focus on farming and the climate crisis.
Successful applicants will receive a non-residential paid fellowship and a project budget to work both independently and collaboratively. They will investigate the causes of and solutions to the annual Bertha Challenge question, amplify their findings to a wider targeted audience, and connect with diverse stakeholders for information, support, and sustainable impact.
To apply, applicants are required to provide: a fully completed online application form; not more than 3 pages resume, 2-4 referees, and a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from the potential host organization, which includes details on salary and benefits; and samples of previous work.
Fellows would be entitled to income for one year; a project fund to produce a culminating product that addresses the Bertha Challenge question; a connect fund to encourage collaboration between Fellows; peer and mentor support in the form of regular virtual check-ins with Bertha staff and a cohort of Bertha Fellows; and a global convening of Bertha Fellows at the start of the Bertha Challenge.
The fellowship requires a full-time commitment. Fellows will work from their home countries but must: attend a global convening at the start of the Fellowship; develop and deliver a culminating product that responds to the Bertha Challenge question; participate in two virtual meetings per month and occasionally facilitate these meetings; and establish local and global network connections.
The Fellowship prioritizes joint applications between activists and investigative journalists, although individual activist and investigative journalist applications will also be considered.
The deadline for submission of application is July 12, 2024.
For more information and to apply, please visit https://berthafoundation.org/story/bertha-challenge-2025/.