Call for applications: SUMERNET grants for media-research partnerships for environmental reporting (Apr-Nov 2021)

Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) is providing eight grants worth up to US$2,800 to selected journalists in the Mekong Region for environmental reporting during April to November 2021.

These grants are intended for media to partner with SUMERNET researchers to produce and publish impactful stories that highlight critical environmental sustainability issues related to SUMERNET research projects, while enhancing the capacity of SUMERNET researchers in communicating their research to the public.

Background

SUMERNET focuses on water insecurity issues in the Mekong Region. In Phase 4 of its programme (2019–28), titled SUMERNET 4 All (S4A), the network will link evidence-based research on regionally relevant water issues and engage with policy, local community and vulnerable groups across the region.

As a core objective of this phase, we want to strengthen partnerships between researchers and the media to ensure that our research results are centred around local and regional needs, as well as to reach out to key policy audiences.

The media-research partnership fund seeks to enable collaboration and close interactions between SUMERNET researchers and journalists. Researchers will share information and findings from research to enhance the capacity of the media to report on environmental issues. They will supply scientific messaging to report on complex environmental stories, share access to networking opportunities and coordinate visits to the research field sites. In exchange, the media grantees will guide SUMERNET researchers on how to craft communications that resonate with non-academic audiences, while still conveying the importance of the scientific findings.

While the story must relate to the key themes within the S4A research projects, journalists are expected to maintain their independence in choosing the focus and angle of their story.

Currently, S4A is supporting 19 projects across five countries in the Mekong Region related to three research themes, which are:

• water access and rights, and allocation of water in times of scarcity
• governance and management of flood disaster risks, and
• transboundary interactions with water systems.

Who can apply?

Eight grants worth up to US$2800 will be awarded to selected applicants. Applicants must be either citizens of, or based in, the countries of the Mekong Region. We especially encourage early-career media professionals to take advantage of this opportunity. Note: Both freelance and staff journalists can apply. Freelance journalists are encouraged to provide a supporting letter of intent from an outlet or organization that will disseminate their work.

• Journalists (early to mid-career, freelancers* or groups of beginner journalists who wish to collaborate). Preference is given to early career, female journalists living in the Mekong Region.

• Multimedia producers (young, early career) who work with photography, audio, video and/or animation.

Selection criteria, application and selection process

The journalists will be selected through an open call and competitive process.  

Applicants must demonstrate their willingness to exchange and share knowledge and build the partnership with the SUMERNET research teams through this partnership opportunity. The media grantees will be selected through an open call and competitive process, following the selection criteria and process outlined in the attached pdf.

The application should be submitted along with the CV, cover letter, and story proposal through the online form available at this link: https://sei.submittable.com/submit/193774/sumernet-grants-for-media-research-partnerships-for-environmental-reporting

The application deadline is Sunday 23 May 2021, 23:59 (Bangkok local time).

Grant payment and procedures

Selected applicants will be awarded up to US$2,800 per grant. This comprises an honorarium of US$2,000 (that will be provided in two tranches) and up to US$800 to cover actual travel and related costs for the field visit to meet researchers and study sites.

The grant amount is designed to recognize that the journalist will spend at least 20 working days on the media-research collaboration. At the end of the grant period, journalists are required to submit a financial report (using the supplied template) along with receipts or supporting documents for reimbursement of travel and other costs (of no more than US$800).

Partnering with SUMERNET research teams

Each applicant (or group of applicants working in collaboration) will partner with one of the SUMERNET research teams. Applicants have to choose the top three projects that he/she is interested in to build a partnership with the S4A research teams. Please review the list of S4A projects and study sites here: List of_S4A_Projects. 

The selection should preferably be those that include a study site within the applicants’ own country or place of work in the Mekong Region. Given the limitations on travel due to the pandemic, this can help ensure the journalist can visit study sites without crossing national borders.

If your proposal is awarded a grant, the Secretariat will approach the research teams that you have identified according to your top-three choices to see if they have a common interest in this media-research partnership opportunity. The journalist may need to work with more than one research team. S4A reserves the right to identify a specific research team for the journalist if none of his or her selected teams are able to cooperate in this partnership.

Required outputs

Grantees need to submit at least one of the following:

• Text-based stories with accompanying images: 1000–3000 words plus two or three images.
• Short films or video interviews: (6–10 minutes) with a 200-word written summary.
• Audio podcasts: No longer than 20 minutes with a 200-word written summary.

The outputs can be in an English language publication and/or a local Mekong Region language publication (but if produced in another Mekong region language, English translations are expected to be provided by the journalist).

All applications will be handled with strict confidentiality.

Contact

For more information on the grant or SUMERNET, please contact: Agus Nugroho (agus.nugroho@sei.org) or Rajesh Daniel (rajesh.daniel@sei.org).

ATTACHMENTS

1. S4A Media-Research Partnership Grant details (pdf)
   DOWNLOAD FILE_S4A Media-Research Partnership Grant details
2. S4A List of research projects (pdf)
   DOWNLOAD FILE_S4A List of research projects
3. S4A Project Profiles booklet (pdf)
   DOWNLOAD FILE_S4A Project Profiles booklet