Funding in the Middle East.
These grants are aimed specifically at journalists in or from the Middle East and North Africa.
Shelter City Netherlands Programme
Deadline: September
Middle East
Justice and Peace Netherlands is launching a new call for applications for at risk human rights defenders to participate in Shelter City. Shelter City provides temporary safe and inspiring spaces for human rights defenders at risk where they re-energise, receive tailor-made support and engage with allies. The term human rights defender is intended to refer to the broad range of activists, journalists and independent media professionals, scholars, writers, artists, lawyers, civil and political rights defenders, civil society members, and others working to advance human rights and democracy around the world in a peaceful manner.
Middle East Reporting Fellowship
Deadline: January
Middle East
Run by the GroundTruth Project in partnership with the James W. Foley Foundation, this Fellowship supports a freelance journalist seeking to report stories in the Middle East that are under-reported by mainstream media. As part of the $10,000 grant, the journalist receives a stipend and a budget that will include relevant risk assessment and a HEFAT course, as well as medical insurance and field reporting expenses.
The Arab Documentary Photography Programme
Deadline: January
Arab region
The Arab Fund for Art and Culture and the Prince Claus Fund, in partnership with the Magnum Foundation, launched this programme in 2014, for creative documentary photographers in the Arab region. The focus is to support compelling non-stereotypical and unconventional visual documentation of important social issues and narratives relevant to the Arab region.
Zenith Reporting Grant
Deadline: February
Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Yemen
Zenith Magazine offers this grant for journalists who are working on urgent, under-reported stories that have a connection to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This grant is awarded to 20 journalists annually. Applicants must provide proof of research for their story and should have several years of professional journalism experience.
Doha Film Institute Grants Programme
Deadline: February/September
Eligible countries listed here
The goals of the Doha Film Institute Grants Programme are to identify new talent, seek out new cinematic voices and discover universally resonant stories. The programme provides creative and financial assistance for short and feature-length films by Qatari and international first- and second-time directors, as well as established MENA directors.
ARIJ Grants
Deadline: Rolling basis
Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen
The Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism Network (ARIJ) supports reporters with the production of investigative reports by providing mentoring, editorial and other support. Reporters from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine, Tunisia or Bahrain who have good story ideas that shed light on a problem, issue, or phenomena affecting society should apply. All proposals should meet ARIJ’s strict guidelines.
Internews Iraq
Deadline: December 2021
Iraqi women journalists
Internews Iraq in one of its Project Our Voices, is providing emergency grants to assist women journalists in emergency or unexpected crises events that significantly impact individuals’ operations, security, or financial sustainability. The grant range includes; legal aid counter threats of imprisonment in extreme cases, psychological and medical care for incidents directly related to threats and crises caused by one’s work as a journalist.
Know of any grant schemes we’ve missed? Please tell us at digital@rorypecktrust.org.