Voices for Climate Justice: Africa No Filter Offers Storytellers Grants of up to $4,000 Admin, August 30, 2026August 30, 2026 Application Deadline: September 25, 2026 Africa No Filter has opened applications for Voices for Climate Justice, a 12-month storytelling initiative designed to support African journalists, content creators, podcasters, vloggers, muralists and data visualizers who want to change the way climate justice is discussed across the continent. Delivered in partnership with Comic Relief, the initiative will support 15–20 storytellers through training, mentorship, content amplification and grants of up to US$4,000. The program focuses particularly on the connections between climate change, gender, debt and fossil fuels in Africa. Applications are open to eligible storytellers from Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Angola, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi and Zambia. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis, with the final deadline set for 25 September 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT. What Is the Voices for Climate Justice Initiative? Voices for Climate Justice is a storytelling initiative by Africa No Filter (ANF) that aims to strengthen public conversations around climate justice in Africa. The initiative responds to concerns about the way climate finance affects African countries, particularly the growing reliance on loans and the resulting debt burden. According to the official announcement, the program seeks storytellers who can help audiences understand how climate change, debt, gender and fossil fuels affect people and communities. Rather than focusing only on traditional journalism, the opportunity welcomes different storytelling formats, including: Articles and journalism Video content Podcasts Vlogs Murals Data visualization Other creative storytelling approaches This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to creators who already have an audience or community and want to use their platform to address important climate and social justice issues. What Does the Program Offer? Selected storytellers will participate in a 12-month program featuring several forms of support. 1. Grants of up to US$4,000 Selected grantees can receive funding of up to US$4,000 to develop and produce their proposed storytelling ideas. The official announcement does not specify whether every selected participant will receive the full US$4,000 or whether grant amounts will vary by project. 2. Training Participants will receive training in areas including: Climate justice Data storytelling Narrative framing The training is intended to help storytellers turn research and complex climate issues into accurate and engaging stories. 3. Mentorship Selected participants will receive mentorship and work with researchers and partners to develop stories grounded in research. 4. Content Amplification The program will also provide content amplification, helping selected storytellers increase the visibility and reach of their work. 5. Access to Research and Partners Participants will work with researchers and partners to develop accurate stories around the program’s key themes. Important: The official announcement does not specify the names of all researchers, mentors or partner organizations involved in delivering these components. Who Can Apply? The opportunity is open to individual African storytellers aged 18 and above who meet the stated eligibility requirements. Eligible storyteller categories include: Journalists Content creators Podcasters Vloggers Muralists Data visualizers Applicants must be based in one of the following countries: Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Angola, Chad, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi or Zambia. Applicants must also have an active and engaged platform or community that has been operating for more than one year. Depending on the type of storyteller, this could include: A YouTube channel TikTok account Instagram page Facebook page Twitter/X account Podcast Publication Data visualization portfolio Community network Content creators and data visualizers must have a combined audience of at least 5,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X and Snapchat. Journalists may demonstrate reach through publication circulation instead. Key Eligibility Requirements Before applying, prospective applicants should check the following requirements carefully: RequirementWhat the official announcement saysAge18 years and aboveLocationMust be based in one of 10 listed African countriesApplicant typeIndividual applicants onlyExperience/platformActive and highly engaged platform for more than one yearAudienceContent creators/data visualizers: 5,000+ combined followersContent commitmentMinimum of four relevant pieces of content over at least six monthsThemesClimate justice, gender, debt and fossil fuels in AfricaRepresentationContent creators must be unsignedLanguageApplications/content delivered in English or FrenchStorytelling ethicsCommitment to ethical, survivor-centered storytelling What Story Ideas Are They Looking For? The strongest applications should connect storytelling to the campaign’s central themes: Climate justice + gender + debt + fossil fuels. Applicants are expected to develop ideas that help audiences understand how these issues affect African people and communities. For example, a strong concept might investigate how climate-related debt affects public services, communities, women or other gender-marginalized groups. However, applicants should develop their own original ideas rather than simply copying examples. Africa No Filter states that applicants will be assessed based on factors including: Originality of the idea Relevance to Africa No Filter’s mission Relevance to the gender-debt-fossil fuel focus Reach or standing within the applicant’s platform or community Commitment to Africa No Filter’s storytelling principles What Do You Need to Submit? The application process has two key preparation stages. Step 1: Prepare Your Storytelling Pitch Applicants must prepare either: Option A: A pitch deck of no more than 5 slides OR Option B: A video of no more than 60 seconds The pitch should highlight the proposed storytelling idea and demonstrate how it connects gender, debt and fossil fuels in Africa. Step 2: Complete the Online Application Applicants must then submit an online application through the Africa No Filter application portal. The application requires: Links to your platforms A short description of your intended audience or community Your proposed storytelling idea The required pitch materials Applicants should make sure all required information is complete before submitting. Who Is Organizing the Opportunity? The initiative is organized by Africa No Filter, an advocacy organization focused on changing stereotypical narratives about Africa through storytelling. The 12-month program is delivered in partnership with Comic Relief, according to the official announcement. Important Statistics at a Glance Here are the key figures applicants should know: StatisticFigureProgram duration12 monthsNumber of storytellers supported15–20Maximum grantUS$4,000Minimum audience for content creators/data visualizers5,000 followersMinimum content commitment4 piecesMinimum content period6 monthsMaximum pitch deck length5 slidesMaximum pitch video length60 secondsMinimum age18 years Application Timeline The official announcement provides the following dates: StageDateApplications open11 August 2026Application deadline25 September 2026, 6:00 PM GMTApplicants screening5 October 2026Applicants contacted on outcome6 October 2026Applicants interviews9 October 2026Grantee announcement15 October 2026 Note: The announcement states that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants should not necessarily wait until the final deadline to apply. Who Should Consider Applying? This opportunity may be particularly valuable for African storytellers who already have an established platform and want to move beyond general climate content into deeper storytelling around climate justice. It could be a good fit if you: Already produce content for an engaged audience. Have been active on your platform for more than one year. Can demonstrate your audience reach. Have an original story idea connected to climate justice. Are interested in the relationship between climate change, debt, gender and fossil fuels. Can produce content in English or French. Are prepared to commit to producing at least four relevant pieces of content over six months. It is not designed as a beginner content-creation program. The requirements for an established platform and audience mean applicants should already have a demonstrated track record. What Can Make an Application Stronger? OpportunityPool.org recommends treating the application as a storytelling proposal, rather than simply an application for funding. 1. Start with a specific problem Avoid broad ideas such as “Climate change is affecting Africa.” Instead, identify a specific issue, community or experience that your audience can understand. 2. Show the human impact The program emphasizes lived experience and ethical storytelling. Explain who is affected and why their experience matters. 3. Connect the themes Do not discuss climate change, debt, gender and fossil fuels as completely separate subjects. Show the relationship between them. 4. Demonstrate audience access Since reach and standing within a platform or community are part of the selection criteria, applicants should clearly demonstrate who they can reach and why their audience is relevant. 5. Keep the pitch focused With a maximum of five slides or 60 seconds for the video option, applicants need to communicate the idea quickly. A useful pitch could clearly answer: What is the issue? Who is affected? Why does it matter? What story will you tell? How will you tell it? Who will see it? What change could the story contribute to? Common Mistakes to Avoid Applicants should pay particular attention to the following: Submitting incomplete applications: The announcement explicitly states that incomplete applications will not be considered. Ignoring the audience requirement: Content creators and data visualizers must meet the stated 5,000-follower requirement. Submitting an unrelated climate story: The proposed idea must connect to the campaign’s core themes. Using a weak pitch: The pitch is a central part of demonstrating the quality and relevance of your idea. Applying as an organization: The opportunity is for individual applicants, not organizations or agencies. Using artificially boosted engagement: The announcement states that accounts or posts boosted financially to drive audience engagement will not be considered. Reinforcing harmful stereotypes: Africa No Filter states that it will not consider material that reinforces negative narratives and stereotypes about Africa and Africans. Who Cannot Apply? According to the official announcement, the initiative will not consider: Incomplete applications Applications submitted by post or email Organizations or agencies Content that is vulgar, racist, sexist or homophobic Content that reinforces harmful stereotypes about Africa and Africans Accounts or posts whose engagement has been financially boosted Proposals that do not align with the campaign’s themes Frequently Asked Questions Is the Voices for Climate Justice opportunity open to Nigerians? Yes. Nigeria is one of the countries listed as eligible. Can a freelance content creator apply? The official FAQ lists this question, and the eligibility requirements indicate that individual content creators can apply if they meet the stated requirements. The official announcement also specifies that content creators must be unsigned, meaning they must not be represented by an agent. Can a beginner content creator apply? The opportunity requires an active and engaged platform that has been operating for more than one year, as well as a minimum audience requirement for content creators and data visualizers. Therefore, applicants should carefully assess whether they meet these requirements before applying. How much funding is available? Selected storytellers can receive grants of up to US$4,000. How many people will be selected? The initiative plans to support 15–20 storytellers. Is there an application fee? This information was not specified in the official announcement. Is the grant renewable? This information was not specified in the official announcement. Are organizations eligible? No. The announcement states that only individual applicants can apply. What languages can applicants use? Applications and content must be delivered in English or French. How to Apply Eligible applicants should prepare their pitch deck or short video and submit the required information through the official Africa No Filter application portal. Application deadline: 25 September 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT Conclusion The Voices for Climate Justice initiative offers an opportunity for established African storytellers to combine their creative platforms with climate justice advocacy. Beyond financial support of up to US$4,000, selected participants will receive training, mentorship, research support and content amplification as they develop stories about the intersection of climate change, gender, debt and fossil fuels. For Nigerian and other eligible African storytellers, the opportunity is especially relevant if you already have an engaged audience and can propose a compelling story rooted in African realities. The most important step is to ensure that your idea is specific, original, research-informed and clearly connected to the program’s core themes. With applications closing on 25 September 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT, eligible applicants should begin preparing their pitch rather than waiting until the final day. For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE Be one of the first to see new opportunities, Follow Us on social media: Facebook, Whatsapp Channel, LinkedIn Fellowships & Scholarship opportunities global opportunities