CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: China-Africa relationship and the climate crisis

The Africa-China Reporting Project (ACRP) at the Wits Centre for Journalism in Johannesburg and China Dialogue invite African investigative journalists to apply for climate-focused reporting grants. Successful applicants will be provided with a reporting grant of between US$1,000 and US$1,500 to investigate issues related to the China-Africa relationship and the climate crisis.

In November this year, the United Nations climate negotiations will return to Africa. African countries are already facing the impacts of climate change, and engaging in a lively conversation on low-carbon development pathways and adaptation, including calling for greater availability of finance.

Increasingly, China is playing a major role in the development pathways of African countries via the provision of finance and expertise in infrastructure construction, industrial projects, and other areas of economic development. It is also engaging directly with African countries on climate action. Last year’s 8th Forum on China Africa Cooperation issued, for the first time, a declaration on climate. China is also promoting the concept of a “green” Belt and Road Initiative, promising to end support for new overseas coal power plants and increase its support for renewable energy. It has also issued guidance documents for Chinese companies to promote sustainability in their overseas investments.

The reporting grants will be awarded to journalists keen to explore how China’s engagement in Africa is playing out on the ground and in the context of the climate crisis.

The following themes are offered as a guide to help journalists identify specific topics for investigation:

• Climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation
• Energy access and energy transitions
• Just transitions and the social aspects of development
• Critical mineral mining, especially those related to the global energy transition
• Low carbon transportation and electrification

How to apply

Applications must be sent to ACRPapplications@gmail.com by no later than Friday, 22 April 2022 and should contain the following (only documents in MS Word or PDF formats will be accepted):

• Applicant CV
• Brief proposal outlining: (a) The story to be investigated with clear headline and explanation of why the story is significant and timely, b) The investigation methodology: how you will conduct the investigation and reporting (reporting trips, potential interviewees, etc.), (c) The proposed publication platform, (d) An itemized budget totaling no more than US$1,500
• List of previously published and relevant reporting, if any

Proposals should include a China angle and an investigative element. A consideration of how multimedia elements might be incorporated into the proposed story, such as photographs, video, data visualization or illustration, would also be helpful,

See How to apply for more information. 

Successful applicants will be notified after the closing date. Articles will be edited by the China Dialogue team with the intention to co-publish on China Dialogue and local media outlets - identified by the applicant - in relevant African countries.

China Dialogue will work with successful applicants to secure co-publishing arrangements. All articles published on China Dialogue are published under Creative Commons license, meaning they can be reposted by other websites.

Please send any queries to ACRPcontact@gmail.com