ColaborAcción Scholarships for Journalistic Research Program

The ColaborAcción Habitat Edition Scholarships represent the importance of journalism in amplifying voices and transforming realities. Through these scholarships, they aim to strengthen journalistic research in different areas such as sustainability and access to adequate housing.

This initiative will encourage coverage by journalists who promote informed dialogue, the importance of these issues on the public agenda, and the dissemination of challenges and opportunities in the region with respect to these issues.

Topics

• On this occasion, the ColaborAcción Habitat Edition Scholarships will focus on four specific topics that are anchored, at the same time, under the broad theme of housing in Latin America and the Caribbean, with greater specificity in the problem of informal settlements in the region. The four specific topics are:
  • Empowered Participation:
    • To cover the inclusive and empowered participation of actors involved in decision-making related to community development and housing. The objective is to promote coverage that makes visible the processes of raising awareness about housing and land rights, as well as access to these rights in various communities. In addition, the aim is for the reports to highlight the progressive improvements in housing, reflecting the needs and solutions raised by the inhabitants themselves and their impact on the adequacy of their homes.
  • Inclusive basic services:
    • This theme focuses on the importance of ensuring the equitable and inclusive expansion of basic services in vulnerable communities, such as access to drinking water, sanitation and energy. It seeks proposals aimed at covering how the improvement of these services can support public health and reduce inequalities. It seeks to make visible the shortcomings, challenges and solutions that directly impact people’s lives, highlighting efforts to ensure fairer and more equitable access to these essential resources.
  • Climate resilience:
    • This theme seeks to encourage journalistic coverage of climate resilience and community adaptation to environmental challenges. Proposals should focus on highlighting initiatives that help reduce communities’ vulnerability to climate hazards, as well as showing how they are preparing to face new housing demands due to relocations caused by the growing threats of climate change.
  • Secure tenure:
    • This theme focuses on coverage of the protection and guarantee of land and property rights for women, vulnerable groups and indigenous people. Through this line, they seek to make visible initiatives that ensure the prevention of forced evictions and promote security in land tenure. The proposals are expected to address the expansion and regulation of rental housing markets, in order to offer sustainable solutions that protect the most vulnerable populations.

Funding Information

• Each of the winners of this call will have access to the following:
  • A grant of US$800 (less bank fees) to cover the costs of the investigation, as well as fees for the person or journalistic team involved.
  • A personalized mentoring session for one month which will be led by different experts from the Gabo Foundation network.

Eligibility Criteria

• Independent journalists or those linked to media outlets in Latin America, preferably with experience in covering the topics covered by the call.

Selection Criteria

• The proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of members of the Gabo Foundation, Avina Foundation and Habitat for Humanity teams, who will take into account the following criteria:
  • Clarity of the proposal: proposed methodology for the research and production of journalistic work.
  • Relevance and originality of the topic: importance, relevance and originality of the proposed approach or perspective.
  • Experience and track record of the person: previous experience of the journalist or team in the topic or related area.
  • Potential impact: the impact that is expected to be achieved with the proposed journalistic work. Analyze the intended audience and how the project can contribute to the public debate.
  • Feasibility: technical and logistical viability of the proposed project. Ability of the journalist to carry out the project effectively.
  • Participation in training workshops: As explained below, virtual workshops will be opened for each of the topics; participation in these workshops will be considered in the evaluation of the proposals.

Application Requirements

• It is possible to apply for more than one (1) category, but they will only be selected for one scholarship.
• Applicants must submit the following:
  • A proposal for journalistic work, which must include:
  • A description of the journalistic research proposal, of a maximum of 300 words, which must be framed within one of the four thematic lines described.
  • A schedule indicating the activities and timeframes in which the research will be developed.
  • An autobiography (not a resume), of no more than 300 words, describing your career in journalism and your interest in addressing the topic described in your proposal.
  • A letter of support from the media outlet in which the journalistic research produced as a result of the grant is expected to be published.

For more information, visit Gabo Foundation.