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Deadline
23 Sept 2026, 23:59 (CEST)
For whom
Journalists and news creators reporting on maternal and child health for German audiences
Amount
Up to €120,000 grants to support independent journalism for German media
Official Development Assistance (ODA) Germany Grants — Round 2
The European Journalism Centre is opening the second round of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) Germany Grants, with €120,000 available to support ambitious, independent journalism for German media.
Individual grants of €10,000–€15,000 will support reporting on maternal and child health and survival and its connection to German development cooperation.
Nearly 4.9 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024, while around 260,000 women died from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth in 2023. Despite decades of progress, improvements in maternal and child survival are slowing as development funding comes under increasing pressure.
What do these shifts mean for mothers and children on the ground? Which solutions and innovations are improving health outcomes? And what role does German development cooperation play?
What we're looking for
We welcome proposals exploring the challenges, solutions and innovations shaping maternal and child health and survival, with a particular interest in reporting connected to Africa.
Stories could explore maternal and newborn health and survival, child health and survival, nutrition, infectious diseases affecting mothers and children, and evidence-based innovations and approaches improving health outcomes.
We particularly encourage solutions-oriented and data-driven reporting that critically examines what is working, what isn't, and why — using evidence and data to investigate the effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of responses to maternal and child health challenges.
The ODA connection is central. Proposals must demonstrate a meaningful connection to German development cooperation, ODA policy or Germany's role in the changing international development landscape.
Topics may include: maternal and newborn health and survival; child health and survival; maternal and early-childhood nutrition; infectious diseases affecting mothers and children; health innovations, tools and approaches with the potential to improve maternal and child health outcomes; the consequences of declining or shifting ODA; health outcomes, funding, access and inequalities; the effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of health and development interventions; and the role of German ODA and development cooperation in supporting maternal and child health.
These are examples rather than an exhaustive list. Journalists remain responsible for identifying their own stories, sources, questions and editorial approaches.
Reporting connected to Africa is particularly encouraged, but Africa is not a geographic eligibility requirement.
The opportunity
A total of €120,000 is available in this round. Individual grants of €10,000–€15,000 will be awarded to selected projects.
Projects may use print, digital, audio, video, multimedia or data formats and must be intended for publication through German media. Selected projects will have approximately five months to complete their reporting and are expected to publish their work by 30 April 2027. Publication through German media is a requirement of the grant.
Applications will be assessed by an independent jury. Journalists retain full editorial independence over the stories and angles they pursue.
Eligibility
You may apply if you are:
- An independent and/or regional German media outlet.
- An individual freelance journalist based in Germany.
- A team of journalists that includes a Germany-based journalist and/or German media partner.
- A partnership between Germany-based journalists and/or German media and journalists or media in countries receiving German ODA.
- An independent news creator producing journalistic or public-interest news and information for German audiences, including on development cooperation, foreign policy, global health and related areas.
Your proposed project must:
- Have a clear and substantive connection to maternal and child health and survival.
- Demonstrate a meaningful connection to German ODA, German development cooperation or Germany's role in the international development landscape.
- Be intended for publication through at least one German media outlet, journalistic platform or established news creator channel reaching German audiences.
- Be feasible within the Round 2 project period.
Publication plans
Funded projects must be intended for publication through at least one German media outlet, journalistic platform or established news creator channel reaching German audiences.
You do not need to have a confirmed publication agreement at the time you apply. Applicants must identify where they intend to publish and indicate whether the publication plan is confirmed / under discussion / not yet confirmed.
Where relevant, applicants may submit a letter of support or confirmation from an intended media outlet or journalistic platform.
If you already have an established relationship with the proposed outlet or platform, you may provide evidence of this relationship, for example links to previous work or other relevant documentation. Independent news creators applying with their own channel or platform should provide links to their existing work.
Supporting evidence helps us assess the feasibility of the publication plan. A letter of support is a strong indication of publication interest, although it is not mandatory for eligibility.
International publication and collaboration are welcome, but funded projects must include publication reaching German audiences.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the EJC online application form in English.
Applicants will be asked to provide information about: the applicant/team and relevant journalistic experience; the proposed story or project; the maternal and child health question being investigated; the project's connection to German ODA/development cooperation; the countries and communities involved in the reporting; the reporting methodology, evidence and/or data informing the project; intended publication outlet(s) and publication status; expected outputs and formats; project timeline; and proposed budget.
Applicants may also provide supporting evidence regarding their intended publication outlet, as described above.
Timeline
Applications open: 1 October 2026
Application deadline: 23 October 2026, 23:59 CEST
Applicants notified: By 16 November 2026
Project period: December 2026 – April 2027
Expected publication deadline: 30 April 2027
The approved Round 2 direction envisages a three-week application period and approximately five months for selected projects to report and publish.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report from Africa?
No. We have a particular interest in reporting connected to Africa, but Africa is not a geographic eligibility requirement.
Strong proposals concerning maternal and child health in other regions are eligible provided they meet the other requirements of the call, including a meaningful connection to German ODA/development cooperation.
What counts as a connection to German ODA or development cooperation?
The connection should be substantive to the proposed journalism rather than incidental. For example, a project might examine the effects of German development funding or changes to it; programmes or interventions supported through German development cooperation; Germany's role in multilateral development or global health initiatives; how German ODA policy affects communities in recipient countries; or the effectiveness and consequences of development interventions involving German support.
Applicants should explain this connection clearly in their application.
What do you mean by “solutions-oriented” reporting?
Solutions journalism is rigorous and evidence-based reporting focused on responses to societal problems. It investigates how people and institutions are attempting to address a problem and critically examines the evidence about whether those responses work, including their limitations.
Solutions-oriented reporting is encouraged, but journalists retain editorial independence over their reporting and conclusions.
Can journalists or media organisations outside Germany apply?
International journalists and media may participate through partnerships with Germany-based journalists and/or German media. Projects must include publication through German media.
Do I need to have a confirmed German publication outlet before applying?
No. You must identify where you intend to publish and tell us whether publication is confirmed, under discussion or not yet confirmed. You may submit a letter of support from the intended outlet or demonstrate an existing relationship with it, for example through previous publications. Neither is mandatory for eligibility.
Can I apply if I applied in Round 1?
Yes. Previous applicants may apply to Round 2.
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