The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) invites applications for story grants supporting in-depth journalism on biodiversity in West Africa. EJN will award five grants averaging €1,000 to €2,000 each, plus mentorship from an experienced editor throughout the reporting process. Applicants must be journalists based in West Africa — Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, or Togo — with preference given to those based in Francophone West Africa. Freelancers and early-career journalists are welcome. The application deadline is 21 August 2026. Investigative Reporting Grants
biodiversity
Explorers Club — Fieldwork Addressing Novel Scientific or Environmental Questions
The Explorers Club supports the scientific fieldwork of groundbreaking explorers around the world. The Rolex Explorers Club Grant supports young explorers under the age of 35 who are conducting field research to address a novel scientific, environmental, or historical question. The average award is US$10 thousand. The deadline to submit applications is 14 September 2026. Rolex Explorers Club Grant
Pulitzer Center — Local Letters for Global Change
Local Letters for Global Change is a Pulitzer Center writing contest for students. Students are encouraged to write a letter to a local elected representative that explains the global issue they want them to prioritize (e.g., Climate and Environment), shows how it connects to their local community and proposes a solution. The Pulitzer Center welcomes entries from all current K-12 students across the globe. First-place winners will receive US$300 to support global community engagement. Educators working with groups of 50 or more students can also schedule a free, virtual workshop facilitated by a member of the Pulitzer Center Education team. The application deadline is 01 November 2026. Letters for Global Change
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — Guinean Forests of West Africa Small Grants
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) invites letters of inquiry for small grants to support biodiversity conservation in the Guinean Forests of West Africa hotspot. This call is open to civil society organizations operating in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Projects must align with specific investment priorities related to species conservation and the management of priority sites. Grant amounts are up to US$50 thousand. Applicants are encouraged to review the regional ecosystem profile and consult with the Regional Implementation Team before submitting their proposals.The deadline for letters of inquiry is 31 August 2026. Guinean Forests of West Africa Small Grants
Explorers Club — Fieldwork by Graduate Students and Early-Career Scientists
The Explorers Club invites applications for the Pathfinder Grant, previously called the Exploration Fund Grant. The grant supports graduate and post-graduate students and early-career scientists conducting field research. Relevant disciplines include anthropology, archaeology, wildlife, botany, earth sciences, marine and freshwater research, ecology, geography, and paleontology, and the Club gives priority to expeditions tackling ambitious research questions over survey data. Awards average US$2,500 to US$5,000. Each application requires two written recommendations. The deadline is 31 August 2026. Pathfinder Grant
Explorers Club — Field Science by High School and Undergraduate Students
The Explorers Club invites applications for the Rising Explorer Grant, which funds scientific fieldwork by high school students, college undergraduates, and independent researchers working at an equivalent level. Awards average US$1,500. Each application requires two written recommendations. The deadline is 31 August 2026. Rising Explorer Grant
Explorers Club — Conservation and Sustainability Fieldwork
The Explorers Club and the Swedish outdoor company Fjällräven invite applications for the Fjällräven Field Grant, which supports fieldwork in the natural sciences related to conservation, the environment, and sustainability. The grant is open to graduate and post-graduate students and early-career scientists; the Club’s grant criteria also specify explorers under the age of 35. Awards are US$5,000. Each application requires two written recommendations. The deadline is 06 September 2026. Fjällräven Field Grant
United Nations — Indigenous Fellowship Program
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Indigenous Fellowship Training Programme is open for applications. The aim of the program is to give Indigenous persons the opportunity to gain knowledge on the UN system and mechanisms dealing with human rights issues in general and Indigenous issues in particular. (Note: This may include land rights and biodiversity conservation issues). Participants will learn how to more effectively advocate for the rights of their communities and raise their concerns at the international level. Travel, stipend, and basic expenses are covered by OHCHR. The deadline for applications is 06 September 2026. OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship
UNESCO — Land Restoration Fellowships
The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme invites applications for the AFRIMAB–GRO Land Restoration Fellowships 2027. The fellowship supports young African researchers undertaking innovative research on land restoration, ecosystem conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and biodiversity within or linked to UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Africa. Eligible applicants are African nationals aged 40 or under who are enrolled in, or affiliated with, a recognized university or research institution. The application deadline is 10 September 2026. Land Restoration Fellowships
Whitley Fund for Nature — Whitley Awards 2027
The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) offers the Whitley Awards to outstanding biodiversity conservation leaders in developing countries around the world. The awards are both an international prize and a form of project funding, currently £50 thousand over one year. The program is open to mid-career conservationists who are leading wildlife conservation projects in a developing country. The application deadline is 30 October 2026. Learn more