Individual Grants

GRANT CATEGORIES
There are three categories of grants for individual journalists: Rapid Release, Regional and Strategic Capacity.

Applicants may only apply to one grant category during the first call for proposals.

Rapid Release Grants
Rapid Release Grants are awarded to individual journalists seeking to publish or produce news that requires coverage within a short time frame.

The maximum grant amount is Tshs. 400,000, and the maximum working period is one month.

Proposals for Rapid Release Grants are welcomed year-round. The maximum application processing period is 2 weeks. The reporting requirement is 2 weeks upon completion of the assignment.

Regional Grants
Regional Grants are awarded to individual journalists seeking to publish or produce news focused on rural issues.

The maximum grant amount is Tshs. 800,000, and the maximum working period is three months.

The objectives of the Regional Grant are twofold: to facilitate the expansion of media coverage into rural areas, and to encourage special coverage of HIV/AIDS and gender issues.

There are funding rounds for Regional Grants twice a year. The maximum application processing period is 8 weeks. The reporting requirement is 2 weeks upon completion of the assignment.

Strategic Capacity Grants
Strategic Capacity Grants are awarded to individual journalists seeking to produce a series of publications or programmes, as well as journalists seeking financial support for an internship, fellowship, or other capacity-building activity.

The maximum grant amount is Tshs. 2,000,000, and the maximum working period is six months.

There are funding rounds for Strategic Capacity Grants twice a year, with the possibility of additional calls for proposals. The maximum application processing period is 8 weeks. The reporting requirement is 2 weeks upon completion of the assignment.

AM I ELIGIBLE?
Individual journalists include: freelance journalists, correspondents, retainers, senior/junior journalists, interns, fellows, bloggers, stringers, journalism students, producers, commentators, presenters, journalism tutors/lecturers, cartoonists, photojournalists, etc.

Applicants should have at least a journalism certificate or its equivalent or have at least two years of relevant work experience.

Proposals should reflect the applicant’s commitment to fairness and impartiality, and should demonstrate the applicant’s interest in giving voice to all sides of a story. Proposals that cover issues and voices outside Dar es Salaam, or that reflect unusual depth and creativity, are especially welcome.

TMF also actively seeks proposals from rural and female journalists.

HOW TO APPLY
You can obtain the individual application by downloading it here in either English or Kiswahili, or you can stop by our offices and collect the form in person.

The completed application should be submitted together with:

a) your CV

b) one recent passport-size photo

c) two samples of previous published writing and

d) two references.

Applications can be submitted via email, ordinary mail or through a delivery service.