CALL FOR STORY GRANTS

The Call

Africa Health Solutions Journalism Initiative (AHSJI) invites Ugandan, Rwandan and Kenyan Journalists to submit proposals for indepth investigative health solutions journalism stories on the Responses to Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.

The Background

Antimicrobials (antibiotics, antifungals, anti-parasitic, antivirals) play a critical role in treating animal, human and plant diseases, hence their use is necessary to ensure food security and the welfare of people and their animals.

However, the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials can accelerate the development of AMR thus rendering these medications less effective against routine infections leading to poor health outcomes and losses. This further threatens human and animal health, food security, and a number of sustainable development goals (SDGs). For example, SDG 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages may not be achieved if most anti-biotics ineffective against communicable diseases.

According to the AMR Review Report 2016, AMR is a global threat to people’s lives and livelihoods. Globally, at least 700,000 die each year of drug resistance in illnesses such as bacterial infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis, the report says.  Resistant pathogens are spreading fast between people and animals, and through food, water, waste, and soils, threatening food production and endangering human health and the health of wild, domesticated, and farmed animals.

The report notes that if no action is taken, the global economy may lose more than USD 10 trillion dollars annually by 2050 because of effects of anti-microbial resistance. This makes AMR a problem that crosses sectoral boundaries and requires a coordinated One Health response. “We have reached a critical point and must act now on a global scale to slow down antimicrobial resistance” says Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Chief Medical Officer warns in the 2016 AMR Review Report.

To help put a powerful media spotlight on what is being done, where, when, how and with what effect to control the AMR menace in the three countries, AHSJI is offering at least 20 mini-grants for the best story ideas from the three countries.

The Possible angles:

• Awareness, education initiatives
• Policy development and implementation
• Local, National, regional or international Initiatives/programs aimed at eliminating the AMR menace, etc.

Multimedia approach is highly encouraged

The application details:

Both individual and collaborative applications are encouraged. Cross-border collaborations will be given a presence.  Collaborative applications should be submitted as one joint proposal. The budget for such should also be combined.

The deadline for submission of the proposals is 14^th January 2021. All application should be sent to info@healthsojo-africa.org. 

Application Components

1. One-page proposal outlining your story idea. Proposals should be clearly structured, stating briefly at the outset what the story idea is, followed by how and where the story will be researched, what it aims to reveal or contribute, where you will publish (specific media organization/s), and the intended impact of the story. The proposal should also include a plan for incorporating current data on AMR.
2. This should be on a separate page and clearly itemized. If applying as an individual the budget should be capped at $750. If applying collaboratively then you should cap it at $1500 or $2250 if it involves two or 3 countries respectively.
3. Include you resume of 200 words maximum. If applying as a team all applicants should include the same
4. Include at least one samples of a recently published health SoJo stories for each applicant.

Summary

The final stories should be an in-depth (preferably multimedia) story or stories on responses to the AMR menace. You are required to submit your unpublished story to sharonphoebeatieno@gmail.com  with copy to info@healthsojo-africa.org for validation to ensure that it has the four pillars of Health Solutions Journalism (response, evidence, insight and limitation) before publishing. This is to ensure that all stories published and links shared with us are fully health SoJo stories.