CALL FOR APPLICATION: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING GRANTS AND AWARD ON MATERNAL, NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH (MNCH) IN NIGERIA

Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS), winner of ONE Africa Award 2008, is pleased to invite APPLICATIONS from all eligible professional journalists in Nigeria, ON INVESTIGATIVE IDEAS in the area of Maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare (MNCH). The grant is supported under the Ford Foundation funded project on "Strengthening mass media advocacy on improved national response to the poor maternal health situation in Nigeria." The grant will be followed by awards, in collaboration with the Well Being Foundation, to the best reports.

BACKGROUND
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) is a key issue that all health stakeholders, public and governments need to be sensitized on, most especially as it concerns saving the lives of women and children in Nigeria. Hence creating awareness about the high level of maternal, newborn and infant deaths paramount to measuring the success achieved so far in reaching the MDGs 4 and 5.

This call is to bring to fore the challenges inherent in programming and implementation of projects aimed at addressing the needless deaths of Nigerian women and children. Journlists are expected to document their ideas in form of issue oriented stories in prints, electronic, news agency or online format in a manner that enable the society to monitor and evaluate measurable progress made so far in MDGs 4 & 5 in Nigeria. The stories should also educate and advocate how to harness the strategies adopted in addressing maternal, nwborn and child health for more efficient results from local communities up to state and national platform.

THE WINNING STORY IDEA
Applicants are to develop at least 2 story ideas that would feature an accurate documentation in any of the following video, audio, online or print (including news agency) format.

- Compelling feature story on MNCH linked to developmental issue(s)

- Governmental Policy on ‘Women and Children’ and its implementation at local communities and all levels of governance

- Human angle story ideas that bring to fore key challenges of women and children in accessing healthcare in Nigeria.

GRANTS
Grants for approved story idea is worth (N75, 000) which is strictly for field/investigative feature length reporting on MDGs 4 and 5 and related issues concerning women and children.

All winning entries are automatically nominated to compete for an award ceremony for ‘Best Story/Report on maternal, newborn and child health, 2009.

ENTRY DATES
Opening date: 31st July, 2009 08.00 GMT (9am local time, Nigeria)
Closing date: 14th August, 2009 15.00 GMT (4pm local time, Nigeria)
Selected stories must be aired or published on or before September 4th 2009


PLEASE FILL THE FORM BELOW TO APPLY.

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http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/devcomsnetwork.org/viewform?formkey=dDRtUU9VaTc0TkszeEJIdWQ0VlppY0E6MA..