2021/10/08
The Nordic Council of Ministers announces a call for Media Grants Program for Belarus, which aims on strengthening the democracy and civil society in the country through support of independent media. This program focuses on the creation of trustful media content on the actual life in Belarus, addressing on human rights’ situation, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembling, rule of law and other standards of democracy and civil society.
Belarusian independent media is increasingly persecuted by the authorities following the 2020 Belarusian presidential elections. According to 2021 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders, Belarus is the most dangerous country in Europe for media personnel. Under these circumstances, independent Belarusian media – as entities and as individual journalists, who lost their jobs, working equipment, left the country, etc. – critically need financial, technical, and other capacity building support.
The overall goal of the Program is to support Belarusian independent journalism and media arts initiatives and facilitate the production of high-quality, trustworthy and diverse content for Belarusian people on the developments in the country.
Applications can be submitted by Belarusian independent media outlets, Belarusian journalists, Belarusian creators of visual, artistic, interdisciplinary media content and non-Belarusian media outlets, which employ or contract Belarusian journalists, and produce content on situation in Belarus.
Applications The size of a grant can range from 3.000 EUR to maximum of 20.000 EUR. The maximum duration of submitted project – 12 months.
The deadline for applications is 15 November, 2021 (latest at 23.59 Vilnius time). Applications should be signed by the official representative of the Applicant and submitted to mediagrantsbelarus@norden.lt
The program is co-financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Norwegian Embassy in Lithuania and the Swedish Institute. The program is administered by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Lithuania.
Official website of the Grant Program: www.nordicmediagrantsbelarus.org