Applications have now closed for the PMA Global Grants 2022. Please check back for when they re-open in 2023.
We are pleased to announce that after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for the PMA Global Grants are now open!
Eight Global Grants of up to £1,500 each are available for employees of PMA member organisations to travel internationally to another PMA member (except in the UK) for approximately one to two weeks. Whether that means travelling to a neighbouring country or to the other side of the world, PMA members are given a unique opportunity to travel, teach and learn from other media organisations.
The Grant can be used for a media or research project, capacity building and/or skills development. It should benefit the Grantee’s organisation and society as well as meet the objectives of the Public Media Alliance (PMA) and the Grant funding organisation, the Grace Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund.
As part of their project, the successful applicant will also be required to plan an exchange between their own organisation and that of the country they intend to visit. On completion of the project the successful applicant is required to submit a report, photographs, and an account of their experiences to PMA. Applicants would need to demonstrate within their application how the Grant will enable peer-to-peer knowledge sharing on their return so that they can share their experience with colleagues at home.
Please note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to adhere to and ensure that any Covid-19 conditions are met before arranging travel.
Previous Global Grantees
In 2019, our Global Grants were awarded to PMA members from a wide range of backgrounds including producers, radio reporters, editors and managers from Lesotho, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Isle of Man. The grantees worked on topics and ideas from social media guidelines and climate change coverage, to newsroom practice, election reporting, and media law.
Read more about their experiences here.
Beyond the wider aim of developing knowledge and skills, PMA Global Grants provide a unique opportunity for international networking. They also enable individuals to develop new ways of exercising freedom of expression and facilitate work on projects that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Objectives
- To develop the skills and knowledge of employees of PMA member organisations who have had limited opportunity for travel
- To benefit PMA member organisations and wider society
- To encourage networking between PMA member organisations
- To develop new and better ways of exercising freedom of expression
- To share good practice and knowledge between peers
- To work on projects that contribute to and promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
Selection Criteria
- Applicants are selected on the strength of their applications and on the creativity of their proposal.
- Selection will be made on balance of gender and region.
- Applicants should be mid-career professionals and must have been employed by a PMA member organisation for at least 3-years.
- Travel excludes travel to the UK.
- Applicants must ensure that they are able to meet all Covid-19 related conditions for the country of travel before submitting an application.
- Applicants are encouraged to design diverse and independent programmes, or complete a project for which the Global Grant is essential.
- The grants are open to all staff whose organisations are active members of the Public Media Alliance (PMA).
- The travel should clearly benefit the employee’s organisation and society.
- Approval for travel must be given by the applicant’s line manager. PMA will also seek this approval before the Grant offer is confirmed.
- Applicants and their employers must give a written assurance that the funded travel and project will be completed within the agreed timeframe and that all reports and accounts will be submitted within two weeks of completing this, upon return.
- Applicants must give written assurance that they will return to their country and organisation on completion of the travel/project. The form should also be signed and stamped by the applicant’s manager/employer to confirm this.
- The travel/project should be completed and reports submitted before the end of December 2022.
Guidance for applicants
- Applicants should provide a clear and focused proposal for travel and an outline of what the project will achieve and what objectives will be met, must be provided.
- A well-prepared draft budget must be included with the application (including Covid related costs of travel). Successful applicants will be asked to submit a detailed final budget.
- The Grant is for a maximum of £1500 and any overspend must be borne by the applicant or their organisation.
- Applicants must research their project before applying, with a clear outline of which member organisation(s) they will be visiting and how this will benefit them and their own organisation. We strongly encourage the applicant to research and write to the organisation they are intending to visit.
Please be aware before making any arrangements that you have all the required documents and visas to visit the country you intend to travel to.
Deadline: CLOSED until 2023
Successful applicants will be notified by 18 July 2022.
All travel should be completed and reports submitted before the end of December 2022.
The Public Media Alliance is grateful to the Grace Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund for their continued support for these Grants.
Requests for further information should be sent to PMA Project & Membership Manager, Jas Chandler, via email: Jas[at]publicmediaalliance.org
FAQs
Jas Chandler, our Project & Membership Manager, answers your questions about our Global Grants programme.
The PMA Global Grant is an opportunity for employees of PMA members to conduct a project, explore programme ideas, network, or learn new skills at another public media organisation overseas.
The Grant should be used in a way that develops the skills and knowledge of employees who may have limited opportunities to travel.
The PMA Global Grants are open to all staff working within Full or Affiliate member organisations of the PMA. They must have been working in the organisation for at least 3 years.
Previous Grantees have helped to exchange knowledge between host organisations and visitors, encouraged an exchange of ideas in a multi-cultural setting, and delivered excellent programmes and overall skills development for the individual. Grantees have returned to their organisations with knowledge and skills to share with their colleagues and management.
Many of the previous Grantees’ stories are shared on our website for you to read:
This can vary depending on the objective of the proposal. Some may travel to neighbouring countries and others to the other side of the world. The Grant allows travel to a global network of PMA member countries (excluding the UK).
Yes. The PMA Global Grant is only open to staff working for Full & Affiliate member organisations of the PMA and must have worked for the organisation for at least 3 years.
Grantees are selected on the strength of their applications and on the creativity of their proposal. The Grantee must research their project before submitting with a clear outline of which member country and organisation(s) they will be visiting and how this will benefit them and their organisation. Selection is also based on a balance of gender and region. Read the Selection Criteria above for further details.
There are only two restrictions. Firstly, the Grantee is restricted on the duration of the Grant from 5-14 days (max) as the grant is limited to £1500 (max). Secondly, the Grantee cannot travel to the UK to complete their grant.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to adhere to and ensure any Covid-19 conditions are met before arranging their travel and accommodation. For further advice, please contact the destination and departure country’s foreign travel advice office.
There is no limit on how many people can apply from the same organisation. However, successful Grantees will be selected on the strength of their applications and on the creativity of their proposals, as well as on a balance of gender and region. Therefore, we can award one Grant per organisation.
This year we are offering eight PMA Global Grants of up to £1500 each.
No, but the Grantees must travel to another country where a PMA member organisation is based. The recipient does not have to use the Grant to visit the PMA member in that country. However, we encourage Grantees to visit the PMA member organisation during their time in the country as part of the award as this encourages networking across the PMA network, but whether they use their award to solely visit a PMA organisation will depend on their project proposal.
Such requests will vary on the project or proposal. In the past some Grantees have visited and worked within a department of another PMA organisation or they have focused on a subject or genre that they want to investigate.
The PMA Global Grant covers a return economy airfare, visa costs, accommodation, and subsistence for the trip. A draft budget will need to be submitted when making an application.
Any overspend exceeding £1500 will need to be covered by the individual or their organisation. Receipts will need to be submitted on completion of the travel.
An initial payment will be made to you once you have received confirmation of your award. Payment will be made to your allocated bank account. The remainder will be paid once the final report and all receipts have been submitted (post-travel/project). Further details will be outlined in the Letter of Acceptance sent to the successful applicant.
Services such as dry cleaning, mini bar, changes to travel, and gifts are not covered.
Successful applicants will spend approximately 1-2 weeks in another PMA country. Reports, accounts, and photographs will then need to be submitted to PMA within two weeks of returning home (post-project). If you are awarded a Grant, then I can help with the timeframe.
All projects will need to be completed and reports submitted by December 2022.
We intend on notifying successful applicants by 18 July 2022 via a Letter of Acceptance.
After completing your trip, you will need to submit a short report along with 2-3 high-resolution pictures that we can use on our website. A report template will be sent to you with your award letter to give you an idea of what to include in your report. A final budget and receipts will also need to be submitted. All this information should be emailed to me.
We encourage individuals to set up and plan their travel and itinerary themselves. This is an important part of the Grant and an essential skill. However, where individuals find it difficult to obtain a response I will endeavour to assist.
Yes, it is essential that I am updated on the planning progress as sometimes you may require an invitation letter and visas can take time to process, so I will be able to advise you.
Applicants must make sure that their employer has agreed for them to apply for the Grant. Also, both the applicant and the employer will need to give a written undertaking that if the Grant is awarded, it will be completed within the agreed timeframe and that all reports and accounts will be submitted within two weeks of completing the Grant project.
Any further questions please do not hesitate in contacting Jas at Jas[at]publicmediaalliance.org
Header Image: Cameraman filming Floats and fancy dress costumes at a Carnival in Pretoria from the top of a bus. Credit: Sunshine Seeds/iStock