Research Award Eastern Europe

The award supports (cross-border teams of) professional journalists and photographers who in their reporting go well beyond the clichés often dominating Western perspectives on Eastern Europe. A call for applications is annually issued in January, applications must be submitted by mid-April. Budget-based funding is available to cover travel, research, production costs and honoraria in all countries of the EaP, Western Balkans, South Caucasus, Central Asia plus the Central-European EU member states. A wardees will be informed by end-June. 

Who decides which projects will receive funding?

The decision on the award is taken by a jury composed of renowned journalists and representatives of Renovabis, Hoffnung für Osteuropa and n-ost. Legal recourse is excluded.

The decision is based on the following criteria:

• Relevance: Is the topic relevant to the current social and political debate?
• Originality: Is the topic completely new or being told from a new angle?
• Quality: Has the applicant already shown that he/she is capable of writing outstanding reportages?
• Appropriateness: Does the publication project justify the estimated costs?

What documents do I need to submit?

Please, send us

• an exposé (1-2 pages), explaining the relevance of your topic, your approach and how you plan to proceed in your work; ideally, you have already reached out to a German-language media that will publish your report. If you need support in finding a German co-author to facilitate publication in Germany, please contact Anneke Hudalla,
• a research and cost plan in the form (DE),  form (EN)
• your cv in table form,
• a maximum of three already published work samples.

We will be happy to answer your questions:

• Simon Korbella, 08161-5309-14, sk@renovabis.de
• Nadine Parcetic, 0711-1656-109, parcetic.n@diakonie-wuerttemberg.de