Bertha Challenge Fellowship 2026 (Funded) Deadline: 28 July, 2025

Applications are open for the Bertha Challenge Fellowship 2026. This year, they are opening application to filmmakers and lawyers alongside investigative journalists and activists to apply with a body of work speaking clearly to the question for 2026: How is the collusion between governments and corporations driving the assault on the rule of law, civil rights and a free press? How do we push back to protect democratic accountability?

The Bertha Challenge aims to support groundbreaking projects by providing time to work exclusively on a focused project, spaces in which to connect with a diverse global cohort of Bertha Fellows and partners and the resources to develop and deliver a body of work that speak directly to the Challenge question.

Benefits

The Fellowships offer:

• Income for each Bertha Challenge Fellow for one year, not exceeding USD $64,900 and commensurate with the applicant’s current or equivalent salary at the host organization.
• A Project Fund of up to USD $10,000 for each Bertha Challenge Fellow to produce a culminating body of work that responds to the Bertha Challenge question and is directed towards a specific audience.
• Access to a Connect Fund of up to USD $5,000 specifically designed to encourage collaboration between Fellows.
• Peer and mentor support in the form of regular virtual check-ins with Bertha staff and a community of Bertha Challenge Fellows and alumni.
• Network development through the global cohort of Bertha Challenge Fellows.
• A global convening of Bertha Challenge Fellows at the start of the Fellowship year.

Eligibility

• Applicants may come from and work in any country, but to ensure that this cohort of Bertha Challenge Fellows is able to be fully participatory, they require all applicants to be proficient in spoken and written English and able to deliver their final work in English.

Fellowship Requirements

Bertha Fellows will spend their time working in their home countries and are required to:

• Work full-time for one year to deliver their Bertha Challenge project.
• Attend an in-person global convening that will take place towards the beginning of the Fellowship.
• Develop and deliver a culminating body of work that responds to the Bertha Challenge question.
• Participate in two virtual meetings per month, and occasionally facilitate these meetings.

Deadline: July 28, 2025

Application

All applicants must submit:

• A completed online application form
• A brief resume/ CV in English of no more than two pages.
• A list of 2-4 referees including name, relationship to applicant and contact details.
• A signed MoU from the prospective host organization – including commensurate salary and health and pension benefits provided.
• Examples of previous work.

For more information, visit Bertha Challenge.

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