Social Impact Reporting Initiative

The Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) aims to bring stories that have a positive impact on the communities media serve, focusing on issues and subjects that often fall outside the lens of mainstream media. Since SIRI’s launch in 2020, this small grants programme has helped bring more than 2,200 stories to audiences throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab Region, and in so doing, has encouraged more diverse, inclusive journalism. The theme for the 2024 SIRI grants programme is Inclusion, mirroring WAN-IFRA’s vision of a gender equal, inclusive, safe and financially healthy media landscape.

Inclusion values diverse perspectives across gender, culture, background and viewpoints, where every voice holds significance and contributes meaningfully. Inclusive content facilitates the crafting of more authentic, diverse narratives that break free from biases and stereotypes.

Read the stories of our SIRI grant recipients here.

Best SIRI stories showcase e-magazine for 2021 is now available.

Click here for best SIRI Stories Showcase e-magazine - 2021
Apply now for SIRI Afghanistan
Click for the SIRI Individual application
Click for the SIRI Organisation application

Frequently Asked Questions

SIRI Organisational Grants in Africa

Media organisations must be active WIN Advisory partners.

Priority will be given to any media organisation that aims to deliver news and information to vulnerable or under-represented communities and the stories of vulnerable or under-represented communities to mainstream society. 

The thematic focus areas of SIRI in 2024 are as follows:

  • Gender
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Other GEDI diversity categories 


At this time only applications  from Sub-Saharan Africa countries in which WIN is active will be considered including Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Vulnerable or under-represented segments of the population could be defined by gender, age, geography, racial or sexual identity, as well as economic status. Click here for more on Sida’s multi-dimensional view of poverty.

Organisations can apply for up to 5,000 Euros.

Yes. Deadline will determined when call for applications are announced.

Yes. You are eligible for a SIRI assignment once every 12 months. If you applied for, and received, a SIRI assignment in 2023, you will be eligible to apply. 

Yes. Organisations will need to submit a financial and narrative report. 

Reporting assignments should be completed within a 12 week period. 

Appropriate activities or expenditure are defined by each initiative, however, they could broadly include:

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Activity/implementation costs
  • Core costs
  • Salaries/fees

Yes. 

In all cases, organisations must disclose the funding source of the work(s)/activities produced as part of the Grant. For all content produced, the Grant recipient must state that the editorial content is the authors’ views and not those of WAN-IFRA Women in News. This should be done in writing for all print materials and verbally in all radio/broadcast/podcast content. The organisation may use the WAN-IFRA Women in News, Social Impact Reporting Initiative logo on all platforms for work created as a result of this initiative if they so choose.

Note that grants cannot be used to purchase technical equipment or hardware. 

Individuals: Eligibility for SIRI Assignments in the Arab Region

Previous and current women participants of WIN programme in the Arab region, which started in 2015.

You cannot apply if you are not currently working with a media organisation whether on a full-time basis or as a freelance journalist. Freelance journalists must prove that they publish articles on a regular basis (four articles published in the past two months) and send the name of the organisation where they intend to publish the material within the application.

If you work individually, you can apply for an amount of no more than $2,500. If you work with a group (2 or 3 people), you can apply for an amount not exceeding $5,000.

You can suggest any type of story, series of stories, reports, or descriptive stories, in any format (print, podcast, video, etc.).

In terms of topics, the proposed projects should reflect the social, economic or health impacts caused by Covid-19 (directly or indirectly), with a focus on communities that are considered vulnerable or underrepresented, based on their gender identity, age or location, geographical or ethnic identity, as well as economically marginalized groups. Click here for more information about the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s multidimensional vision of poverty.

No. This sponsorship is based primarily on the fees charged by the project. All expenditures such as personal protective equipment, local transportation costs, or data purchases should be included in the total proposed fees for the assignment.

No. Currently, individuals or groups may only receive one sponsorship.

Applications for 2020 are now closed. 

No. However, priority will be given to proposed projects that focus on communities that are considered vulnerable or underrepresented, according to their gender identity, age, geographic location or ethnic identity, as well as economically marginalized groups. Journalism standards must be adhered to according to international best practices, local trade union rules, and laws that define the work of the media.

Yes. Projects should be completed including publication/broadcast evidence etc. The deadline for publication is October 1, 2020. All projects that have met the deadline will be presented at the upcoming Women in News regional conference, and the first three projects will be selected and announced afterwards. 

Yes. As part of the request, evidence must be shown that the media organisation agrees to publish the material when it is ready.

Once your application is approved, you will sign an agreement on the terms and amounts due. The entire amount will be transferred to your bank account. Then, you will submit periodic reports to the WIN’s coordination centre in the Arab region on August 15, September 1 and September 15, including the progress report. The full projects will be showcased at WIN regional conference in 2020.

Individuals: Eligibility for Social Impact Reporting Assignments in Africa

Sponsorship for reporting assignments through the Women in News Social Impact Reporting Initiative is available for individuals who are currently enrolled in, or are alumni of, any Women in News programme dating back to 2010. Additionally, applications from women in media within the WIN target countries are now open. 

While we will assess each application individually on its merits, you may apply as an ‘individual’ if any of the below conditions apply:

  • You are not currently receiving a salary from a media organisation
  • You have been made to take unpaid leave for an extended period
  • You have been made to take a salary cut of 50% or more for an extended period
  • You are a correspondent who has seen a work contract cancelled or reduced


You may not apply if you are currently employed on a full-time basis, or have a full-time reporting contract in place.

Journalists may apply for grants for assignments up to EUR2,000. The amount requested by an individual should reflect the scope and length of the proposed assignment. 

You can propose any type of story, or series of stories, reports, or features, in any format: (e.g. print, podcast, video etc.). The number of planned stories or segments should be proportionate to the amount requested.

Thematically, SIRI assignments may cover a broad range of subjects, loosely categorized under the following themes: 

  • Gender equality & Gender Specific 
  • Poverty & Social Welfare
  • Public Interest & Investigative
  • Health & Safety 

Assignments should reflect social, economic, political or health-related issues through a gendered-lens. General interest stories with an emphasis on segments of the population that are considered vulnerable or under-represented are also encouraged. This may be defined by gender, age, geography, racial or sexual identity, as well as economic status. Click here for more on Sida’s multi-dimensional view of poverty. Public interest and investigative stories are also accepted.

No. This is primarily a fees-based assignment. Other nominal expenses such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), local transport or data purchases should be incorporated into the overall assignment fees proposed.

The deadline for this third round is 13 May 2022. 

Yes. You are eligible for a SIRI assignment once every 12 months. If you applied for, and received, a SIRI assignment in the first round call between 3 May and 14 June 2021, you will be eligible to apply in this call for applications. 

No.  The content and direction of the SIRI assignment is entirely at the discretion of the author. That said, the focus of the content produced should reflect the submitted assignment proposal. If the content does not meet the spirit and intent of the proposal, WAN-IFRA Women in News reserves the right to cancel the contract and request a reimbursement from the author. 

Yes. 

In all cases, the individual(s) must disclose the funding source of the work(s) produced while recognising that the content produced reflects the author’s views and not those of WAN-IFRA Women in News. This should be done in writing for all print materials and verbally in all radio/broadcast/podcast content. The individual may use the WAN-IFRA Women in News, Social Impact Reporting Initiative logo on all platforms for work created as a result of this initiative if they so choose.

Yes. We require the submission of the completed reporting assignment(s) as well as evidence of publication/broadcast with a  minimum of four stories.

Reporting assignments should be completed within an 8 week period. 

The assignments are intended for publication. If you are aligned to a publication you should pitch the idea to them when applying. If you are unable to secure interest in publishing your work, for reasons of termination or closure, WAN-IFRA will work with you to find an alternative publication.

No. Your story or reporting may be submitted in any relevant language. Please specify the intended language on the application form.  Your assignment report, submitted to Women in News at the conclusion of the assignment, must be in English.

Individuals: Eligibility for SIRI Assignments in Lebanon​

Sponsorship for reporting assignments and projects through the Women in News Social Impact Reporting Initiative is available to any woman journalist working in print, online, or radio in Lebanon.

You may not apply if you are currently employed on a full-time basis, have a full-time reporting contract in place and/or your salary is being paid in full in a foreign currency. WIN may require additional supporting documentation from applicants.

Yes.

Yes, however please note that priority will not be given to individuals who did receive an Assignment in 2020.

Yes. Please see above.

Yes.

Journalists may apply for grants for assignments up to EUR 2,000. 

You can propose any type of story, or series of stories, reports, or features, in any format: (e.g. print, podcast, video etc.) SIRI recipients should produce a minimum of 3 articles in whatever format they choose. 

Thematically, SIRI assignments may cover a broad range of subjects, loosely categorized under the following themes:

  • Gender equality & Gender Specific
  • Gender based violence 
  • Poverty & Social Welfare
  • Public Interest & Investigative
  • Health & Safety


Assignments should reflect social, economic, political or health-related issues through a gendered-lens. General interest stories with an emphasis on segments of the population that are considered vulnerable or under-represented are also encouraged. This may be defined by gender, age, geography, racial or sexual identity, as well as economic status. Public interest and investigative stories are also accepted. 

All stories whether focused on gender issues or not must be gender aware (e.g. ensuring balance in expert sources, protagonists, gender sensitive language etc. Please see here for helpful guidelines on gender sensitive language Gender Balance Arab Region Manual.

No. This is primarily a fees-based assignment. Other nominal expenses such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), local transport or data purchases should be incorporated into the overall assignment fees.

The deadline for application is  1 July, 2022. 

No. 

No. The content and direction is entirely at the discretion of the author. That said, the focus of the content produced should reflect the submitted assignment proposal. If the content does not meet the spirit and intent of the proposal, WAN-IFRA Women in News reserves the right to cancel the contract and request a reimbursement from the author.

At minimum you should produce 3 stories in the desired format.

The assignments are intended for publication. If you are aligned to a publication you should pitch the idea to them when applying. You may also self-publish. – Applicant should confirm and commit that her stories will be published

Yes. In all cases, the individual(s) must disclose the sponsorship source of the work(s) produced while recognising that the content produced reflects the author’s views and not those of WAN-IFRA Women in News. This should be done in writing for all print materials and verbally in all radio/broadcast/podcast content. The individual may use the WAN-IFRA Women in News, Social Impact Reporting Initiative logo on all platforms for work created as a result of this initiative if they so choose.

Yes. We require the submission of the completed reporting assignment(s) as well as evidence of publication/broadcast etc.

Reporting assignments should be completed within a 6 week period.

You may produce your work in Arabic, in English or in French. Please specify the intended language on the application form. Your assignment report, submitted to Women in News at the conclusion of the assignment, must be in English.

Still have questions? Feel free to contact us at: siri@womeninnews.org