STUDENT MEDIA GRANT PROGRAM
Important Notice: There will not be a 2020-2021 SMGP Application Period
We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will post updates on our social media networks informing students when the next application period will be.
One
of the most exciting opportunities that the Center on Conflict and Development
offers for students is our Student Media
Grant Program. This grant was inspired by Howard G. Buffett’s use of
photography to document the nexus of conflict and development in “Fragile: The Human Condition.” This grant is funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation
Chair on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University.
ConDev’s Student Media Grant Program awards funds to
current students or recent graduates interested in conducting field work in conflict-affected areas of
the world. Grantees can work on a
variety of research or extension programs that will allow them to chronicle critical
issues being faced by communities, such as:
- Peace and reconciliation
- Poverty and food insecurity
- Forms of violence (gender, school, domestic, political, etc)
- Migration/refugee crisis
SMGP New Guidelines:
Our
Student Media Grant Program has recently been adjusted
to better align with our cross-cutting themes which are central to our
operations, and to be more collaborative with the ConDev research portfolio. ConDev’s research focuses largely on mitigating conflict
related to four program areas, which are based on their potential to combat key
drivers of international conflict:
1. Food
security 2.
Youth
Employment 3.
Natural
Resources 4. Local Institutions
Through SMGP, grantees will need to demonstrate a 3-month engagement
(minimum) with international development issues through extension activities,
internships, student research, or other programs and create media content to document
that engagement. Students may use photography, videos, blogs, social media and
other forms of photojournalism to document how their program contributed to development
issues.
Given the current health pandemic
situation, it might not be safe for students to travel abroad or even within
their countries. Many universities are limiting or prohibiting non-essential travel. Given the circumstances, for 2020-2021, ConDev has awarded one SMGP Grant for a US-based program that fits with our research
priorities.
All work produced by Student Media Grant winners will be used by the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to advance advocacy and public awareness of critical issues facing international development. All other organizations or individuals wishing to use any of the work produced by Student Media Grant winners will require previous approval from the authors.