Terms of Reference for Media Fellowship Programme

Terms of Reference for 

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) -Nepal’s

Media Fellowship Programme

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is pleased to announce a unique opportunity for talented and passionate young media professionals to apply for our Media Fellowship program. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between media practitioners and IWMI, promoting the effective communication of critical water management issues to a global audience. By fostering collaboration between IWMI and media professionals, the fellowship seeks to:

• facilitate the exchange of knowledge, insights, and innovative solutions related to water management and sustainability. 
• engage and empower journalists in raising awareness and fostering informed discourse on critical water management issues at federal, provincial, and local level. 
• create opportunities for journalists to deepen their understanding of water-related challenges, innovations, and solutions, while also facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration among media professionals.

Ultimately the Media Fellowship should help develop a cohort of informed journalists, particularly women and journalists from outside the Kathmandu valley, who can contribute to shaping public discourse and policy on global water challenges, to promoting sustainable water management practices.

Duration: The Media Fellowship program will be for 6 months and will combine a mix of virtual and on-site components, including online training, expert interviews, field visits, and collaborative projects. The fellowship will be tailored to accommodate the diverse backgrounds and expertise of participating journalists.

Scope of Work

• The selected journalists will undergo an orientation program to familiarize themselves with IWMI's mission, ongoing projects, and key water-related challenges. 
• They will also have the opportunity to conduct on-site visits to IWMI project locations, gaining firsthand experience and insights. 
• They will work on collaborative projects to produce in-depth, multimedia content (articles, video documentaries, podcasts) on specific water management themes.

Application Process:

Open call for applications. Women journalists and journalists from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote locations are encouraged to apply. All interested candidates submit your application and said documents by 16th February, 2024 at  iwmi-nepal@cgiar.org  with the subject line “Application for Media Fellowship Programme”.

Your application should include:

• A motivation letter (1 page)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Two referees

Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprising IWMI representatives and external media experts. A lumpsum stipend will be provided to the selected candidates, which will cover the costs for travel, food and accommodation while developing the media content and publication.

Deliverables:

The selected fellows will create in-depth multimedia content and publish it in their respective media houses (articles, documentaries, podcasts etc) on specific water management themes after consultation with the IWMI Nepal focal person.

Evaluation

A panel of experts from IWMI and external professionals will evaluate the fellows' work based on criteria such as accuracy, depth, and the ability to communicate complex water issues to diverse audiences.

Reporting

The Fellows will work closely with Research Communications & Outreach Specialist of IWMI Nepal.

About IWMI – www.iwmi.org

IWMI is an international, research-for-development organization, headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with offices in 13 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 30 countries. For over three decades, our research results have led to changes in water management that have contributed to social and economic development.

IWMI works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. 

IWMI is a part of CGIAR Research Centre, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, aims to use new knowledge and innovation to spearhead and accelerate a ‘food systems revolution’ to meet the SDGs. 

IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusiveness. Women journalists and journalists from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote locations are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the further selection process. The right to reject and select the application for whatsoever reason shall remain with IWMI.