UNDP Grant for Media Organisations in Malaysia

• Eligibility Criteria: Non-governmental and independent media-focused civil society organisations registered in Malaysia can apply.
• Type of Funding: Grant
• Region: Global
• Application Language: English

This UNDP grant for media organisations in Malaysia aims at furthering for issue-based reporting. The proposals should focus on producing high-quality communications content on critical issues related to corporate accountability to the environment and/or climate change.

Thematics

The EU-UNDP ‘Agents of Change: Youth and Media for Responsible Business Practices’ (AOC) initiative seeks to partner with, and empower, youth and media actors to drive accountability and influence policy action in Asia. By engaging youth and media as mobilisers, the initiative aims to urge policymakers/businesses to address business-related human rights abuses and adverse environmental impacts.

Priority areas for proposals are:

• Production of a 3-part data storytelling series highlighting critical human rights and environmental issues. This series should cover covering corporate accountability to the environment and/or climate change in Malaysia, with a focus on successful BHR+E initiatives, policies, or community-led actions.
• Highlighting the perspectives of underrepresented communities disproportionately affected by climate/environmental-linked challenges caused by impacts of businesses.
• Employment of innovative new media approaches to storytelling in media outputs, such as long-form “scrollytelling”, visual storytelling (e.g. short documentary/ video series), and/or data-driven journalism/storytelling.
• Topics directly related to Business and Human Rights, with a focus on themes in the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2025-2030).

Eligibility

• Only non-governmental and independent media-focused civil society organisations registered in Malaysia are eligible.
• These organisations should have been active for at least the last 3 years and have promoted independent, and quality journalism.
• Additionally, unregistered media collectives or informal groups may also apply, provided they do so in partnership with an eligible registered organisation that will serve as the lead applicant.
• Applicants should possess demonstrated experience in producing high-quality, in-depth journalism pieces related to environmental or social issues.
• Applicants should be able to produce a list of similar projects/samples (minimum of 3) executed over the past three years by the organisation.
• Thematically, proposals should focus on human rights and environmental issues related to corporate accountability to the environment and/or climate change.
• Eligible formats include print media articles and digital media rerpotage (online articles, videos, short documentaries). Podcasts and social media posts are not eligible.
• The proposed project activities must be completed by 30 November 2026.

How to apply

Interested organisations must submit the application documents to anusha.rym@undp.org and cc jehan.wan.aziz@undp.org . The subject line should be “Agents of Change 2026 Media Small Grant Application”. Proposals should be sent no later than 28 February 2026. Applicants can address inquiries to the same email addresses.

Required application documents include:

• Fully completed project proposal using the template Annex 1: Proposal Template – AOC Media Small Grant Application
• Copy of registration certificate of the applicant organisation

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