The Support and Assistance for Free Expression (SAFE) project offers training grants to independent media from the Eastern Partnership region (EaP).
These grants fund training programmes that enhance journalistic reporting and resilience, helping independent media outlets continue their work safely and sustainably under high-risk conditions.
SAFE is a project of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) under the Hannah Arendt Initiative, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The project offers emergency grants for independent media and journalists, covers short-term residencies, equipment support, insurance for journalists on the front lines, provides special support for women journalists and other types of assistance.
Who can apply
This call is open to journalists and media workers at independent outlets, whose editorial teams pursue a clear public interest mission and who have limited access to other sources of support.
Priority is given to:
- Media operating in hostile or restrictive environments: Outlets across the Eastern Partnership region facing significant financial, logistical, legal or security challenges.
- Frontline and high-risk zones (relevant only for Ukraine): Regional, local, hyperlocal media, small and medium-sized national media outlets operating in frontline areas or relocated from temporarily occupied territories, as well as journalists and fixers regularly working in high-risk zones.
Grants are awarded through a selection process that takes into account the risks and working conditions journalists face in their day-to-day work.
Note: Grants can also be used to fund training for individual members of the editorial team.
How to apply
To apply, please visit this page and fill in the application form. To be considered for the grant, you would also need to download this template, fill it in, and attach it to your application form.
Eligible activities for funding
- The training programmes must take place before 30 December 2026.
- The training programmes must target primarily media workers affiliated with the applying media outlet. Eligible topics include, but are not limited to:
- Mental health
- Physical safety
- Digital security
- Journalistic and editorial skills enhancement
- Capacity building aimed at improving the outlet’s operational capacity
Grant amount
Up to €5,000 per training programme.
Application guidelines
Applicants must submit a proposal form outlining:
- Basic information about the applying outlet
- The purpose of the grant, including the training’s objectives and expected impact
- The relevance of the proposed training.
- A budget, including a breakdown of costs for the proposed training.
Open call deadline
30 September 2026.
Selection process
After an initial eligibility screening, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) will conduct an evaluation process based on the following criteria:
- Urgency: How critical and time-sensitive the training is in addressing immediate needs of journalists.
- Relevance: How well the proposal addresses the specific needs of journalists.
- Feasibility: Practicality and achievability of the proposed budget and implementation plan.
- Impact: The training’s potential to improve reporting quality and media resilience.
- Sustainability: The training’s lasting impact.
Notification of results
Successful applicants will be notified within 30 days after the proposal deadline.
Grant agreement and contracting
Selected applicants will sign a Grant Agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the grant, including reporting requirements.
Reporting requirements
A report detailing the training outcomes, financial expenditure, and impact must be submitted to ECPMF by 15 January 2027.
