Pulitzer Center Lavwa Lenpak African Content Creator Program 2026 ($500 Participation Stipend)

If you create content on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook and you've ever wanted to turn serious, public-interest issues into content your audience actually stops scrolling for, this one is for you. The Pulitzer Center, through its Africa Outreach Program, has opened applications for the second cohort of Lavwa Lenpak, a training and mentorship program for African content creators built around investigative journalism.

What Is Lavwa Lenpak?

"Lavwa Lenpak" loosely translates to "the voice that leaves a mark" — and that's exactly the point of the program. Lavwa Lenpak exists to bridge the gap between the deep, well-researched journalism the Pulitzer Center supports and the everyday African social media audiences who may never read a full investigative report but will absolutely watch a well-made reel or TikTok about it.

Through the program, selected creators are trained to take complex journalistic investigations and turn them into accessible, engaging digital content — think explainers, mini-documentaries, skits, or interactive posts — that make public-interest issues easy to understand and share.

This is the second cohort of the program. The first edition focused on ocean conservation. The 2026 edition is dedicated to governance and human rights in the forestry sector, with a particular focus on the Congo Basin — one of the world's most important (and most threatened) rainforest regions.

Who Is It For?

Lavwa Lenpak is looking for 10 content creators across Africa. You're a good fit if:

-You create content on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook

-You already have an established online community and engaged audience

-You're genuinely interested in issues like governance, transparency, accountability, natural resources, forest protection, human rights, social justice, or community rights

-You're open to learning content creation methods inspired by investigative and public-interest journalism

-You're able to simplify complex topics without dumbing them down

-You're based in, or create content about, the Congo Basin or Africa more broadly

-Importantly, you don't need to already be a journalist. The program is open to content creators, issue-based influencers, journalist-creators, and community voices — the common thread is an engaged audience and a genuine interest in telling stories that matter.

What You Get as a Participant

•Direct access to Pulitzer Center-supported reporting and journalistic resources on forest governance and human rights

•Collaboration opportunities with journalists, plus personalized feedback on your content

•Masterclasses on disinformation, the role of trusted voices, creative storytelling, and scriptwriting

•A $500 participation stipend, paid at the end of the program once all required deliverables are approved

•The chance to be part of a wider conversation on accountability and forest governance across Africa, with visibility on Pulitzer Center platforms

Application Deadline

Applications close on August 26, 2026.

How to Apply

Interested creators can find full details and the application form on the Pulitzer Center's official page: pulitzercenter.org/blog/call-applications-lavwa-lenpak-2026

If you've been looking for a way to grow your influence while contributing to something bigger than your usual content calendar — and get paid for it — this is a solid opportunity worth your shot. Don't sleep on the deadline.