SMGP Application Information
The Program on Conflict and Development (ConDev) at Texas A&M University invites applications for the Student Media Grant Program (SMGP). This program supports students using innovative media (photography, film, radio, podcasts, blogs, etc.) to chronicle issues broadly addressing the resilience of humans in the shadow of conflict.
Selected projects will be awarded up to US $5,000. The deadline for submission is February 28, 2026.
Proposal Format
Proposal Sections
Applications must include the following:
- Cover Page (1 page) – Include personal contact details, academic year, university name, academic department, and academic email. Provide a summary of the project.
- Project Description (maximum 2 pages) – should describe:
- Content Scope – the issue(s) to be documented and their relevance to resilience in conflict settings.
- Geographical Scope – where the project will take place, including planned field visits.
- Deliverables – specific media outputs (e.g., photo essays, short film, radio, podcasts, blogs, etc.).
- Timeline – clear schedule of planned activities including field visits and delivery date for final product.
- Budget – structured budget not exceeding US $5,000. External co-funding is encouraged but not required.
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation Plan (Up to 1 Page) – Applicants must describe with precision:
- Any safety and health risks they foresee.
- Any risks/threats to the project itself.
- Proposed actions to mitigate these risks.
- One Letter of Recommendation
One letter from a professor verifying the applicant’s qualifications and explicitly confirming the risk assessment and mitigation plans of the applicant. Must be on official university letterhead. - Sample Portfolio
Provide examples of previous work (links to published articles or websites and attached samples of media files are both accepted).
Submission Instructions
- Proposals should be submitted to to condev@ag.tamu.edu with “SMGP: [Name of Student, Target Country], as the subject line.
- Only one proposal can be submitted per student.
- Accepted file types: PDF or Word (Times New Roman, 12 pt, single-spaced).
Selection Criteria
(What the Proposal Reviewers will be looking at to select winning proposals)
- Innovative Focus:
- Clear articulation of resilience-related issues in conflict contexts and
- Potential to contribute to broader understanding of resilience in conflict-affected settings
- Quality of Media Use:
- Proven artistic ability in capturing and reflecting complex problems
- Feasibility of Proposed Activities:
- Precision of planned activities including any preparation for travel and editing/reporting, travel dates, locations, and ability to connect with the target population
- Feasibility of proposed outputs/deliverables
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan:
- Identification of all foreseeable threats to the project, including any travel to high-risk areas such as any safety concerns, health threats, etc.
- Clarity of plans for mitigating any threats identified
Copyright and Publications
The Program on Conflict and Development reserves the rights to use project outputs in its communications and publications. Students are also encouraged to publish their work through appropriate outlets.
