Scholarship Details

The Political Feminism Programme (PolFem) of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is inviting writers, researchers, journalists, artists, activists and students from the SWANA region and its diaspora to submit original contributions for its 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The initiative seeks to highlight the different forms of gender-based violence and examine how they are connected to political, economic, social and institutional structures.

Selected contributors will receive US$200 for their work, which will be published through the FES Lebanon Instagram page and the FES PolFem website during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Submissions are accepted in Arabic, English and French.

Benefits

Selected contributors will receive:

• US$200 payment for each selected contribution.
• An opportunity to have their work published on the FES Lebanon Instagram page.
• Publication on the FES PolFem website.
• An opportunity to contribute to international conversations on gender-based violence, feminism and human rights.

Selected work may undergo editorial review and editing before publication.

About the Call

The initiative examines gender-based violence beyond isolated incidents between individuals. It recognises that violence against women and gender-diverse people is also sustained by patriarchal laws, economic systems that create dependency, and states that fail to protect people or use violence themselves.

The call seeks contributions that explore less visible forms of violence embedded in laws, labour, institutions and public policies, as well as their connections to physical and sexual violence.

Intersectional and decolonial perspectives are particularly welcome, especially contributions examining how gender intersects with class, race, citizenship, sexuality, disability and other systems of power.

Thematic Areas

Submissions may explore any of the following themes:

1. Economic Violence: Unpaid care work, labour exploitation, economic dependency, austerity policies and economic structures that limit autonomy or trap people in violent situations.
2. State Control and Bodily Autonomy: Laws and practices regulating sexuality, reproduction, gender expression and access to healthcare.
3. Conflict, Militarisation and Displacement: The gendered consequences of war, displacement and humanitarian responses, including unequal access to safety, assistance and protection.
4. Women Human Rights Defenders: Political intimidation, criminalisation, surveillance, online harassment and gender-based attacks used to silence activists, journalists and human rights defenders.
5. Institutional Violence: Discrimination and exclusion within legal, healthcare, education and social protection systems, including how institutions established to protect people can reproduce harm.
6. Climate and Environmental Justice: How environmental degradation, displacement, unequal access to resources and exclusion from decision-making create or deepen gender-based harm.
7. Disability and Gender: The intersection of ableism and gender inequality, including denial of reproductive autonomy, forced medical interventions, institutionalisation and barriers to essential services.

Who Can Apply?

The call is open to anyone from or based in the SWANA region, including members of the diaspora.

Eligible contributors include:

• Writers.
• Researchers.
• Journalists.
• Artists.
• Activists.
• Students.

You do not need previous publications or professional writing experience to apply. First-time contributors are particularly encouraged.

Both individuals and collectives may submit work. However, each applicant may submit only one contribution.

Accepted Submission Formats

The organisers accept the following formats:

• Articles, opinion pieces and analytical essays: Maximum 1,000 words.
• Investigative or journalistic features: Maximum 1,000 words.
• Personal narratives and testimonies: Maximum 1,000 words.
• Creative and visual works: Visual essays, comics, illustrations, photography and other creative formats.

Submissions must be in Arabic, English or French.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit completed work. Abstracts, pitches, outlines and proposals will not be considered.

All submissions must be:

• Original.
• Previously unpublished.
• Complete and ready for editorial review.

Selected contributions may undergo editing before publication.

For written submissions, applicants should attach their work as a Word document or PDF. Visual contributions should be submitted as high-resolution JPG or PNG files.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should follow these instructions:

1. Prepare your completed original contribution.
2. Send it by email to call.polfem@fes.de.
3. Use the subject line: 16 Days of Activism Submission.
4. Attach your work as a Word document or PDF. For visual submissions, attach high-resolution JPG or PNG files.
5. Include the following information in the body of your email:
   • Full name.
   • Country where you are based.
   • Short biography of 50–100 words.
   • Contact details.
6. If you prefer to publish under a pseudonym, indicate this in your email.

Application Deadline

11 November 2026, at 23:59 Beirut time.

Selected contributors will be notified by 18 November 2026.

Publication Timeline

Selected contributions will be published during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, running from:

25 November to 10 December 2026.

Publication platforms:

• FES Lebanon Instagram page.
• FES PolFem website.

Contact Information

For questions about the call or submission requirements, contact:

Email: call.polfem@fes.de

Conclusion

The FES 16 Days of Activism call offers writers, researchers, journalists, artists and activists an opportunity to contribute original perspectives on gender-based violence while earning US$200 for selected work.

If you are from or based in the SWANA region or its diaspora and have an original contribution to make, prepare your work and submit it before 11 November 2026.