The Bertha Challenge 2026 is a prestigious, fully-funded one-year fellowship program that brings together courageous and creative professionals from around the globe to investigate and confront the most pressing injustices facing humanity. Organized by the Bertha Foundation, the fellowship is designed to support individuals who are committed to exposing and challenging the systems of power and profit that perpetuate inequality, oppression, and environmental degradation.

In its 2026 edition, the Bertha Challenge focuses on supporting individuals—activists, investigative journalists, filmmakers, and lawyers—who are working to answer the critical question: “How is the relationship between politics, profit, and power contributing to the climate crisis and undermining environmental justice?” The fellowship prioritizes collaborative work between different disciplines and encourages joint applications that strengthen public discourse and accountability on global environmental issues.

Fellows are selected for their potential to produce high-quality, deeply researched work with a lasting impact on public awareness and policy. The fellowship not only provides financial support in the form of a living stipend, project funding, and collaboration grants, but also access to a global network of mentors and peers working on similar issues. It provides dedicated time, space, and resources to develop impactful work that challenges the status quo and fosters systemic change.

The Bertha Challenge provides a unique opportunity for participants to spend a year fully immersed in work that holds governments, institutions, and corporations accountable. Fellows are encouraged to develop investigations, campaigns, legal actions, or documentary projects that center community voices and expose injustice in a responsible and non-extractive manner.

The program also includes a convening of fellows from around the world to facilitate cross-disciplinary learning, foster partnerships, and provide mentorship from leading practitioners in their respective fields. Fellows will engage in ongoing dialogue through online platforms and structured monthly check-ins with their cohort and the Bertha team. Throughout the year, fellows receive structured feedback and technical support as they refine their final outputs, which must be published or shared publicly by the end of the fellowship.

This global initiative values transparency, intersectionality, and justice-driven storytelling. The Bertha Challenge is not just a grant but a commitment to long-term systems change and public education. It empowers fellows to become leaders in their fields, amplifying their voices and those of the communities they serve.

Name of Organizer

Joint Statement from Tshisimani and Bertha Foundation

Requirement/Eligibility

Applicants must be either an activist, lawyer, investigative journalist, or documentary filmmaker.
Applicants must be working on an ongoing or planned project that focuses on environmental justice and its links to power, politics, and profit.
Applicants must be able to dedicate full-time effort to the fellowship for 12 months, from January to December 2026.
Filmmaker applicants must have a track record of producing non-extractive, impactful documentary content.
Journalists must demonstrate a strong background in investigative journalism and a clear plan for an evidence-based investigation.
Lawyers must be legally certified and show experience in advocacy or litigation involving environmental or social justice.
Activists must be deeply rooted in community organizing, with experience in environmental or political advocacy.
Applicants must have a host organization that can legally receive funds on their behalf and support the project.
Applicants must be proficient in English, as all outputs must be publicly available in English.
Applicants who have previously been Bertha Challenge Fellows are not eligible to apply again.

Duration/Stipend

The Bertha Challenge is a 12-month full-time fellowship running from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. Fellows are required to commit to the entire duration, participating in both virtual collaboration and an in-person global convening.

Fellows receive:

A full-time living stipend of up to USD 64,900, determined based on the cost of living in their country of residence and their current salary level.
A Project Fund of up to USD 10,000 to produce a final output such as a documentary, article series, legal brief, or public report.
A Connect Fund of up to USD 5,000 to enable collaboration with other fellows or organizations working in related areas.
Access to a global cohort of professionals and a structured mentorship program.
Participation in a fully funded convening with all Bertha Challenge fellows for knowledge exchange and partnership building.
Ongoing capacity building and feedback sessions throughout the year.

The financial and technical resources provided by the Bertha Challenge are designed to allow fellows to work independently while also benefiting from a collective support system that enhances both individual and shared impact.