The Aftermath Project Post-Conflict Grant 2026

The Aftermath Project Post-Conflict Grant gives $25,000 to one photographer working on a story about the aftermath of war and violent conflict. The non-profit organisation supports work on what happens after the headlines move on: how people rebuild their lives and homes, restore their communities and live with the wounds of war. Four finalists are also named. Applying is free, and the deadline is Tuesday 1 December 2026.

The grant is open to working photographers anywhere in the world, for new projects or work already in progress.

What the Grant Supports

The Aftermath Project focuses on post-conflict stories: international wars, regional insurgencies or violence within a community. While the emphasis is on places where fighting has ended, recent grants have also supported work on the ongoing fallout of conflicts that are not yet over, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza. The funding is for still photography; it does not pay for video, audio, exhibitions or books.

Who Can Apply to the Aftermath Project?

Working photographers worldwide who want to help the public understand the aftermath of conflict. It suits:

• Documentary photographers and photojournalists
• Photographers from conflict-affected regions telling their own communities' stories
• Long-term projects needing production funding

Full-time students cannot apply, nor can staff, board members or this year's judges and their families.

Application Fee

Free.

What Do the Winner and Finalists Receive?

• Winner: a $25,000 production grant, paid in stages: 50% at the start, 40% after interim reports and 10% on delivery of 12 prints of at least 16 × 20 inches for the archive
• Finalists: four photographers are named finalists

Winners and finalists keep their copyright, and agree to make a selection of images available for possible exhibitions, publications and educational use.

What to Submit

Your application must include:

1. A signed application form, as a PDF or JPG
2. A project proposal of no more than two pages, as a Word file, starting with a one-sentence summary
3. A portfolio of up to 30 JPEG images, 1,200 pixels on the longest side, at 72 dpi and no larger than 2 MB each, named with your last name and a number (for example Smith_1.jpg), with captions in the file info
4. A caption sheet as a Word file
5. A short biography of no more than two paragraphs, as a Word file

Send everything via a file-sharing service such as WeTransfer, Google Drive or Dropbox to the email address on the official page. Do not send anything else.

Writing a Strong Proposal

Start with a clear, single-sentence summary of your project, then explain why the story matters now, what access you have and how you will spend the funding. Judges want to see that you understand the community you are photographing and that you can finish the work. A focused, realistic plan is more convincing than an ambitious one with no timeline.

Choosing Your Portfolio

Your 30 images should show your ability to tell a visual story, not just make strong single frames. Include work from the proposed project if you have started it; otherwise, show a previous long-form story. Sequence the images like an essay, with a clear opening and an ending.

Why This Grant Matters

Most funding for conflict photography goes to coverage while the fighting is in the news. This grant deliberately looks at what comes after: reconstruction, reconciliation, displacement, memory and the long-term effects on families and communities. That makes it one of the few significant grants for slow, long-form documentary work on these themes.

Things to Consider

• Free to apply.
• Still photography only.
• Complete applications only are considered.
• Deadline: 1 December 2026.

Apply for the Grant

Ready to submit your proposal?

Apply to The Aftermath Project

The FAQ, technical guidelines and application form are on the official website.

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Last verified: November 2, 2026