The Aftermath Project 2026 Post-Conflict Grant is accepting proposals from photographers documenting the lasting effects of war and other violent conflicts. Organised by The Aftermath Project, a non-profit organisation founded in 2007 by photographer Sara Terry, the grant supports photographic stories about rebuilding lives and communities after violence. Its focus is on the experiences that often receive little attention once the immediate events of a conflict have faded from the news.
Projects can examine the aftermath of international wars, regional insurgencies or violence within individual communities. Although the programme generally focuses on situations where fighting has ended, it also considers work exploring the consequences of prolonged or ongoing conflicts. Proposals may cover new projects or work already in progress. The funding is intended specifically for still photography and cannot be used to produce video or audio content, exhibitions or books.
Applicants must submit a project proposal of no more than two pages, beginning with a one-sentence summary, together with a portfolio of up to 30 JPEG images demonstrating their visual storytelling abilities. Images must be 1,200 pixels on the longest side, at 72 dpi, with a maximum file size of 2 MB each. A signed application form, caption sheet and short biography are also required. Submissions are made by sending the materials through a file-sharing service to the organiser's email address. The grant winner and finalists are expected to be announced by the end of December 2026.
Entry fee: Free to enter.
Eligibility
Open to working photographers worldwide developing still-photography projects about the aftermath of conflict, excluding full-time students, employees and directors of The Aftermath Project, advisory board members, current-year grant judges and their immediate families.
Prize
One photographer will receive a US$25,000 production grant, and four additional photographers will be named finalists. No cash awards are specified for the finalists. The winner receives 50% of the funding when the project begins, 40% after submitting the required interim reports and the final 10% upon delivery of 12 photographic prints measuring at least 16 × 20 inches for The Aftermath Project's archive. The funded project must be completed by January 1, 2028, with photographs delivered by May 1, 2028. Winners and finalists retain copyright to their photographs but must make selected images available for possible publication, exhibition, educational activities and publicity. These uses are not guaranteed to generate additional compensation.