DevReporting, in partnership with the Pro-Poor Development Media Network (PDM-Network), and with support from the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), invites journalists and media professionals to submit compelling story pitches that interrogate critical urban challenges facing communities in Lagos State, Nigeria.

The call seeks to commission in-depth, evidence-based stories across key thematic areas, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), climate resilience, evictions, housing gaps, and other systemic urban challenges. Commissioned stories will centre on community experiences, while integrating ACRC research, data and findings.

According to DevReporting’s Team Lead/Editor-in-Chief, Mojeed Alabi, the initiative is grounded in the understanding that media narratives play a decisive role in shaping political settlements and reform outcomes. By localising research evidence through human-centred storytelling, journalism can move issues from the margins to the mainstream, draw the attention of influential actors, and create openings for policy dialogue and reform.

Selected journalists will participate in a capacity development workshop designed to strengthen their ability to produce advocacy-driven, evidence-based reporting. They will also receive stipends to support reporting logistics and fieldwork.

Journalists based in Lagos or neighbouring states, working with local or international media platforms, are encouraged to apply before Sunday, 1 February 2026. Pitches should demonstrate a strong understanding of urban development issues, clear story angles, proposed sources, and the potential impact of the reporting.

Focus Areas

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Access gaps, service delivery failures, and community-level impacts.
• Climate Resilience: Flooding, environmental vulnerability, and adaptive responses in urban communities.
• Evictions and Housing Gaps: Informal settlements, displacement, housing insecurity, and rights-based concerns.
• Systemic Urban Challenges: Governance failures and structural barriers affecting city life.

What selected journalists will receive

• Reporting stipends to support fieldwork and logistics
• Access to ACRC research, data, and expert insights
• Pairing with researchers for community-based reporting

Who should apply

Journalists based in Lagos or nearby states, working with local or international media platforms, with a strong interest in development, accountability, and solutions-oriented reporting.

Submission requirements

Pitches should clearly outline:

• Story angle and relevance
• Proposed sources and communities
• Methodology and expected impact

Deadline: Sunday, 1 February 2026

Inquiries: info@devreporting.com

DevReporting and partners intend to publish commissioned stories within four weeks of pitch approval. Only shortlisted reporters will be contacted. Interested journalists may click here to apply.

DevReporting is a niche media and cinematic platform that focuses on development reporting, while the Pro-Poor Development Media Network is a project on a rescue mission to extract millions of Nigerians from multidimensional poverty and promote pro-poor consciousness across policy formulation and governance in Nigeria.

The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) is a University of Manchester-led research partnership aimed at improving living standards in select fast-growing African cities through action-oriented and politically focused research.