Application

The Marai Photo Grant Assignment 2027

Under the concept of "My Reality. Now.", this year's theme is "Agriculture". We invite photographers from South Asia — Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Bhutan — to submit project proposals exploring the changing realities of agriculture, from the everyday challenges faced by farming communities to the emerging solutions shaping their future. How will you bring your story to life? Show us your unique perspective and help drive the conversation forward.

Winner Prize and Mentorship

The Marai Photo Grant has two gender categories: "Female" and "Male." Applicants must apply according to the gender stated in their passport. Winners in each category will receive prize money, Nikon gear, and AFP mentorship to bring their photo story projects to life. The winners' photo story projects will then be showcased on AFP's global news wire! Each category will also feature one runner-up.

Prizes:

  • Two winners (one from each gender category) will receive $3,000 USD and a Nikon Z6III with a NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S.
  • Two runners-up (one from each gender category) will receive a Nikon Z50II with a NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR.

Mentorship:

With their mentor, the Grant winners will define clear and achievable objectives for the program duration through regular one-on-one sessions for discussion and guidance. Grant winners will focus on their project and set challenging targets, aided by the mentor, who will provide regular reviews and constructive feedback. The photographer’s development will be tracked by the mentor. Through these discussions, the Grant winners will also be able to learn more about the news photography industry. At the end of the program, the mentor will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their project work.

Application Period

  • Start: Tuesday, November 24th, 2026, 9:30 (New Delhi Time)
  • Deadline: Friday, January 29th, 2027, 13:30 (New Delhi Time)

Application Requirements

  1. Eligibility: South Asian photographers residing in their home country (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Bhutan).
  2. Age: Younger than 26 on Jan 1st, 2027. (born after Jan 1st, 2001) and of legal adult age according to the laws of their country at the time of registration.
  3. Commitment: Willing to create a photo story on "Agriculture" as part of a mentorship program, with the work to be published on AFP's global news wire.
  4. Submission Requirements:
    • Portfolio: Four recent photos in JPEG format.
    • Project Proposal: Describe your project idea for a photo story in a maximum of 1500 characters in total, in clear English. The title can be up to 50 characters, including spaces.
    • ID: A scan of the applicant's currently valid official ID (photo page) such as a passport is required. (PDF or JPEG)
    • AI Policy: The use of AI-generated or AI-assisted imagery is strictly prohibited for both the submitted portfolio and the proposed project.

Note: We will accept a maximum of 500 applications. Early submission is encouraged.