CNN has officially concluded its dedicated grant period for the investigative series As Equals, with the final installment released in March 2026.
The project aimed to uncover the realities of systemic gender inequality, highlighting how gendered dimensions affect global challenges such as climate change, economic disparities, health inequality, authoritarianism, mass migration, and algorithmic bias.
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As Equals originally launched in 2018 with support from a year-long Innovation in Development Reporting grant from the European Journalism Centre.
CNN sustained the series independently after 2019.
In October 2020, CNN announced an expansion of the series made possible by a new grant.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided US $3.6 million to fund salaries, staffing costs, multi-format production, freelance storytellers, and events.
The financial backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the program for four years, running until December 31, 2024.
CNN continued to provide logistical and staff support throughout the series.
CNN maintained strict editorial independence regarding the grant-funded journalism.
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The network provided regular financial reports to the funder to demonstrate that the money was spent in line with its intended purpose, while keeping all output aligned with its internal editorial standards.
Focus Areas and Approach
The project focused on gender inequality because patriarchy has shaped global institutions and societal norms for centuries.
Consequently, women face ongoing challenges such as unequal pay, limited legal rights, lack of research investment, and early or forced marriage.
The series committed to inclusivity by incorporating the experiences of trans and non-binary individuals.
The coverage aimed to demonstrate how inequality persists globally across different social classes, races, ethnicities, ages, and locations.
The small production team focused on investigative reporting and data-driven human-interest stories rather than daily news.
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Journalists and creators pitching to the project were evaluated on originality, collaborative willingness, universal relatability, and the long-term relevance of their ideas.
