diff --git a/backend/api/projects/teams.py b/backend/api/projects/teams.py
index 9fcebc3110..f51a5ddb51 100644
--- a/backend/api/projects/teams.py
+++ b/backend/api/projects/teams.py
@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@ async def patch(
         role = data["role"]
     except ValueError as e:
         logger.error(f"Error validating request: {str(e)}")
-        return {"Error": str(e), "SubCode": "InvalidData"}, 400
+        return JSONResponse(
+            content={"Error": str(e), "SubCode": "InvalidData"}, status_code=400
+        )
 
     try:
         if not await ProjectAdminService.is_user_action_permitted_on_project(
diff --git a/backend/models/dtos/project_dto.py b/backend/models/dtos/project_dto.py
index 82a5ad7a17..e558a9beb4 100644
--- a/backend/models/dtos/project_dto.py
+++ b/backend/models/dtos/project_dto.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 from fastapi import HTTPException
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, root_validator
 
 from backend.models.dtos.campaign_dto import CampaignDTO
 from backend.models.dtos.interests_dto import InterestDTO
@@ -198,6 +198,13 @@ class ProjectInfoDTO(BaseModel):
     class Config:
         populate_by_name = True
 
+    @root_validator(pre=True)
+    def replace_none_with_empty_string(cls, values):
+        return {
+            key: (value if value is not None or key == "locale" else "")
+            for key, value in values.items()
+        }
+
 
 class CustomEditorDTO(BaseModel):
     """DTO to define a custom editor"""
diff --git a/backend/models/postgis/project.py b/backend/models/postgis/project.py
index f4f4f8ad03..21c53c2181 100644
--- a/backend/models/postgis/project.py
+++ b/backend/models/postgis/project.py
@@ -1,77 +1,79 @@
 import json
+import os
 import re
 from typing import Optional
-from cachetools import TTLCache
-from loguru import logger
 
 import geojson
+import requests
+from cachetools import TTLCache
+from databases import Database
+from fastapi import HTTPException
 from geoalchemy2 import Geometry, WKTElement
 from geoalchemy2.shape import to_shape
-from sqlalchemy import orm, func, select, delete, update, inspect
+from loguru import logger
 from shapely.geometry import shape
-from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import ARRAY
-import requests
-
 from sqlalchemy import (
+    BigInteger,
+    Boolean,
     Column,
-    Integer,
-    String,
     DateTime,
     ForeignKey,
-    Boolean,
-    Table,
-    BigInteger,
     Index,
+    Integer,
+    String,
+    Table,
+    delete,
+    func,
+    inspect,
+    orm,
+    select,
+    update,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import relationship, backref
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import ARRAY
+from sqlalchemy.orm import backref, relationship
+
+from backend.config import settings
+from backend.db import Base
 from backend.exceptions import NotFound
 from backend.models.dtos.campaign_dto import CampaignDTO, ListCampaignDTO
+from backend.models.dtos.interests_dto import ListInterestDTO
 from backend.models.dtos.project_dto import (
     CustomEditorDTO,
-    ProjectDTO,
     DraftProjectDTO,
-    ProjectSummary,
     PMDashboardDTO,
-    ProjectStatsDTO,
-    ProjectUserStatsDTO,
+    ProjectDTO,
+    ProjectInfoDTO,
     ProjectSearchDTO,
+    ProjectStatsDTO,
+    ProjectSummary,
     ProjectTeamDTO,
-    ProjectInfoDTO,
+    ProjectUserStatsDTO,
 )
-from backend.models.dtos.interests_dto import ListInterestDTO
 from backend.models.dtos.tags_dto import TagsDTO
-from backend.models.postgis.organisation import Organisation
+from backend.models.postgis.campaign import Campaign, campaign_projects
 from backend.models.postgis.custom_editors import CustomEditor
+from backend.models.postgis.interests import Interest, project_interests
+from backend.models.postgis.organisation import Organisation
 from backend.models.postgis.priority_area import PriorityArea, project_priority_areas
-from backend.models.postgis.project_info import ProjectInfo
 from backend.models.postgis.project_chat import ProjectChat
+from backend.models.postgis.project_info import ProjectInfo
 from backend.models.postgis.statuses import (
-    ProjectStatus,
-    ProjectPriority,
-    TaskStatus,
+    Editors,
+    MappingPermission,
     MappingTypes,
+    ProjectDifficulty,
+    ProjectPriority,
+    ProjectStatus,
     TaskCreationMode,
-    Editors,
+    TaskStatus,
     TeamRoles,
-    MappingPermission,
     ValidationPermission,
-    ProjectDifficulty,
 )
 from backend.models.postgis.task import Task
 from backend.models.postgis.team import Team
 from backend.models.postgis.user import User
-from backend.models.postgis.campaign import Campaign, campaign_projects
-
-from backend.models.postgis.utils import (
-    timestamp,
-)
+from backend.models.postgis.utils import timestamp
 from backend.services.grid.grid_service import GridService
-from backend.models.postgis.interests import Interest, project_interests
-import os
-from backend.db import Base
-from databases import Database
-from fastapi import HTTPException
-from backend.config import settings
 
 # Secondary table defining many-to-many join for projects that were favorited by users.
 project_favorites = Table(