Deadline: April 15, 2026
Applications are open for the UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship 2026. The UNCCD and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) are launching the UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship to support journalists covering one of the defining, yet underreported, stories of our time: the growing pressure on the world’s land and what it means for food and water security, economic stability and global resilience.
Six journalists will be selected to report from UNCCD COP17, which will convene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 17-28 August, 2026 to advance solutions for restoring land, strengthening drought resilience and safeguarding the ecosystems that sustain livelihoods around the world.
Benefits
The fellowship will cover:
- Access to UNCCD experts, including pre-COP virtual briefings to deepen the understanding of the key issues related to COP17
- Support for COP17 participation, including a return economy-class travel to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, accommodation during COP17 (21–28 August 2026) and COP17 media accreditation
- A field visit in Mongolia with opportunities to engage with local communities
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to professional journalists (staff or freelance) with a strong track record of reporting on environment, climate, agriculture, development, food systems, business, or related issues.
Applicants should:
- Work with a recognized media outlet
- Be based in countries affected by desertification, land degradation and drought
- Demonstrate an interest in reporting on the intersection between environmental change and social and economic dynamics
- Applicants should demonstrate a strong command of English, enabling them to follow COP17 briefings, events and expert discussions
Selected fellows will represent different regions and languages, including the six official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).
Selected fellows will:
- Participate in pre-COP virtual briefings with experts
- Attend and report from UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar
- Produce independent journalistic coverage connected to the themes of the fellowship
All fellows retain full editorial independence and journalistic integrity.
Application
Applicants must submit:
- Three samples of relevant published work
- A letter from an editor confirming intent to publish COP17-related coverage
- A short proposal outlining three potential stories, including one ahead of COP17
- Information about the media outlet’s reach, including audience size and geographic scope
- CV or resume
Send your application materials to [email protected] with the subject line “COP17 Media Fellowship Application”
For more information, visit UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship.
