UNCCD COP17 Media Fellowship is a unique opportunity for professional journalists to report on one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—land degradation and drought. Organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in partnership with the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the fellowship supports media professionals in covering the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The programme enables journalists to produce impactful reporting on land restoration, drought resilience, food security, biodiversity, and sustainable development while engaging directly with experts, policymakers, and local communities.
About the UNCCD COP17 Media Fellowship
The fellowship is designed to strengthen global reporting on issues related to desertification, land degradation, drought, and ecosystem restoration. Selected fellows will attend UNCCD COP17, participate in expert briefings, and produce independent journalism highlighting both the challenges and solutions shaping global land stewardship.
COP17 will take place from 17–28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, bringing together representatives from the Convention’s 197 Parties, governments, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, businesses, and international organizations.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected journalists will receive:
- Return economy-class airfare to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Accommodation during the fellowship period (21–28 August 2026).
- Official media accreditation for UNCCD COP17.
- Access to UNCCD experts through pre-COP virtual briefings.
- Participation in a field visit in Mongolia.
- Opportunities to engage with local communities and environmental practitioners.
Fellowship Focus
The programme encourages reporting on issues including:
- Land degradation
- Desertification
- Drought resilience
- Sustainable land management
- Land restoration
- Food security
- Water security
- Climate resilience
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Rangelands and pastoralism
Journalists are encouraged to explore practical solutions already making a difference in vulnerable communities.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is open to professional journalists, including staff reporters and freelancers.
Applicants should:
- Work with a recognized media outlet.
- Be based in countries affected by desertification, land degradation, or drought.
- Have a strong track record of reporting on topics such as:
- Environment
- Climate
- Agriculture
- Development
- Food systems
- Business
- Related public interest issues
- Demonstrate an interest in the social and economic impacts of environmental change.
- Possess a strong command of English to participate effectively in briefings, discussions, and conference events.
The programme aims to select journalists representing diverse regions and languages, including the six official United Nations languages:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- English
- French
- Russian
- Spanish
Fellowship Expectations
Selected fellows will:
- Participate in pre-COP virtual briefings.
- Attend and report from UNCCD COP17.
- Produce independent journalistic coverage while maintaining full editorial independence.
Each fellow is expected to publish at least three stories, including:
- One story before COP17.
- One story during COP17.
- One story after COP17 connecting the conference themes to local realities.
At least one story should focus on solutions related to:
- Drought resilience
- Sustainable land management
- Land restoration
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Three published work samples relevant to the fellowship themes.
- A letter from an editor confirming the intention to publish COP17-related coverage.
- A short proposal outlining three potential story ideas, including one to be published before COP17.
- Information about the media outlet’s audience reach and geographic coverage.
- A current CV or résumé.
Application Timeline
Key dates for the fellowship include:
- Applications Open: 16 March 2026
- Application Deadline: 15 April 2026 (23:59 GMT)
- Notification of Selected Fellows: End of April 2026
- Pre-COP Briefings: May–June 2026
- COP17 Reporting Fellowship: August 2026
How to Apply
Applicants were required to submit all application materials via email to the UNCCD Press Office with the subject line:
“COP17 Media Fellowship Application”
Applications included all required supporting documents outlined in the fellowship guidelines.
Why Apply?
The UNCCD COP17 Media Fellowship offers journalists a rare opportunity to report directly from one of the world’s leading environmental conferences while gaining access to international experts, policymakers, and communities working on innovative approaches to land restoration and drought resilience. The fellowship supports independent journalism that raises awareness of environmental challenges and highlights practical solutions for sustainable land management.
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