UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship 2026 for Journalists (Fully Funded to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 15 April 2026

Introduction

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 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.

Requirements

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
• 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).

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

Responsibilities

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.

Fellows will publish at least three stories, including:

• One story ahead of COP17
• One story during COP17
• One story after COP17, connecting the global conversation on land and drought to their local realities

At least one story should highlight solutions linked to drought resilience and sustainable land management or land restoration.

Application Process

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

Application Timeline

• Applications open: 16 March 2026
• Application deadline: 23:59 GMT on 15 April 2026
• Selected fellows notified: end of April 2026
• Pre-COP briefings: May-June 2026
• COP17 fellowship reporting: August 2026

Application materials should be sent with the subject line «COP17 Media Fellowship Application»