The applications are now open for the UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship 2026. This fully funded fellowship will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026, coinciding with the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17). The UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship will select six 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. Candidates from all around the world are eligible to apply. The fellowship will cover all the expenses. There is no application fee, and IELTS is not required. More details are below.
Details About UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship 2026
- Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Duration: 2 Weeks
- Dates: 17 to 28 August 2026
- Benefits: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 15th April 2026
Also Check: NYU Stern Fellowship 2026 in New York, USA (Fully Funded)
About UNCCD COP17
UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to advance sustainable land stewardship to provide food, water, and economic opportunity to all people.
The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (UNCCD COP17) is expected to bring together delegates from the Convention’s 197 Parties, alongside leaders from government, business, civil society, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities to address the global loss of fertile lands and the intensification of droughts.
About the Fellowship
The UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship aims to help bridge this gap by enabling journalists to report directly from the conference and the field, engage with leading experts and communities, and explore the solutions shaping a more resilient future.
Financial Benefits
The Fellowship covers:
- Return economy-class travel
- Accommodation
- Media accreditation
- Field Visits
Also Check: Einstein Fellowship 2026 in Germany (Fully Funded)
Eligibility Criteria
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
Also Check: United Nations LAW Fellowship 2026 in Netherlands (Fully Funded)
How to Apply for the UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship 2026?
- 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 press@unccd.int with the subject line “COP17 Media Fellowship Application.
VISIT UNCCD COP17 MEDIA REPORTING FELLOWSHIP
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