Applications are now open for the 2026 UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship. 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.
Fellowship application assistance
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.
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
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).
COP17 will coincide with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 and highlight their role in global food security, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate action.
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
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.
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:
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
Send your application materials to press@unccd.int with the subject line « COP17 Media Fellowship Application »
Fellowship application assistance
Method of Application
For More Information,
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: 15 April 2026.