UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Fellowship 2026: Guide for Journalists
Land degradation and drought threaten food supplies, clean water, and entire economies around the world. These problems affect billions of people, making it hard to grow crops and sustain communities. The UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship 2026 for Journalists offers a fully funded chance for reporters to cover this critical issue firsthand from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Six journalists will attend UNCCD COP17, a major conference from 17-28 August 2026 focused on land restoration and drought solutions. This article covers eligibility rules, fellowship benefits, responsibilities, how to apply, and the full timeline.
What is the UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship?
The UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship comes from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA). It helps journalists tell stories about growing pressures on land, drought resilience, and ecosystems that support lives everywhere. The event takes place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and lines up with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026. Organizers will pick six journalists from various regions and United Nations languages like Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Key themes include:
- Land restoration to heal damaged soil.
- Drought resilience to fight water shortages.
- Livelihoods tied to healthy ecosystems for food and jobs.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
This fellowship targets professional journalists, either staff or freelance, who cover environment, climate, agriculture, development, food systems, business, or similar topics. Applicants need a solid history of such reporting. They must meet clear criteria to qualify.
- Work with a recognized media outlet.
- Live in countries hit by desertification, land degradation, or drought.
- Show interest in how environmental changes link to social and economic issues.
- Have strong English skills to join COP17 briefings and talks.
- Represent diverse regions and UN languages.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
Fellows gain full support to focus on quality reporting without extra costs. They keep complete editorial independence and journalistic standards. Benefits make it easy to dive into the story.
- Access to UNCCD experts, plus pre-COP virtual briefings on key issues.
- Travel support: economy-class round-trip flights to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Accommodation from 21-28 August 2026 and COP17 media accreditation.
- A field visit in Mongolia to meet local communities.
What are the Fellows’ Responsibilities?
Selected journalists commit to active coverage of land and drought topics. They join events and create stories that connect global talks to real-world impacts. Full editorial independence stays in place.
- Pre-COP story: Write one piece ahead of the conference, based on briefings.
- During-COP story: Report live from UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar.
- Post-COP story: Link global discussions back to local drought and land issues.
At least one story must spotlight solutions, such as drought resilience or sustainable land management.
How to Apply for the Fellowship
Applying takes a few key documents to show your fit and plans. Submit everything by the deadline to [email protected]. Use the subject line “COP17 Media Fellowship Application”. The cutoff is 23:59 GMT on 15 April 2026.
- Three samples of relevant published work.
- A letter from an editor confirming plans to publish COP17 stories.
- A short proposal outlining three potential stories, with one before COP17.
- Details on your media outlet’s reach, like audience size and geographic area.
- Your CV or resume.
Application Timeline
Stay on track with this clear schedule for the UNCCD COP17 Land and Drought Media Reporting Fellowship 2026 for Journalists.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 16 March 2026 |
| Deadline | 15 April 2026 |
| Selected fellows notified | End of April 2026 |
| Pre-COP briefings | May-June 2026 |
| COP17 reporting | August 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the UNCCD COP17 Media Fellowship?
Professional journalists from media outlets in desertification-affected countries who cover environment or climate topics and have strong English skills qualify.
What benefits does the fellowship provide?
It covers economy flights, accommodation from August 21-28, COP17 accreditation, expert briefings, and a local field visit in Mongolia.
What are the fellows’ main responsibilities?
Fellows must produce one pre-COP story, one during-COP report, and one post-COP piece, with at least one focusing on solutions like drought resilience.
When is the application deadline?
Submit all documents by 23:59 GMT on April 15, 2026, to [email protected].