Check out media opportunities you can apply for or note the requirements to position yourself for future programmes and vacancies.
UNCCD COP17 Media Fellowship: Fully Funded Reporting Opportunity in Mongolia
[Deadline: April 15, 2026] The UNCCD COP17 Media Reporting Fellowship offers journalists a fully funded chance to cover the 17th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 21–28, 2026.
Organized by UNCCD and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), it targets reporters from countries facing land degradation, desertification, and drought, aligning with Nigerian journalists’ expertise in environmental policy and public discourse.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows receive economy-class return travel to Mongolia, accommodation during COP17, media accreditation, and a field visit to local communities tackling land pressures.
Pre-COP virtual briefings with UNCCD experts prepare participants to report on drought’s impacts on food security, migration, and economic stability. Fellows produce independent stories while retaining full editorial control.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must work with a recognized media outlet, hail from affected countries like Nigeria, and show strong English skills for COP briefings.
Submit three relevant published samples, an editor’s letter confirming intent to publish COP17 coverage, a proposal for three stories (one pre-COP), media outlet details, and a CV.
Application Timeline
Applications opened March 16, 2026, and close April 15, 2026 (23:59 GMT). Notifications come by late April, with briefings in May-June. Email submissions to press@unccd.int with subject “COP17 Media Fellowship Application,” checking the official UNCCD call for full details.
2026 African Liberty Writing Fellowship: Empowering African Voices
[Deadline: April 30, 2026] The 2026 African Liberty Writing Fellowship invites African writers, journalists, and thinkers to produce bold essays on liberty, free markets, and individual rights, with applications open now through an extended deadline.
Hosted by the African Liberty Initiative, this program targets emerging voices from Nigeria and across the continent to challenge collectivist narratives and promote policy reform through impactful opinion pieces.
Fellowship Overview
Fellows receive mentorship from leading liberty advocates, editorial support, and publication on high-traffic platforms like African Liberty, reaching policymakers and global audiences.
Participants craft 1,500–2,500-word essays on topics like economic freedom, governance innovation, or entrepreneurial empowerment.
Key Benefits
Selected writers gain networking with international think tanks, certificates of completion, and stipends for top essays, enhancing careers in broadcast journalism and public policy discourse. Essays are pitched during virtual workshops, with finalists submitting polished drafts by July 2026 for COP-aligned themes on sustainable development.
Eligibility and Requirements
Open to Africans aged 18+ with strong English writing skills; prior publications preferred but not required—ideal for content creators experienced in radio scripting and social media strategy. Submit a 300-word pitch, CV, two writing samples, and editor’s note via the application form.
Application Details
Apply by April 30, 2026, at https://africanliberty.org/fellowship-2026/ or email info@africanliberty.org.
Earth Journalism Network 2026 Biodiversity Media Grants
[Deadline: March 28, 2026] Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) offers Biodiversity Media Grants of €10,000–€12,000 to 3–4 media organizations in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria to boost investigative reporting on biodiversity threats and solutions.
With a deadline of March 28, 2026 (11:59 PM PT), these grants support projects enhancing coverage of conservation.
Grant Focus Areas
Proposals should tackle priority themes: Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for the 30×30 target, business impacts on nature, collaborative conservation models, nature-based solutions for biodiversity/climate/food security, harmful conservation policy effects, or biodiversity-health links.
Projects must build journalist capacity, produce in-depth stories, and increase biodiversity coverage quantity/quality.
Grantees get mentorship from environmental journalism pros throughout the project.
Eligibility Requirements
Open to media outlets, journalist networks, civil society orgs, or academic institutions in World Bank-classified low/middle-income countries; professional journalism orgs and schools prioritized.
Submit in English with a detailed budget template; no advocacy/political projects; disclose AI use. Prior EJN grantees (non-2024) eligible.
Application Process
Apply online via EJN’s portal: review full guidelines, complete the form, upload budget/proof of capacity, and submit by March 28.
Nigerian applicants can leverage expertise in public policy reporting for transboundary or data-driven biodiversity stories relevant to governance and health tech intersections.
2026 Silvers Grants: $10K for Nonfiction Writers in Progress
[Deadline: March 31, 2026] The Robert B. Silvers Foundation offers 2026 Silvers Grants for Work in Progress, providing up to $10,000 to Anglophone writers worldwide for long-form nonfiction projects.
Open to any nationality, it supports literary criticism, arts writing, political analysis, or social reportage—ideal for Nigerian journalists tackling governance, media ethics, or policy narratives.
Grant Details
Grants fund significant works already in progress with a confirmed publishing agreement, prioritizing projects without major prior funding like large advances. Writers use the funds for research, travel, or dedicated time to complete pieces for top outlets, with winners notified by early August 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must propose original nonfiction (no fiction or translation) and submit as a single PDF: CV, one-page project description, completed financial questionnaire, 500–2,000 word writing sample, and proof of publishing contract.
Application Process
Deadline is March 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST; apply via the official Silvers Foundation portal at silversfoundation.org/grants. Email grants@silversfoundation.org for queries, ensuring your pitch highlights rigorous analysis relevant to African contexts.
