Published: June 12 2026
Deadline: June 29 2026
Locations: Low and middle-income countries worldwide
EJN is pleased to announce an in-person fellowship program that will support selected journalists to attend and report from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 conference scheduled for October 19 to 30 2026 in Yerevan Armenia. Eligible journalists are encouraged to review the details below and submit their applications before the deadline.
Overview
In 2022 the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 launched a landmark international agreement to halt and reverse nature loss over the following decade. The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework outlines 23 targets across topics such as sustainable use of biodiversity, species extinction, ecosystem health, benefit sharing and finance, all to be achieved by 2030. The framework also underpins the 30×30 objective to protect 30 percent of global land and seas by the same deadline.
Due to be held in Yerevan Armenia in October 2026 the CBD COP17 will be the first biodiversity COP meeting past the halfway mark to 2030s CBD COP19. It will mark the first global stocktake of progress toward the framework and will assess if the world is on track to meet its targets.
Time is running out to deliver meaningful biodiversity action. Today over 48,000 species are threatened with extinction, climate change is altering the environment faster than ecosystems can adapt and biodiversity loss continues to feature as one of the most severe long term risks facing our planet today according to the World Economic Forum.
To ensure that the CBD COP receives rich and diverse coverage worldwide particularly in countries most impacted by its outcomes Internews Earth Journalism Network in partnership with NABU through the SYMBIOTIC Project and the Biodiversity Media Initiative is launching a fellowship program for journalists interested in attending and reporting on the event. This opportunity is designed to enable journalists from low and middle income countries to cover the negotiations and ensure crucial findings, decisions and outcomes are available and accessible to audiences beyond conference walls. The fellowship will strengthen and deepen journalistic reporting on biodiversity issues and draw attention to the widespread, catastrophic and often underreported impacts of biodiversity depletion.
Fellowship Logistics
Fellows will travel to Yerevan to attend the full duration of the conference from October 19 to 30 2026 with arrival planned for October 17 and departure on October 31. EJN will cover non refundable economy class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to fellowship participation. Organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical support relating to the trip. The process of obtaining any necessary visas is the fellow individual responsibility though EJN will reimburse visa costs.
A minimum of 10 journalists will be selected through this call for the in person fellowship. Prior to the start of COP17 fellows will receive informational resources and technical support to help prepare for reporting at the conference including a pre COP virtual workshop.
While in Yerevan fellows will participate in a series of specially designed activities including an orientation session with biodiversity experts on key issues at this COP, daily briefings and interviews with high level officials. They will also be mentored by EJN trainers who are senior journalists with experience in covering UN summits. Journalists awarded fellowships are responsible for their own safety during travel and for ensuring that they meet all requirements for travel and attendance.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible the applicant must be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from a low or middle income country as classified by the World Bank. Applicants must have previous experience reporting on biodiversity issues and clearly indicate the kinds of stories they might pursue while covering the conference.
Applicants must be available and willing to travel to Yerevan to attend COP17 in person arriving on October 17 and departing no earlier than October 31 2026. A good command of the English language is required. An up to date resume or CV must be shared.
A letter of support from an editor, producer or supervisor who can confirm that news reports will be published or broadcast in an established media outlet is required. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must provide a letter of support from a media outlet for which they intend to report. Recent, relevant and journalistic work samples on biodiversity topics must be provided. Stories can be in any language as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. Clips must focus on biodiversity topics and should have been published in the last 12 months.
Applications are open to journalists working in any medium including online, print, television and radio. Freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations are encouraged to apply. Journalists who attended biodiversity COPs in the past with EJN support are not eligible. The application requires transparency about any use of generative AI tools.
Judging Criteria
Applications will be accepted until June 29 2026. Decisions will be communicated before the end of July. Selection is based on demonstrated experience covering biodiversity topics, a clear and well researched reporting plan for the COP, and a relationship with an established media house with a signed letter of support.
Story Logistics
Fellows are expected to produce multiple stories for their media house over the course of the fellowship. Stories can be in any language but fellows must provide high quality English summaries. Published stories must disclose EJN support with the tagline acknowledging the fellowship.
Application Deadline
June 29 2026 at 11 59 PM Pacific Niue
