Climate, Heritage and Geopark Journalism Programme (Mongolia)

Deadline: 30-Mar-2026

UNESCO East Asia is inviting national organizations to strengthen media capacity in Mongolia for climate change, cultural and geo-heritage, Geoparks, and sustainable tourism reporting ahead of COP17. The programme supports ethical, solution-based journalism, fosters collaboration with national institutions, and provides micro-grants to produce publishable stories.

Programme Overview

The initiative focuses on enhancing journalists’ skills in:

• Ethical, constructive, and audience-oriented climate and environmental reporting

• Evidence-based use of data for climate, cultural, and heritage stories

• Integrating geo-heritage and Geopark perspectives into narratives on climate and sustainable tourism

• Supporting national COP17 communication efforts through complementary capacity-building

• Facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange among media professionals, civil society, academic experts, and national institutions

Key Components

The programme adopts a practice-led model that includes:

1. Story Pitching and Ideation – helping journalists develop story concepts with relevance to climate, heritage, and tourism.

2. Research Deep Dives – enabling journalists to gather evidence, data, and local context for robust reporting.

3. Pop-up Newsroom for Story Production – providing hands-on support to produce publishable articles or media content.

4. Journalistic Micro-Grants – funding individual stories to encourage high-quality reporting and innovative approaches.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a legally registered entity under national law (NGO, civil society organization, non-profit, academic or research institution)

• Have at least five years of demonstrated experience in media development, journalism training, or related fields

• Demonstrate experience in climate, environmental, cultural, geo-heritage, or sustainable development communication

• Have the capacity to coordinate national stakeholders and international experts, manage training workshops, administer micro-grants, and conduct financial reporting

• Be able to localize technical training content into Mongolian, including translation and contextual adaptation

Expected Outcomes

• Strengthened capacity of journalists to report on climate change, heritage, and sustainable development

• Increased production of publishable, solution-oriented media content

• Enhanced integration of Geopark and geo-heritage narratives into media reporting

• Improved collaboration between media, civil society, academia, and national institutions

• Support for national COP17 communication efforts through skill-building and practical reporting

How to Apply

1. Confirm that your organization meets eligibility and experience requirements

2. Prepare a proposal detailing your capacity to deliver the programme components

3. Include a plan for workshops, micro-grant administration, and content production support

4. Demonstrate your ability to localize content and provide Mongolian-language training

5. Submit before the official deadline, ensuring compliance with UNESCO financial and administrative reporting standards

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without five years of relevant experience in media development

• Failing to demonstrate organizational capacity for coordinating multiple stakeholders

• Not including a clear plan for story production and micro-grant allocation

• Overlooking the requirement to localize training content in Mongolian

FAQs

1. Who can apply? Legally registered NGOs, civil society organizations, non-profits, academic/research institutions, or other eligible entities in Mongolia.
2. Is prior media experience required? Yes, at least five years in media development, journalism training, or related fields.
3. Can international organizations apply? Only if they partner with national entities capable of program delivery in Mongolia.
4. Are micro-grants included in the application? Applicants must plan for their administration as part of the programme.
5. Is Mongolian-language capacity required? Yes, content localization, translation, and contextual adaptation are mandatory.
6. What thematic areas are prioritized? Climate change, cultural and geo-heritage, Geoparks, sustainable tourism, and COP17-related communication.
7. What is the programme timeline? Aligned with COP17 preparations in 2026; proposals must outline practical implementation schedules.

Conclusion

This UNESCO programme empowers Mongolian media professionals to produce high-quality, evidence-based stories on climate, heritage, and sustainability, contributing to both national awareness and international COP17 objectives. It strengthens local journalism, fosters stakeholder collaboration, and supports solution-driven reporting to inspire informed communities.

For more information, visit UNESCO.