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Biodiversity Fellowships for Journalists to Cover UNCBD COP17 in Yerevan

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Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Grants

Deadline: 29-Jun-2026

The Biodiversity Fellowship Program is accepting applications from journalists in low- and middle-income countries to report from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2026. The fully funded fellowship covers international travel, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance, and local transportation for selected journalists. Fellows will produce in-depth biodiversity stories before, during, and after the conference for their media organizations.

Overview

The Biodiversity Fellowship Program supports journalists from low- and middle-income countries to cover the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The fellowship enables selected journalists to attend the full conference period in person and report on global biodiversity negotiations, ecological impacts, and policy outcomes.

The program is designed to strengthen environmental journalism and improve public access to information about biodiversity loss and international conservation action.

Purpose of the Fellowship

The purpose of the Biodiversity Fellowship Program is to improve global reporting on biodiversity and strengthen media coverage of international environmental negotiations.

The fellowship helps journalists cover complex biodiversity policy discussions and translate them into accessible stories for wider audiences.

It also supports reporting from countries and regions most affected by biodiversity decline, where access to global policy spaces may be limited.

Key Focus Areas

The fellowship focuses on biodiversity loss, international biodiversity negotiations, UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17, environmental journalism, ecological impacts, climate and biodiversity reporting, public access to policy outcomes, low- and middle-income countries, media capacity building, expert briefings, journalist mentorship, and in-depth environmental storytelling.

What the Fellowship Supports

The fellowship supports in-person reporting from CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Selected journalists will be able to:

The fellowship is intended for journalists who can explain biodiversity issues clearly and connect international decisions to real-world community and ecological impacts.

Fellowship Location and Timing

The fellowship will take place in Yerevan, Armenia.

Selected journalists must be available from mid-October 2026 until the end of the CBD COP17 conference period.

Applicants should be prepared to attend the full program in person and complete reporting assignments during and after the conference.

Fellowship Benefits

The Biodiversity Fellowship Program is fully funded.

The fellowship covers:

Applicants are responsible for obtaining the necessary passport, visa, and travel documentation.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be professional journalists from low- or middle-income countries as classified by the World Bank.

Applicants may be:

Applicants must have prior reporting experience on biodiversity-related issues and must be able to provide relevant published work samples from the past year.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Applicants who have previously participated in similar biodiversity COP fellowships organized by the program are not eligible.

Why It Matters

Biodiversity loss affects ecosystems, food systems, livelihoods, public health, and climate resilience.

Many communities in low- and middle-income countries face serious ecological impacts but receive limited global media attention. Strong journalism can help explain these impacts, hold decision-makers accountable, and make international biodiversity negotiations more understandable to the public.

This fellowship matters because it supports journalists who can connect global COP17 decisions with local realities and help audiences understand why biodiversity protection is urgent.

Reporting Expectations

Selected journalists are expected to produce multiple stories during and after the COP17 conference.

Stories may be published or broadcast in different media formats, including:

Fellows must properly acknowledge fellowship support in their reporting and follow editorial and travel guidelines provided by the organizers.

Publication and Translation Requirements

Participants must submit English summaries of all published work.

They are also expected to fully translate at least one story for wider dissemination.

This requirement helps make biodiversity reporting accessible to broader audiences beyond the original publication language.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a complete application that demonstrates journalistic experience, editorial support, biodiversity reporting background, and readiness to cover COP17.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should confirm that they are professional journalists from a low- or middle-income country.

They should also ensure they have not previously participated in a similar biodiversity COP fellowship organized by the program.

Step 2: Prepare Biodiversity Reporting Samples

Applicants must submit relevant published work samples from the past year.

The samples should show experience reporting on biodiversity, ecosystems, conservation, environmental policy, species loss, protected areas, ecological impacts, or related environmental issues.

Step 3: Secure Editor or Supervisor Confirmation

Applicants must provide confirmation from an editor or media supervisor.

This confirmation should show that the applicant’s media organization or outlet supports the proposed reporting and will publish or broadcast the fellowship-supported work.

Freelancers should provide confirmation from a recognized outlet willing to publish their stories.

Step 4: Develop a Reporting Plan

Applicants should prepare a clear plan for the stories they intend to produce.

The reporting plan should explain:

Step 5: Demonstrate English Proficiency

Applicants should show that they have a strong command of English.

This is important because the fellowship includes briefings, mentorship, conference engagement, and reporting coordination in English.

Step 6: Prepare Travel Readiness Information

Applicants should confirm that they can travel to Armenia for the full fellowship period.

They should also be prepared to obtain any required visa or travel documents. Visa costs may be reimbursed, but applicants remain responsible for securing the required documentation.

Step 7: Disclose Use of Generative AI

Applicants must be transparent about any use of generative AI tools during the application process.

Disclosure should be honest and should follow the application guidelines provided by the organizers.

Step 8: Submit the Complete Application

Applicants should submit all required materials, including work samples, editor confirmation, reporting plan, eligibility information, and any required forms before the deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should clearly show the applicant’s ability to report accurately and meaningfully on biodiversity issues.

Applicants should:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting incomplete or unclear applications.

Common mistakes include:

FAQ

1. What is the Biodiversity Fellowship Program?

The Biodiversity Fellowship Program is a fully funded journalism fellowship that supports selected journalists from low- and middle-income countries to report from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia.

2. Who can apply?

Professional journalists working with established media organizations or freelancing for recognized outlets in low- and middle-income countries can apply.

3. What does the fellowship cover?

The fellowship covers economy-class international airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance, local ground transportation related to the assignment, and reimbursement of visa costs.

4. When and where will the fellowship take place?

The fellowship will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, during the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 in October 2026.

5. What reporting experience is required?

Applicants must demonstrate prior reporting experience on biodiversity-related issues and submit relevant published work samples from the past year.

6. Are freelancers eligible?

Yes. Freelance journalists are eligible if they work with recognized media outlets and can provide editor or media supervisor confirmation that their work will be published or broadcast.

7. What are selected journalists expected to produce?

Selected journalists are expected to produce multiple stories during and after the conference, acknowledge fellowship support, submit English summaries of published work, and fully translate at least one story for wider dissemination.

Conclusion

The Biodiversity Fellowship Program offers journalists from low- and middle-income countries a fully funded opportunity to cover CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. By supporting in-person reporting, expert engagement, and mentorship, the fellowship helps strengthen global biodiversity journalism and improve public understanding of international conservation decisions. Applicants should present strong biodiversity reporting experience, clear story ideas, confirmed editorial support, and full availability to participate in the October 2026 program.

For more information, visit EJN.

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