The UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) is offering a fully funded journalism fellowship for 10 journalists from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Fellows will travel to Doha, Qatar, to cover the High-level Midterm Review of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) on 25–27 March 2027.
Journalists from 32 African countries are eligible, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Senegal, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mali. The official deadline is 30 November 2026, but the UN’s own timeline shows the open call ending on 19 November, so we recommend applying before then.
At a Glance
| Organiser | UN-OHRLLS |
| Event | Midterm Review of the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs |
| Dates and place | 25–27 March 2027, Doha, Qatar |
| Places | 10 journalists |
| Funding | Return economy flights, plus a UN daily subsistence allowance for accommodation and meals |
| Eligible | Nationals of the 44 LDCs, aged 18+, with at least 2 years of journalism experience |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 (apply by 19 November to be safe) |
Benefits
- Round-trip economy-class travel to Doha
- A daily subsistence allowance for accommodation and meals, under UN rules
- Pre-conference orientation, where applicable
- Access to fellowship briefings and networking with UN officials, delegates and other journalists
- First-hand coverage of a major UN development summit
What Fellows Must Do
- Take part in all required fellowship activities during the Review
- Publish at least three substantive stories:
- one before the Review, to raise awareness
- one during the Review, from Doha
- one after the Review, on outcomes and follow-up
- Share the publication links by 30 April 2027
- Follow professional ethics, accuracy, fairness and safety rules
Priority Reporting Areas
Your reporting proposal should connect to one or more of the DPoA’s six priorities:
- Investing in people: poverty, health, education and social protection
- Science, technology and innovation, including closing the digital divide
- Structural transformation and economic diversification
- International trade and regional integration
- Climate change, environmental degradation and resilience
- International solidarity, partnerships and financing for graduation from LDC status
Eligibility
- You’re 18 or older and a national of one of the 44 LDCs.
- You’re a working journalist whose work is regularly published or broadcast by a recognised media outlet, as staff or freelance.
- You have at least two years of professional journalism experience.
- You can travel to Doha for the full Review and attend all briefings.
- You’re interested in sustainable development and the DPoA priority areas.
Eligible African countries
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.
Not eligible: journalists from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and other African countries that aren’t LDCs.
The other eligible countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Yemen.
How to Apply
Prepare three things, then fill in one online form:
- Short biography (max 300 words): your position and outlet, years of experience, reporting areas, languages, and past coverage of DPoA-related issues.
- Two work samples: print, online, radio, TV or multimedia. At least one must be on a development issue.
- Reporting proposal (max 400 words): your story angles, why they matter to LDC audiences, your formats, and where you’ll publish.
Submit through the official application form. There’s no application fee, and incomplete or late applications won’t be considered.
Official UN-OHRLLS DPoA MTR Journalism Fellowship page · Application form
Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Open call | 27 September – 19 November 2026 (official deadline 30 November) |
| Eligibility check and scoring | 22 November – 17 December 2026 |
| Award letters | Before 31 December 2026 |
| Online orientation | February 2027 |
| Midterm Review in Doha | 25–27 March 2027 |
| Post-fellowship reporting | Within 6 weeks after the Review (links due by 30 April 2027) |
Tips
- Pitch local angles. For example: what LDC graduation means for farmers in Rwanda, digital access in rural Ethiopia, or climate resilience in Mozambique.
- Name your outlet. Show that an editor will publish or broadcast your three pieces.
- Pick your strongest development stories as work samples.
- Check your passport now. You’ll need a valid passport for travel to Qatar.
