EJN Biodiversity Fellowships 2026 to Cover the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Armenia (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Biodiversity Fellowships 2026, offering journalists from low- and middle-income countries a unique opportunity to attend and report from the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia. The fellowship is designed to strengthen biodiversity reporting and ensure that critical developments, negotiations, and decisions from the global biodiversity summit reach audiences worldwide.

Fellowship Overview

• Organizer: Earth Journalism Network
• Conference: UN Biodiversity Conference COP17
• Location: Yerevan
• Conference Dates: 19–30 October 2026
• Arrival Date: 17 October 2026
• Departure Date: 31 October 2026
• Funding: Fully Funded
• Number of Fellows: At least 10 journalists
• Application Deadline: 29 June 2026

About the Fellowship

The fellowship supports journalists in covering one of the most important international gatherings on biodiversity and conservation. Selected fellows will report on negotiations, policy developments, financing mechanisms, conservation initiatives, and progress toward global biodiversity targets. The program seeks to increase public awareness of biodiversity loss and the solutions needed to address it.

Financial Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

• Round-trip economy-class airfare
• Hotel accommodation
• Meals during the fellowship
• Travel medical insurance
• Ground transportation
• Visa fee reimbursement
• Press accreditation support
• Pre-conference training and orientation
• Editorial and technical support from EJN experts

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a professional journalist representing an established media outlet.
• Be reporting from a low- or middle-income country.
• Have demonstrated experience reporting on biodiversity or environmental issues.
• Be available to attend the conference in person in Armenia.
• Possess good English-language proficiency.
• Submit an updated CV.
• Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer, or media supervisor.
• Submit recent biodiversity-related journalism samples published within the last 12 months. Freelancers are also eligible if they can provide a publication commitment from a media outlet.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Experience covering biodiversity and environmental topics.
• Quality and relevance of previous reporting.
• Strength of proposed story ideas for COP17 coverage.
• Commitment from a media organization to publish or broadcast stories.
• Potential impact of the proposed reporting.
• Geographic and media diversity of the fellowship cohort.

Reporting Expectations

Selected fellows will be expected to:

• Attend the full conference.
• Participate in fellowship briefings and workshops.
• Produce multiple stories related to biodiversity and COP17 outcomes.
• Publish or broadcast their reports through established media outlets.
• Contribute to raising public awareness of biodiversity conservation and policy developments.

Why Apply?

The UN Biodiversity Conference is one of the world’s most important environmental policy events, bringing together governments, scientists, civil society organizations, and international institutions to shape global biodiversity action. This fellowship provides journalists with direct access to negotiations, experts, and decision-makers while receiving comprehensive financial and editorial support.