Scholarship Overview
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What Is the DPoA MTR Journalism Fellowship?
The DPoA MTR Journalism Fellowship is a fully funded reporting opportunity organized by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). It enables 10 professional journalists from the 44 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to travel to Doha, Qatar and cover the High-level Midterm Review of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA), taking place 25–27 March 2027.
The Doha Programme of Action is the UN’s overarching framework for accelerating sustainable development and supporting sustainable graduation from the LDC category. The Midterm Review assesses implementation progress, identifies gaps, and strengthens partnerships for the remainder of the decade. For journalists from underrepresented regions—including Zimbabwe and SADC LDCs like Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia—this fellowship offers rare access to multilateral negotiations and direct engagement with policymakers.
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What the Fellowship Covers
Selected Fellows receive comprehensive support:
- Round-trip economy-class air travel to Doha, Qatar
- Daily subsistence allowance for accommodation and meals, per UN rules
- Pre-conference orientation activities (online, February 2027)
- Fellowship briefings and networking opportunities with UN officials, delegates, and development experts
The award is personal and non-transferable. Fellows must not incur costs on behalf of the programme without prior written authorization.
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Who Can Apply
Applicants must satisfy four mandatory requirements:
- Age and nationality: Aged 18 or older and a national of one of the 44 eligible LDCs
- Professional status: A bona fide journalist with work regularly published or broadcast by recognized media outlets (staff or freelance)
- Experience: At least two years of professional journalism experience
- Availability: Willing and able to travel to Doha for the full duration and participate in all required activities
Applicants should also demonstrate genuine interest in sustainable development, particularly the DPoA’s six priority areas: investing in people; leveraging science, technology and innovation; supporting structural transformation; enhancing international trade and regional integration; addressing climate change and resilience; and mobilizing international solidarity.
The 44 Eligible LDCs
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia.
Note for Zimbabwean applicants: Zimbabwe is not currently on the LDC list and is therefore ineligible for this specific fellowship. Zimbabwean journalists should explore other UN media opportunities or regional reporting grants.
Required Application Documents
Prepare three components before accessing the online portal:
- Short biography (maximum 300 words): Current position and media affiliation(s); years of journalism experience; reporting expertise areas; languages spoken; previous experience aligned with DPoA priority areas
- Two work samples: Published pieces in print, online, radio, television, or multimedia formats. At least one must address development-related issues
- Reporting proposal (maximum 400 words): Story angles for the Midterm Review; relevance to LDC audiences; how reporting will build public understanding of DPoA implementation; planned formats and publication strategy with intended outlets
How to Apply
- Review eligibility requirements and confirm your country is on the LDC list
- Draft your biography, select work samples, and develop your reporting proposal within word limits
- Complete the online application form, uploading all required documents
- Submit before the deadline
There is no application fee. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Fellowship Deliverables and Timeline
Selected Fellows must produce three substantive journalism outputs:
- Before the Review: One output building awareness of the Review and relevant DPoA issues
- During the Review: One output reflecting key discussions, announcements, or perspectives from Doha
- After the Review: One output examining outcomes, implications, and follow-up for LDC audiences
All publication links must be shared with UN-OHRLLS by 30 April 2027. Editorial decisions remain with Fellows and their outlets; UN participation does not imply endorsement of reporting.
Key Dates
- 27 September – 19 November 2026: Open call period
- 22 November – 17 December 2026: Eligibility review and scoring
- Before 31 December 2026: Award letters sent to successful candidates
- February 2027: Online orientation
- 25–27 March 2027: Midterm Review reporting in Doha, Qatar
- Within 6 weeks after the Review: Post-fellowship reporting and review
Important Terms and Conditions
Selection does not guarantee conference accreditation, visa issuance, or travel clearance—final participation depends on completing all administrative formalities. Fellows must observe professional ethics, accuracy, fairness, safety, applicable law, and venue rules. Travel may be changed or cancelled for funding, security, health, logistical, or conference-related reasons.
Applicants retain ownership of their work but grant UN-OHRLLS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, translate, display, distribute, and link to submitted or published work for non-commercial programme, reporting, archival, and promotional purposes, with attribution where practicable.
Why This Fellowship Matters for African Journalists
For journalists from Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and other African LDCs, this fellowship addresses a critical gap: international development coverage is often produced by Northern correspondents with limited contextual understanding. The DPoA MTR Fellowship places LDC journalists at the center of global policy conversations affecting their home countries, enabling nuanced reporting on debt sustainability, climate finance, technology transfer, and graduation strategies that resonate with domestic audiences.
The networking component is equally valuable—Fellows build relationships with UN officials, donor representatives, and peer journalists from across the LDC category, creating professional connections that extend well beyond the March 2027 dates.
Official scholarship page: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/dpoa-mtr-journalism-fellowship
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
