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IGAD Media Awards

About the Awards

The IGAD Media Awards is a flagship initiative by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that celebrates and amplifies journalistic excellence across the region. Established as part of IGAD’s commitment to promote ethical, responsible, and impactful media, the Awards honour journalists, media professionals, and storytellers who contribute to regional peace, development, and integration.

Each year, the Awards spotlight a pressing regional issue, aligned with IGAD’s strategic priorities, ranging from peace and security to climate resilience. Beyond recognition, the Awards provide a dynamic platform for professional growth, collaboration, and public engagement, fostering a vibrant and ethical media landscape across Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.

Rooted in IGAD’s Communication Strategy and Institutional Strengthening Action Programme (ISAP), the initiative seeks to elevate the role of the media as partners in shaping narratives that matter.

The IGAD Media Awards are free and open to:

  • Practicing journalists from any of the eight IGAD Member States.
  • Freelance journalists and independent media professionals.
  • Journalists from mainstream, digital, or multimedia platforms.
  • Foreign correspondents and content creators whose work focuses on the IGAD region.
  • All entries must have been published or broadcast between April 1, 2025 to July 30, 2026.
  1. Climate Induced Displacement Award – Recognising reporting that examines the intersection between climate variability, environmental degradation, and human mobility.
  2. Labour Mobility Reporting Award – Honouring journalism that explores safe migration pathways, remittances, skills mobility, and regional economic integration.
  3. Women and Girls in Displacement Award – Awarding impactful storytelling that highlights protection, resilience, leadership, and lived experiences of women and girls.
  4. Migration Data Journalism Award – Recognising excellence in evidence based reporting, visualisation, investigative data use, and policy literacy.
  5. Documentary and Photojournalism Award – Honouring compelling long form documentaries and powerful visual storytelling on migration realities.
  6. Community Radio Award – Recognising grassroots reporting in local communities, especially in border and displacement affected areas.
  7. Digital Influencer for Migration Awareness Award – Recognising responsible and impactful social media content creators who promote accurate, ethical, and human centred narratives on migration and displacement.
  8. Emerging Media Personality Award in Migration Reporting – Recognising young or early career journalists demonstrating exceptional promise in migration reporting.
  9. Indigenous Language Reporting Award in Migration Reporting – Recognising outstanding migration storytelling delivered in indigenous or local languages within the IGAD region.
  10. Lifetime Achievement Award in Migration Reporting – A distinguished recognition for a journalist or media practitioner whose body of work has significantly shaped migration discourse in the region.

The judging process is led by a diverse panel of regional experts in journalism, media development, climate action, and governance. The process involves:

  • Screening: Entries are reviewed for eligibility and completeness.
  • Scoring: Judges evaluate submissions using a standardised rubric.
  • Deliberation: A moderated panel discussion ensures consensus on the strongest entries.
  • Final Selection: Winners are chosen based on cumulative scores and consensus.

All judges operate under a strict conflict-of-interest policy to ensure impartiality.

Each submission is evaluated based on:

  • Relevance to Theme: Coverage of climate change, resilience, adaptation, or regional development.
  • Accuracy and Depth: Use of reliable sources, data, and fact-checking.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Storytelling approach, format, or use of multimedia.
  • Impact and Reach: Influence on public discourse, behaviour, or policy.
  • Ethical Standards: Fairness, balance, and adherence to professional journalism ethics.

To ensure a smooth and fair competition, all participants must adhere to the following rules:

  1. All work must be original and clearly attributed. Plagiarism will lead to disqualification.
  2. Each participant may submit only one entry.
  3. All entries must be published or broadcast within the eligibility period.
  4. Submissions must include a working link or file upload of the media product.
  5. Translations or transcripts must be provided for entries not in English.
  6. Access to entries: If an outlet has a paywall or limited access, the entrant must provide entries in readable PDFs. Failure to provide accessible content during the screening and judging period will result in disqualification.
  7. Joint/team submissions are allowed and must indicate all contributing authors.
  8. By submitting an entry, participants grant IGAD the right to use the work for promotional, training, and advocacy purposes, with full attribution.
  9. The judges’ decision is final and not subject to appeal.
IGAD Media Awards 2025
IGAD Media Awards 2025
IGAD Media Awards 2025

For more details

Email: mediaawards@igad.int