IGAD Media Awards 2026

Who Can Apply

The IGAD Media Awards 2026 are open to journalists, media practitioners, digital creators and storytellers whose work focuses on migration, labour mobility, forced displacement, free movement, protection, decent work and regional integration in the IGAD region.

Eligible applicants may include:

1. Journalists working in print, broadcast, radio, television, digital and multimedia platforms.
2. Photojournalists and visual storytellers.
3. Digital creators, influencers and multimedia producers.
4. Community media practitioners and indigenous language reporters.
5. Young and emerging journalists.
6. Editors, senior journalists and media practitioners whose body of work has contributed to public understanding of migration, displacement, labour mobility and regional integration.

Applicants should submit work that has been published, broadcast or publicly shared through a recognised media platform, digital channel, community media outlet or professional communication platform.

Award Categories

Migration for Regional Integration Reporting Award
Recognising reporting that demonstrates how migration contributes to regional integration, cross border cooperation, trade, economic cooperation, social cohesion, cultural exchange and shared prosperity in the IGAD region.

Free Movement of Persons and Regular Mobility Pathways Reporting Award
Recognising reporting that improves public understanding of free movement, regular migration, labour mobility pathways, border governance, transhumance, pastoral mobility and IGAD’s free movement agenda.

Labour Migration and Decent Work Reporting Award
Honouring journalism that explores labour migration governance, decent work, migrant worker protection, fair recruitment, skills mobility, remittances, social protection, labour rights and the contribution of migrant workers to development.

Climate and Conflict Induced Displacement Reporting Award
Recognising reporting that brings attention to displacement caused by conflict, climate variability and environmental degradation, while supporting public understanding and informed response.

Women, Youth and Girls in Migration and Displacement Reporting Award
Awarding human centred storytelling that highlights the experiences, contributions, vulnerabilities, leadership and lived realities of women, girls and young people in migration, labour mobility and displacement.

Migration Photojournalism Award
Honouring powerful visual storytelling on migration, mobility and displacement realities in the IGAD region.

Digital Creator Award for Responsible Migration Narratives
Recognising digital creators and multimedia storytellers who promote accurate, ethical and constructive public narratives on migration, mobility, displacement and integration.

Indigenous Language Media Award on Migration and Mobility
Recognising local and indigenous language reporting that helps border, pastoral, migrant, host and displacement affected communities understand migration policies, rights, opportunities and services.

Emerging Journalist Award in Migration and Displacement Reporting
Recognising young or early career journalists demonstrating strong promise in migration, displacement and labour mobility reporting.

Lifetime Achievement Award in Migration and Displacement Journalism
Recognising a senior journalist, editor or media practitioner whose body of work has significantly improved public understanding of migration, labour mobility, displacement and regional integration in the IGAD region.

How to Apply

Applicants will be required to complete the online submission form and upload or provide links to their published work.

Application Steps

1. Select the most relevant award category.
2. Complete the online application form with personal and professional details.
3. Provide a short summary of the submitted work, including its relevance to the 2026 theme.
4. Upload the work or provide a working link to the publication, broadcast, video, audio, photo story, digital story or multimedia package.
5. Include evidence of publication or broadcast, such as date of publication, media outlet, platform link or broadcast details.
6. Submit before the official deadline.

Only complete applications submitted through the official IGAD Media Awards platform will be considered.

Theme

“Human Mobility for Regional Integration: Free Movement, Decent Work, Protection and Shared Prosperity”

The 2026 theme positions human mobility as more than movement across borders. It is about people, livelihoods, labour, data, rights, dignity, protection, opportunity and the future of regional integration.

The Awards will encourage reporting that explains migration and displacement through the lens of policy, human experience and regional cooperation, while amplifying the voices of migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, pastoralists, host communities, women and young people.

Objectives

The IGAD Media Awards 2026 aim to:

1. Recognise excellence in media reporting on migration, forced displacement, decent work, free movement, regional integration, economic cooperation and social cohesion.
2. Promote balanced and responsible reporting on migration statistics, labour market information, migrant workers’ rights, fair recruitment and safe, regular and orderly migration.
3. Strengthen public understanding of labour migration, decent work, skills mobility, remittances, protection and regular migration pathways.
4. Increase media attention on underreported displacement crises in the IGAD region.
5. Encourage reporting on irregular migration, its root causes and development oriented responses, including the IGAD Regional Migration Fund.
6. Promote narratives that protect dignity, social cohesion and the rights of migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, pastoralists, border communities and host communities.
7. Position IGAD as a regional and continental leader in migration and displacement governance communication.

Submission Requirements

Applicants should ensure that their entries:

1. Relate clearly to migration, labour mobility, forced displacement, free movement, protection, decent work, remittances, social cohesion or regional integration.
2. Are factual, ethical and based on verified information.
3. Include human voices and respect the dignity of people on the move.
4. Avoid stigma, xenophobia, misinformation and sensationalism.
5. Demonstrate originality, depth and public relevance.
6. Reflect the realities, challenges and contributions of migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, pastoralists, host communities, women and young people.
7. Are submitted in the correct category.
8. Stories must have been published, broadcast, or aired no earlier than January 2022.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be reviewed by an independent jury against the following criteria:

1. Factual accuracy and use of verified evidence.
2. Understanding of migration governance and relevant policy frameworks.
3. Human centred, dignity based, gender sensitive and rights based storytelling.
4. Responsible use of migration statistics, labour market data and other evidence.
5. Inclusion of migrant worker, refugee, IDP, pastoralist, host community, women and youth voices.
6. Depth, originality and investigative value.
7. Ethical treatment of migrants, workers, refugees, IDPs, pastoralists, border communities and people on the move.
8. Public reach, relevance or policy impact.
9. Balanced presentation of migration opportunities, governance challenges and protection concerns.
10. Compliance with ethical reporting standards.

Key Dates

Call for Submissions Opens
May 25, 2026

Submission Deadline
July 31, 2026

Knowledge ShareFair
November 2026

Awards Ceremony
November 2026, Kampala, Uganda

Knowledge ShareFair

The 2026 edition will feature a two day Knowledge ShareFair on Migration Governance, Labour Mobility and Regional Integration.

The ShareFair will bring together policymakers, journalists, labour migration and displacement experts, researchers, media houses, development partners, social partners and regional institutions. It will provide a platform for policy dialogue, media capacity building, peer learning and evidence based public communication on IGAD’s migration priorities.

The sessions will focus on labour migration, decent work, free movement of persons, transhumance, remittances, forced displacement, irregular migration, durable solutions and ethical reporting on migration beyond crisis narratives.

To partner with us during the IGAD Media Awards

Partners interested in joining this initiative may contact mediaawards@igad.int