Call for applications
Journalistic competition on the protection of the seas and oceans and the sustainable management of marine resources
Competition dedicated to journalists from the Indian Ocean-African zone
Context
The Network of African Journalists Specialized in Sustainable Development and Climate Change is an Africa 21 programme launched in 2019 that now has over 900 print, radio and TV journalists in 44 African countries.
This initiative collaborates on a very regular basis with actors in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs in Africa, raising awareness among journalists, facilitating the sharing of information and expertise, offering keys to understanding the issues, encouraging debate and networking the various actors, and to promote themes of interest to the African continent and beyond.
The theme of the ocean, the preservation of the seas and the sustainable management of marine resources is a central one in 2025, culminating in the organization of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3 https://unocnice2025.org/en/) in Nice in June 2025. This major event on the international agenda this year will focus on SDG 14 and all related processes underway.
It is for this reason that Africa 21 has decided to dedicate its activities in the first half of 2025 to the themes of the conference, through a series of workshops, online events and journalistic competitions to promote the preservation of the marine environment among populations.
To this end, Africa 21 is organizing a competition dedicated to journalists from African countries that have the Indian Ocean in common. The prize will be an invitation to come and cover UNOC 3 in Nice, France, for 1 week, to take part in high-level events on site, and to meet the world’s leading experts on seas and oceans.
We look forward to seeing many of you participate in this international campaign to promote an issue as important as the preservation of our seas and oceans
Criteria for participation
- Be a journalist, male or female, with 5 years’ experience, a press card (or proof that this is your main activity) and be domiciled in the target countries
- Be a print, radio or TV journalist, salaried or freelance
- Produce regular content on sustainable development issues in Africa
To participate
- You can send a press article, radio or TV report on the theme of the marine environment, published for the first time during the March-April 2025 period.
- Your work must be accompanied by an explanatory letter or an extended email explaining your choice of subject, the approach or angle chosen, any techniques or practices used and the broadcast media (indicating the reason why you have chosen this media).
- Your contribution must be based on the work of the Zanzibar workshop on the blue and circular economy (March 10-14, 2025). Sessions can be followed live by registering via the online form. Once you have registered, you will receive an email with the connection links. All workshop content will be posted on the event page. Your work should also cover one of the themes to be developed at UNOC 3.
To apply, please write to us at journalist@africa21.org
In the title, write “Zanzibar 2025 Competition + your first and last name”. In the body of the email, please include a link to access your work. If you wish to send us a file, please use an application such as “WeTransfer” or equivalent.
Your email should also include a short biography with a photo, and your letter.
- Applications open on March 6, 2025
- Deadline to apply March 31, 2025
- Announcement of results around April 4, 2025
