In a move to prioritize the role of journalism in tackling climate change,the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched the IGAD Media Awards 2025.
Framed around the theme “Storytelling for Climate Action:For a Secure, Resilient and Stable region”, this high level award program aims to celebrate and spot great media works that bring to light compelling climate stories from the IGAD region.
This is especially true for the Horn of Africa, where the region is reeling from the impacts of climate change including increasingly frequent droughts, unpredictable floods and mounting land degradation.
The 2025 IGAD Media Awards seeks to support climate change reporting that is more than just informative but can contribute towards mobilizing communities, influencing policy and building resilience in the Member States.
The awards will cover a wide range of categories to represent different media formats and voices.
The awards being contested are Print Journalism, Radio Journalism, Television Journalism, Digital Media, Photography, Indigenous/National Language Reporting, Influencer/Content Creator of the Year, Upcoming Media Personality, Best Female Journalist on Climate Issues and a Lifetime Achievement award.
This broad range of categories represents IGAD’s philosophy of respecting diverse possibilities of climate journalism and storytelling platforms.
Criteria on which the award entries will be judged include relevance to climate resilience and adaptation, journalistic quality and depth, creativity, reach and adherence to ethical standards.
Prizes not only include certificates and trophies, but personal development activities. These offers cover opportunities to gain priority access to IGAD-led climate briefings, training sessions and stakeholder roundtables which could help them improve their professional capabilities and impact in reporting climate issues.
Media professionals from the eight Member countries of IGAD (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda) as well as international journalists with a proven portfolio of reporting on climate issues in the IGAD region qualify for the Awards.
This inclusivity is meant to engender a space where diverse voices can work together and be lend to the climate conversation.The significance of these awards is reflected in the previous batch of winners and the bar they have set for climate journalism in the region.
Through elevating compelling climate narratives and promoting increased cooperation between journalists, policymakers and climate scientists, the IGAD Media Awards 2025 will help build public awareness, drive climate action and contribute to a more informed, proactive and resilient IGAD region.
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the exact date will be announced later. Those interested in taking part can consult the IGAD Media Awards page for submission guidelines and other details.
Media professionals and journalists are urged to submit and add to the important debate on climate change in the Horn of Africa. Further information and updates can also be tracked on the IGAD secretariat’s social media platforms.
