The United Nations has opened applications for the Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF) 2026, a fully funded programme targeted at young professional journalists from developing countries and economies in transition.
The application window closes on April 3, 2026, giving eligible candidates a limited timeframe to apply for one of the UN’s most competitive media training initiatives.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1980, the fellowship—renamed in 2003 in honour of Reham Al-Farra—offers selected journalists a rare opportunity to gain firsthand experience covering global diplomacy and multilateral affairs at the UN headquarters in New York.
Programme Duration and Benefits
The four-week programme, expected to run between September and October 2026, will allow fellows to cover sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, attend high-level briefings, interview senior officials, and engage with diplomats, media experts, and international journalists.
Participants will also benefit from specialised training sessions aimed at strengthening reporting on global governance, development, and international cooperation.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can submit their entries via the official portal:
https://www.un.org/en/raf/application2026
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants must be between 22 and 35 years old, have at least two years of professional journalism experience, and be working full-time in the field. Candidates must also demonstrate a track record of reporting on UN-related issues or global affairs. Freelance journalists are eligible, provided they submit strong portfolios and proof of professional accreditation.
The programme is open to journalists from a wide range of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, including Nigeria, Kenya, India, Brazil, and Egypt.
Applicants are required to submit a completed online form, a CV in English, at least five recent work samples, two reference letters, and proof of identity. All materials must be uploaded via accessible file-sharing platforms such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
English is the primary working language of the fellowship, although participants may publish their reports in their native languages.
Selection will be based on professional experience, quality of submitted work, audience impact, as well as considerations for geographic diversity and gender balance.
The fellowship covers participation costs, making it a fully funded opportunity for journalists seeking international exposure and professional advancement.
Interested applicants can submit their entries via the official portal:
https://www.un.org/en/raf/application2026
