Application Deadline: January 7, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2026 United Nations Foundation Polio Press Fellowship. The United Nations Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 Polio Press Fellowship for Individual Reporting, geared towards journalists interested in covering stories on polio eradication in polio-affected countries.
Upon participating in a series of virtual polio training sessions, selected journalists will receive funding to travel independently to a country (or countries) at the forefront of the polio eradication effort to gather stories and interviews with polio survivors, health care workers, community members, families, and health authorities.
Preference will be given to reporters interested in traveling to the following eight countries:
- Papua New Guinea
- Angola
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ethiopia
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
Requirements
- Interested and eligible journalists must submit an application that includes a project proposal and budget.
- Applications should reflect each journalist’s unique interest in polio eradication and may involve themes such as: advancements and innovations in polio vaccination and surveillance; the relationship between gender and polio; barriers to reaching unvaccinated children; contributions of polio to broader health goals; and the impact of climate change, misinformation, urbanization, conflict, and other global challenges on polio eradication.
Benefits
- Selected journalists will receive funding to travel independently to one country (or potentially two countries, if both are in Africa and if the budget allows), at the discretion of the Fellowship application reviewers.
- Individual awards are available for up to $7,000.
Application Timeline:
- Applications received no later than Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
- Selected fellows notified by late February 2026.
- Mandatory virtual training sessions held in late March 2026.
- Reporting trips conducted by mid-September 2026.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the United Nations Foundation Polio Press Fellowship
