IGAD launches 2025 Media Awards to spotlight climate journalism in the Horn of Africa
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has officially launched the IGAD Media Awards 2025, an initiative aimed at honouring exceptional journalism that highlights climate change and its impacts across the region. This year’s awards, themed “Storytelling for Climate Action: For a Secure, Resilient, and Stable Region,” aim to promote powerful narratives that inform, inspire, and drive action in the face of escalating climate challenges.
The Horn of Africa is witnessing intensifying climate-related disruptions—ranging from severe droughts and floods to land degradation—making the media’s role in shaping public understanding and policy responses more crucial than ever. The IGAD Media Awards seek to amplify this role by recognising stories that drive awareness, influence policy, and encourage community resilience across Member States.
The awards feature a wide array of categories, including:
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
Lifetime Achievement
Entries will be judged on relevance to climate resilience and adaptation, journalistic depth, creativity, audience reach, and ethical standards. Beyond recognition, winners will gain access to exclusive IGAD-led professional development opportunities, including climate briefings, training sessions, and policy forums.
Eligibility spans media professionals from IGAD’s eight Member States—Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda—as well as international journalists with a proven record of climate reporting in the region.
By fostering collaboration between journalists, scientists, and policymakers, the awards aim to strengthen climate communication and spur informed action towards regional stability and sustainability.
The IGAD Media Awards 2025 ceremony will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the official date to be announced soon.
