MSF Eastern Africa Media Fellowship 2026

General eligilibity criteria

• The fellowship is open to journalists based and publishing in the region (refer to specific country).

• All applicants must have a minimum of three years of work experience and provide a reference letter from the relevant editor.

• All applicants must send a letter demonstrating an interest in any of the thematic tracks, with links to three recently published stories. For applicants reporting outside their home country (South Sudan), you need to show how the story is relevant to your audience.

• Applicants must be affiliated to a media organisation or, if working as a freelancer, must be accredited by their relevant regulator with proof of accreditation/affiliation.

• Applicants must commit to travel for content collection and to publish within the fellowship timelines provided.

KENYA

Accredited journalists from any Eastern Africa country are eligible to apply.

• Dagahaley Refugee Camp (Dadaab): MSF’s healthcare response for refugees and host communities, including innovations in diabetes care (insulin pens, cold chain management, CGM), maternal and child health services, community health networks, Mama Taxi referrals, and malnutrition screening through Family MUAC.
• Nairobi Eastlands: For 18 years, MSF has provided medical care to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Nairobi's Eastlands. In 2025 alone, MSF treated 3,155 survivors of sexual violence, with a new survivor seeking care on average every two hours. Women and girls were disproportionately affected: 92% of survivors were female, and 60% were children under 18.
• Homabay: Kenya is experiencing an epidemiological transition in disease burden with a rapidly increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) which account for up to 39 in every 100 deaths in the country. Since 2021, MSF has been providing NCDs care in Homa Bay through lower-level health facilities located closer to where patients live.

ETHIOPIA

Applicants must be Ethiopian nationals or based in Ethiopia to qualify under this category

• Gambella Refugee Services: MSF’s healthcare response in Kule Refugee Camp, home to around 55,000 South Sudanese refugees. Coverage opportunities include primary and secondary healthcare services, community health promotion, vaccination, malaria treatment, sexual and gender-based violence care, maternal health, malnutrition treatment, emergency and inpatient services, surgical referrals, and support to the Gambella Regional Blood Bank.

SOUTH SUDAN

Applicants must be accredited journalists in any of the Eastern Africa countries to qualify under this category.

• Maternal Health: The state of maternal health in South Sudan remains a significant public health concern, characterized by high maternal mortality and morbidity rates, with an estimated 1,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Key contributing factors include limited access to healthcare services, weak health infrastructure, the impact of conflict and instability, and cultural and socioeconomic barriers.

• Malnutrition: South Sudan faces a severe, worsening malnutrition and food insecurity crisis, with conditions deteriorating since late 2024. From April to July 2026, around 7.8m people—55% of the analyzed population—are projected to face acute food insecurity (Integrated Phase Classifications (IPC) 3), including 73,000 in IPC Phase 5, mainly in Jonglei and Upper Nile.

• HIV Response: The state of HIV response in South Sudan has faced significant challenges due to ongoing conflict, limited healthcare infrastructure, and economic instability. Despite these obstacles, efforts by government agencies, international organizations have been underway to improve HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains limited in some regions, and stigma and discrimination continue to hinder effective response.

• Mental Health: South Sudan’s mental health situation is severely affected by ongoing conflict, political instability, economic hardship, and weak healthcare infrastructure. These pressures contribute to high rates of depression, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions, especially among people exposed to violence, displacement, and loss. Services remain limited, with few trained professionals and facilities. Stigma and cultural barriers prevent many from seeking care, while humanitarian organizations provide essential support despite nationwide resource scarcity.

• Health and Climate Change: South Sudan’s health and climate challenges are deeply interconnected, shaped by conflict, economic hardship, and environmental stress. Limited health infrastructure, shortages of staff and medicines, high rates of malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, and maternal and child mortality strain the system. Conflict and displacement further disrupt care. Climate change brings floods, droughts, irregular rainfall, food insecurity, and environmental degradation, requiring integrated action to strengthen healthcare, resilience, and adaptation across vulnerable communities nationwide. Recent analysis by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) shows that the strengthening El Niño weather pattern is set to significantly worsen food insecurity in some of the world's most vulnerable countries—including South Sudan into 2027.

TANZANIA

• Applicants must be Tanzanian nationals or based in Tanzania to qualify under this category

Liwale

• Behaviour change and maternal health: Exploring how health promotion initiatives are driving behavioural change among pastoralist communities, improving awareness, uptake, and adherence to antenatal care (ANC) services, and contributing to better maternal and newborn health outcomes.

• Innovative access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services: Examining how innovative, community-based approaches are expanding access to SRH services for remote and mobile pastoralist populations, helping to overcome geographic, cultural, and logistical barriers to care.

• Co-management for stronger health outcomes: Highlighting the collaboration between MSF and the Ministry of Health (MoH), and how joint planning, service delivery, and capacity strengthening are improving healthcare access, quality, and medical outcomes for pastoralist communities.