ICGLR Journalist award 2025
Welcome to the ICGLR Journalist Award Submission Form
We are delighted to invite journalists from the ICGLR Member States to participate in the ICGLR Journalist Award 2025, which celebrates excellence in reporting on peace and security. This form allows you to submit your work and provide key information about yourself and your media production. Please complete all fields accurately and select the appropriate category for your submission.
Jury 2025
Celine Bankumuhari is a policy and advocacy professional with over 20 years of experience in governance, peace and security, migration, and public health. She currently serves as Senior Programme Officer at AUDA-NEPAD, contributing to a flagship continental health programme on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and Africa’s Demographic Dividend (DD), including regional engagement with RECs and Member States. She has held senior roles with Faith to Action Network, the African Union/IOM Special Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Oxfam in Nairobi, coordinating multi-country humanitarian advocacy across the Horn, East and Central Africa and Great Lakes, and the Danish Refugee Council on durable solutions for displaced populations. Celine has led landmark initiatives, including the African Passport guidelines, AU dialogues on free movement, and high-level SRHR advocacy at the Summit of the Future. She holds a Master’s in Communications for Development and a Bachelor’s in International Relations.
As a communications and photography professional, Aude Rossignol has been working for 20 years in the field of international partnerships, mainly in Africa (Sahel and Great Lakes region). Trained in Applied Social Communication at IHECS (Brussels) and then in Anthropology at ULB, she is passionate about people, cooperation between societies, culture, and all forms of creativity that enable people to live together more harmoniously. She worked as a freelance journalist and photographer before taking on the role of communications officer for several NGOs, various United Nations agencies, and finally for German cooperation (GIZ).
Prof. Baba Wamé is an Associate Professor at the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC), University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon. A former journalist with CRTV, he has over 30 years of experience in media and communication, with a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences from the University of Paris 2. He has served in senior roles at the Ministry of Communication, including Deputy Director in charge of Networks and Multimedia Applications, and Head of the Graphic Technologies Unit. Prof. Wamé is also President of the Union of Cyberjournalists of Cameroon and has been part of several journalism award juries, including President of the Jury for the ICRC’s 75th Anniversary Awards. An accomplished author, he has published extensively on digital journalism, internet use in Cameroon, and media landscapes in Africa.
Bram Verelst is a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), an independent research institute aiming to enhance human security on the African continent. His research focuses on conflict prevention, management and peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Before joining the ISS, Bram worked as a research fellow at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, Belgium and as a political analyst for the Belgian Ministry of Defence, covering the Great Lakes Region. He has master’s degrees in history (University of Antwerp) and conflict and development studies (Ghent University).
Partnership
What is the ICGLR Journalist Award?
The ICGLR Journalist Award recognizes and celebrates excellence in journalism that
contributes to peace, security, stability, and development in the Great Lakes
Region. The award is organized around several themes: Outstanding
Contribution to the Promotion of Peace and Security; Promotion of Citizens’
Initiatives for Social Cohesion; Promotion of Gender Equality; Youth Prize, etc.
The ICGLR rotates themes annually. For 2025, the award will focus on the
theme of Peace and Security, under the category of Outstanding Contribution to
the Promotion of Peace.
Who can apply?
Journalists working in print, broadcast, or digital media in ICGLR Member States are
eligible to apply.
What kind of work is eligible?
Eligible submissions include published or broadcast pieces (articles, documentaries,
radio/TV reports, online features) that address issues related to peace, security,
stability, and development in the Great Lakes Region.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Accuracy and quality of reporting;
- Depth of research and analysis ;
- Relevance to peace and security in the Great Lakes Region;
- Creativity and originality of approach ;
- Ethical journalism standards ;
- Impact on audiences and communities
Will there be a public vote?
Yes. In addition to the evaluation by the professional jury, a public vote will be
included to allow communities in the region to express their appreciation of the
reports and how they contribute to greater involvement in the cause of peace.
How will the public vote be implemented?
The public will be able to access the shortlisted works through an online
platform or partner media outlets. Voting will be open for a set period, and
results will be factored into the overall jury evaluation.
Who sits on the jury?
The jury is composed of independent media professionals, communication
experts, and representatives of ICGLR partners, ensuring credibility, fairness,
and transparency in the evaluation process.
What are the award categories?
Awards are presented in each media category—Print, Radio, Television, and
Digital. Winners are recognized for their outstanding contributions within their
respective categories.
What do winners receive?
Winners will receive recognition at an ICGLR regional event, a certificate of
excellence, and professional support prizes to help strengthen their work in
peace and security reporting.
When will the winners be announced?
The winners of the ICGLR Journalist Award are announced each year, with
their work showcased to highlight their contribution to peace, security, and
development in the Great Lakes Region.
How do I submit my work?
Submissions are made through the ICGLR website. Detailed submission
guidelines and deadlines are available at via https://icglr.org/icglr-journalist-
award-2025/
Is there a submission fee?
No. Submissions to the ICGLR Journalist Award are free of charge.
What file formats are accepted?
Submissions may be uploaded in commonly used formats—such as PDF or Word
for print articles, MP3 or WAV for radio pieces, MP4 for television and digital
entries, and links to published online content.
Who competition participants can contact?
For inquiries related to the competition, please contact:
mildred.otunga@icglr.org
Fiona.irakoze@icglr.org