Deadline: November 25, 2026
Applications are open for the ILO Writing Competitions on Safe Labour Migration in East and Horn of Africa 2027. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched three competitions inviting students, researchers, journalists and media creators from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to contribute to discussions on safe, regular and orderly labour migration.
Organized through the ILO’s Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the competitions aim to encourage new perspectives, strengthen evidence-based policymaking and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges associated with labour migration.
Essays Categories
- University Essay Competition: Under the theme Young Voices on Safe Migration for Work, university students are invited to submit essays exploring issues such as access to decent work, fair recruitment, the risks of irregular migration and the reintegration of returning migrant workers.
- Research Paper Competition: Academics, researchers and doctoral candidates can submit original research addressing labour migration challenges and policy solutions. Topics include migrant workers’ rights, skills recognition, fair recruitment, regional cooperation and access to social protection.
- Journalism and storytelling competition: Journalists, photographers, filmmakers and content creators are invited to tell the stories behind labour migration through articles, audio, photography, video or animation. The competition seeks to promote accurate, responsible reporting that reflects migrant workers’ experiences, challenges and contributions.
Benefits
- First-place winners will be invited to participate in the Fifth Labour Migration Advisory Group (LMAG) meeting, taking place in Zanzibar, Tanzania, from 16 to 18 December 2026, with travel and accommodation covered by the ILO.
- The meeting will bring together governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations and other regional stakeholders to discuss cooperation on labour migration and ways to strengthen the protection of migrant workers.
Eligibility
University Essay Competition
- Students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or postgraduate programme at a university in one of the East and Horn of Africa countries covered by BRMM (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda).
- Aged 18 or over on the closing date.
- Individual entries only. One essay per student.
- ILO staff, consultants and their immediate family, and members of the judging panel cannot enter.
Research Paper Competition
- Academic staff, researchers and doctoral candidates at a university or research institution in one of the East and Horn of Africa countries covered by BRMM (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda).
- Aged 18 or over, with a current institutional affiliation.
- Single-author or co-authored papers of up to three authors. Name one corresponding author. Only one author can travel if the paper wins first place.
- A maximum of one paper per author as lead author.
- ILO staff, consultants and their immediate family, and members of the review panel cannot enter.
Journalism and Storytelling Competition
- Journalists, photographers, filmmakers and content creators based in one of the East and Horn of Africa countries covered by BRMM (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda).
- Aged 18 or over on the closing date.
- Individual or team entries. For a team, name one lead contact. Only one team member can travel if the entry wins first place.
- A maximum of two entries per person or team.
- ILO staff, consultants and their immediate family, and members of the judging panel cannot enter.
Application
Submissions for all three competitions close on 25 November 2026.
See how to apply in the guidelines for each competition
For more information, visit ILO Writing Competitions.
