January 19, 2026
How will Africa’s people meet their needs and aspirations while protecting and restoring the landscapes and ecology on which everything ultimately depends? This pressing question lies at the heart of a new call for pitches from Mongabay Africa, which is seeking strong environmental story ideas from experienced journalists.
Africa at a Crossroads
The continent is undergoing accelerating change. Populations are growing rapidly, driving demand for food, fuel, and infrastructure. For centuries, Africa has been a site of resource extraction for the wealthy North from palm oil and rubber to timber, coltan, and crude oil often with devastating impacts on the environment. Looming over these pressures is climate change, reshaping harvests, forests, rivers, and coastlines.
In 2024, Mongabay Africa is paying particular attention to the Congo Basin, where industrial agriculture, expanding road networks, armed conflict, and oil and gas exploration are unfolding against a backdrop of regional drying. Communities, civil society, conservationists, and governments are responding with varying degrees of success.
Story Formats and Themes
Mongabay welcomes proposals for:
- Conventional news stories
- In-depth features
- Investigative reports
- Profiles
- Case studies
- Fully edited and produced videos (up to 10 minutes)
Suggested themes include:
- Development pressures: new roads, industries, agriculture, and resource extraction.
- Environmental change: deforestation, biodiversity shifts, and nature-based climate solutions.
- Tracing supply chains: impacts of food, fuel, and trade on livelihoods and ecosystems.
- Sustainability: efforts to revive rivers and forests, and challenges of certification schemes.
- Conservation: community-led initiatives, protected area management, and endangered species protection.
Pitch Guidelines
- Pitches should be around 500 words, outlining the proposed story and potential sources.
- Journalists must also submit a resume/portfolio and three samples of previous work.
- Stories typically run 800–2,000 words and should include quotes from at least three original interviews.
- Fees and contracts will be negotiated per story, with payment based on word count or fixed rates depending on experience.
- Mongabay publishes under an open Creative Commons license, allowing for sharing, translation, and re-posting.
Submission Process
Pitches are considered on a rolling basis, with responses usually provided within three weeks. Journalists should use the designated [Pitching Instructions] forms to ensure their proposals reach the appropriate editors.
Why It Matters
This reporting project aims to strengthen understanding of the global and local forces shaping Africa’s ecosystems, while foregrounding the voices of those most affected by environmental change. By connecting conservation and development, Mongabay seeks to highlight both fruitful and harmful pathways, ensuring that Africa’s environmental future is told through stories that matter.
Please use this link to apply : Pitch Mongabay stories about Africa
