The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) has officially opened applications for the 2025 Africa Science Journalism Awards, marking the launch of the program’s second edition. These honors are designed to spotlight outstanding reporting on science, health, and development across the African continent. By celebrating top-tier journalism in these fields, the initiative seeks to enhance the reach and influence of science-related content produced by African media professionals. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Federation of Science Journalists, the program reflects a broader mission to elevate science communication across Africa.

Award recipients will benefit from a unique immersive experience, spending between three days and one week at a partner academic or research organization either within their country or regionally. This engagement allows them to explore specific scientific themes more deeply and interact directly with researchers working on those issues.

To be considered, submissions must have been published between January 2024 and June 30, 2025. Journalists must be either citizens or permanent residents of an African country, and must also live and work primarily on the continent. Eligible work can appear in local or international media, provided it centers on African topics. Submissions should cover themes related to health, agriculture, or the environment. Editors who wish to apply for the Editor’s Award must be affiliated with publications headquartered in Africa.

There are multiple award categories. The Best Story award recognizes two experienced journalists — one from print and one from broadcast media — for impactful reporting that enhances public understanding of important issues such as health, environmental change, and agriculture. This category is open to those with a minimum of five years of journalism experience, and each winner will receive a $1,500 prize. The Early Career Journalist award acknowledges rising talents in both print and broadcast fields, defined as having fewer than five years of experience. Winners in this group will also receive $1,500 each.

The Innovator Award is reserved for editors who have played a key role in fostering science journalism in their newsrooms by supporting or expanding coverage of science topics. Two editors will each receive a prize of $2,000. Another category, Science Champion, will honor a researcher or innovator who has effectively used various communication platforms to promote scientific knowledge and raise awareness of their work across Africa, with a $1,500 prize.

In addition to cash prizes, winners will receive commemorative plaques, which will be awarded during the World Conference of Science Journalists, set to take place in Africa for the first time in December 2025. Furthermore, journalists will receive pitch funding for any new stories developed as part of their institutional engagement.

Applicants are required to submit one article or broadcast piece for the Best News Story and Early Career Journalist categories. For the Editor’s Award, applicants should submit a compilation of published works demonstrating sustained support for science journalism. For the Science Champion award, one representative piece must be submitted.

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