UNESCO Digital Storytelling Contest 2026

The International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), a pioneering UNESCO Category 2 Institute on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), invites young Africans to participate in its Digital Storytelling for Peacebuilding activity under the Africa Against Xenophobia Project (AfAX-P). The initiative empowers young people to harness the power of digital media to create compelling stories that promote unity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and mutual understanding, while challenging xenophobia, hate speech, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation across Africa.

The Africa Against Xenophobia Project (AfAX-P) is a strategic initiative by IMILI aimed at addressing the growing impact of xenophobia and hate fueled by misinformation and disinformation. These challenges threaten Africa’s social cohesion, regional integration, and economic development.

Through this activity, participants are encouraged to develop original digital stories that celebrate Africa’s diversity, challenge harmful stereotypes, promote responsible digital communication, and inspire collective action toward a more peaceful and inclusive continent. The initiative provides an opportunity for young Africans to use their creativity and digital storytelling skills to influence positive conversations, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to a more united Africa.

UNESCO Digital Storytelling Contest – Benefits

• Feature for All Finalists: The stories of the Top 50 finalists will be featured across AfAX-P activities, providing participants with greater visibility and exposure.
• Exclusive Benefits for the Top 20 Winners: The Top 20 winners will receive cash prizes, mentorship from experienced media professionals, and an invitation to an exclusive virtual workshop to share the inspiration and stories behind their submissions.
• Publication Opportunities: Selected entries will be published on the IMILI website and may also be incorporated into relevant IMILI educational resources.
• Community Engagement & Dissemination Support: Finalists will receive encouragement and support to use their stories to engage their chosen communities and contribute to the broader objectives of the Africa Against Xenophobia campaign.
• Certificate of Participation: Every participant will receive a Certificate of Participation in recognition of their contribution to the contest.

UNESCO Digital Storytelling Contest – Eligibility Requirements

The UNESCO Digital Storytelling Contest is open to participants aged 15 to 30 years who are of African nationality or heritage, whether residing in Africa or in the diaspora. All submissions must be original works created by the participant(s) and must not have been previously published or awarded. Entries may be submitted in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, or any African language, with English subtitles required for submissions in languages other than English. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation, while the Top 50 finalists will have their stories featured across AfAX-P activities. The Top 20 winners will receive cash prizes, mentorship opportunities with leading media professionals, and an invitation to an exclusive virtual workshop to share the stories behind their submissions. Selected entries may also be published on the IMILI website and incorporated into relevant educational resources, while finalists will receive support to use their stories to engage their communities and contribute to the broader objectives of the Africa Against Xenophobia campaign.

Selection Process

Submissions will be assessed based on five key criteria: Relevance to Theme (20%), which considers how effectively the entry promotes unity, tolerance, and peace; Creativity and Originality (25%), focusing on the uniqueness and innovation of the storytelling approach; Impact and Message (25%), evaluating how clear, compelling, and meaningful the message is to a global youth audience; Technical Quality (15%), assessing the quality of execution within the chosen medium; and Social Media Engagement (15%), measuring the level of meaningful audience interaction generated by the submission, including likes, shares, comments, and discussions across social media platforms.

How to Apply

Submission Categories

Participants may submit their digital stories in one of four categories:

1. Video, including short films, documentaries, animations, cartoons, or vlogs, submitted in MP4 format at a minimum resolution of 720p and not exceeding three minutes.
2. Podcast/Audio Drama, featuring original audio narratives, interviews, or soundscapes in MP3 or WAV format with clear audio quality and a maximum duration of three minutes.
3. Interactive Media, which may include web-based stories, digital comics, interactive presentations, or games, submitted through a functional web link with any necessary access instructions
4. Photography, consisting of original high-resolution photographs in JPEG or PNG format, accompanied by a title and a 100–200-word description explaining the context and message of the image. Minor digital enhancements are permitted for photography entries, but any AI-generated images must be clearly declared at the time of submission.

How to Participate

• Choose Your Category: Select one of the four submission categories: Video, Podcast/Audio Drama, Interactive Media, or Photography.
• Create Your Entry; Develop an original digital story that addresses the theme of combating mis/disinformation-driven xenophobia and promoting peace, unity, and tolerance. Ensure your submission meets the requirements for your chosen category.
• Submit Your Entry Online:
• Complete the official submission form and upload or provide the required details for your entry: Submission Form
• Share Your Entry on Social Media: Post your completed entry on your preferred social media platform(s) to encourage visibility and engagement.
• Use the Official Hashtag: When sharing your entry, include #imilinstitute and #AfricaAgainstXenophobia and tag the relevant official accounts where applicable.
• Step 6: Encourage Engagement: Invite your audience to like, share, comment, and discuss your entry, as social media engagement forms part of the contest’s assessment criteria.

For inquiries regarding “Digital Storytelling for Peacebuilding,” please visit the IMILI website at www.imilinstitute.org or email us at info@imilinstitute.org.

For more Information, visit International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) webpage

Application Deadline

29th Eptember 2026.