IHRAM SADC Writing Climate Resilience 2026

Southern African Development Community

Please send all submissions to Mbizo Chirasha IHRAM Zimbabwean Director (IHRAM African Secretariat): chimurengaratsauka@gmail.com

Climate has a major negative impact to the African continent including the Southern region (Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). The adverse effects of climate change have resulted in massive loss of lives, infrastructure damages and acute social disparities and economic downturn.

The International Human Rights Art Movement African Secretariat: Zimbabwe is bringing to the fore, a literary Arts project to speak and give a voice on the effects and impact of climate change through storytelling, short stories, essays and poetry,

SCOPE

During the 2025-2026 farming or rainy season, at least three countries in the SADC region (Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa) have suffered immensely due to climate change effects that include floods, droughts, hunger, social and economic plundering. Many people lost their homes, their lives, their infrastructure and their freedoms and rights. A number of displacements took place, children lost their right to school, to shelter and more.

Southern African Writers for climate explores climate change, resilience, adaptation, negative effects and the adverse impact of climate change. The writing genres include narratives, essays, poetry and short stories.

METHODOLOGY AND PROJECT PROCESSES

a). Writing Climate Resilience Contest

Thematic Areas- writers must send their submissions on adaptation, resilience, effects and impact, solutions to effects and the impact of climate change our Southern African communities.

Submission guidelines include the following  

  • Poetry: maximum 40 lines

  • Short stories: 3000 words or less

  • Narratives and essays: 3000 words or less

Subject line: Include Writing Climate Resilience and your full name on it

  • Every Submission must be in 12 point and New Roman font

  • Every Submission must be submitted in Word doc 

  • Every Submission must include your 15 line bio summary, your email address, your full name and your country 

4 winners with one from each category as well as all short-listed submissions will be included in the Writing Climate Resilience Collection to be published by   IHRAM Publishes and Press. 

  • All Shortlisted participants will be inducted into into African Writing Program Mentorship Sessions 

  • Four final winners of the contest (out of the 12 winners total in all three categorties) will also win Cash Prizes:

    • First Prize: $100

    • Second Prize: $75

    • Third Prize: $50

    • Fourth Prize: $25 

TIMELINE

Call for entries will be starting from 15th February 2026 and closes 15th of May 2026

Shortlisted submissions will be announced in June 2026

Writing Climate Resilience will be published in August 2026

Contributors will receive soft (pdf) copies in September 2026

Curatorship - all submissions will be adjudicated, curated and edited by the IHRAM African Secretariat, Zimbabwean Director, Mbizo Chirasha in partnership with IHRAM Head Office, New York, USA.

Contact information 

Contact 

Mbizo Chirasha IHRAM Zimbabwean Director (IHRAM African Secretariat)

Email address: chimurengaratsauka@gmail.com

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