Sahara Group, an international energy and infrastructure conglomerate headquartered in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, has opened applications for the 2026 Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship, offering journalists across Africa an opportunity to strengthen their capacity to investigate and report on energy and environmental issues while competing for a US$3,500 cash prize.
The Fellowship, an initiative of Sahara Group’s Asharami Square platform, is designed to support journalists producing evidence-based, solutions-oriented stories on Africa’s energy sector.
The 2026 programme is the third edition of Asharami Square’s energy journalism initiative.
According to the organisers, the Fellowship seeks to empower journalists to investigate issues affecting Africa’s energy systems and produce reporting that goes beyond official announcements and policy statements to examine the real-world impact of energy policies, projects, and investments.
The programme is anchored on the theme “Telling Africa’s Energy Story. Shaping Solutions.” and intends to strengthen the quality of public discourse around energy, governance, and sustainability across the continent.
The Fellowship is open to practising journalists and media professionals across Africa, including reporters working in print, broadcast, online, and multimedia journalism. Early-career and established journalists are eligible to participate.
The organisers said applicants do not necessarily have to be specialist energy journalists. However, submitted stories must directly engage with the energy sector and fall within one of the Fellowship’s specified coverage areas, such as environment, power, economics and development, policy and governance, data and technology, and mining and solid minerals.
Eligible stories may also address issues across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the oil and gas industry, as well as electricity generation, transmission, distribution, access, regulation, innovation, sustainability, and energy transition.
Applicants are to submit original stories published or broadcast between January and November 30, 2026. Unpublished drafts and personal essays are not eligible.
The organisers said entries should demonstrate journalistic rigour, including thorough research, fact-checking, analytical depth, and accurate citation of sources and references. They should also focus on underreported energy stories that reflect the complexity of energy challenges across Africa.
The Fellowship particularly seeks reporting that is practical and forward-looking, with stories expected to identify or highlight solutions that could contribute to Africa’s energy future.
Applicants are also expected to demonstrate clear public-interest relevance, avoid promotional or advertorial treatment, explain why their story matters at the present time, translate complex data into accessible information, and demonstrate evidence-based, field-grounded reporting.
The organisers said the Fellowship offers up to US$5,000 in total fellowship value, including a US$3,500 cash prize for the overall winner. The winner and the top 10 finalists will also gain access to a capacity-building programme featuring expert-led masterclasses, practical workshops, facility tours, and direct engagement with practitioners across the energy value chain. They will also have access to mentorship and a network of industry leaders and fellow journalists.
The organisers said the programme is intended not only to recognise outstanding journalism but also to build a long-term community of journalists capable of engaging critically and responsibly with energy issues.
Entries will be assessed by an independent panel of experts with experience spanning journalism, energy, and sustainable development.
According to the Fellowship, judges will consider the quality of reporting, relevance to Africa’s energy transition, public-interest value, and originality of submitted stories.
Applicants are required to provide their professional details, a biography, LinkedIn profile, the title and geographic focus of their story, an entry summary, reporting methodology, public-interest statement, publication details, and a link or copy of the published work.
They must also provide a letter of attestation from an editor or authorised executive of their media organisation confirming their role and affiliation.
Applications for the Fellowship will close in November 2026.
The top 10 finalists and the overall winner will be announced after the close of applications and completion of the independent judging process.
The Fellowship is being implemented as part of Sahara Group’s “Sahara Beyond XXX” vision, with the organisers describing it as an investment in the journalists, knowledge, and systems that will influence how Africa understands and addresses its energy future.
Journalists interested in participating can access the Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship application portal at https://forms.asharamisquarefellowship.com/ and submit eligible published or broadcast stories before the November 30, 2026 deadline.
