The Economic Community of West African States has opened applications for its 2026 Excellence Awards, inviting journalists to submit work examining regional integration, security, economic development and social issues.
The competition, running from Oct. 1-31, seeks to recognize media professionals whose reporting has improved public understanding of ECOWAS programs, achievements and initiatives, according to the award announcement.
The awards cover four thematic areas: political affairs, peace and security; infrastructure, energy and digitalization; economic affairs and agriculture; and humanitarian and social affairs.
Each category includes prizes for television, radio, print and online journalism, creating opportunities for journalists to compete through different forms of media. Eligible subjects include health, education, youth, gender, transportation, trade, telecommunications and regional development.
ECOWAS said entries should demonstrate originality, professional production quality, public impact and adherence to journalistic ethics. Submissions must examine an ECOWAS-related achievement or a regional societal challenge addressed through the bloc’s work.
Applicants may come from ECOWAS member states or countries outside the regional organization. Their work must be produced in English, French or Portuguese, the three official languages specified in the announcement.
For written journalism, entries must not exceed 1,500 words. Television and radio reports must run between two and five minutes. Digital submissions may incorporate multimedia features, interactive elements and photography, subject to the competition’s editorial and technical requirements.
The organizers also require applicants to provide a presentation document explaining the background, objectives and reporting approach behind each entry. The document must identify the publishing or broadcasting outlet, country, journalist’s contact details, sources and relevant credits and permissions.
Eligible productions must have been published or broadcast within the preceding year and must not have been submitted to the previous edition. ECOWAS also prohibits plagiarism and requires entrants to demonstrate ownership or appropriate rights to the materials they submit.
The regional body launched the awards in 2025 as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary. The inaugural ceremony took place July 25, 2025, in Banjul, The Gambia, according to the announcement.
Journalists may submit their entries by email to [email protected] during the application period, which closes Oct. 31, 2026. The announcement lists [email protected] and [email protected] for further inquiries.
The awards seek to highlight journalism’s contribution to public awareness of regional cooperation and the initiatives intended to benefit citizens across West Africa.