Recognising excellence in journalism on Nile Basin water issues. Winners will be announced at the 8th Nile Basin Development Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, November 2026.
The Nile Media Awards recognise excellence in journalism on Nile Basin water issues. The 2026 edition is the fifth, and will be presented at the 8th Nile Basin Development Forum in Tanzania in November 2026.
The awards encourage reporting that goes beyond the problem — journalism that examines credible responses, that crosses borders through genuine collaboration, and that reaches communities in the languages and formats they actually use. Four permanent categories each carry three placements, and three cross-cutting prizes are awarded across all entries. Journalists submit to a single category; consideration for the cross-cutting prizes is automatic, based on what you provide in the submission form.
The Guidelines for Applicants sets out the awards in full — judging criteria, prize structure, and the complete rules for each category.
Read the Guidelines for ApplicantsEach permanent category carries three placements — Winner, Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up. Enter one category only.
Too much Nile Basin reporting stops at the problem. This category rewards journalism that goes further: identifying a water challenge and reporting seriously on a credible, working response — with community voices at the centre. Stories that draw on citizen science, community monitoring, or grassroots data are especially encouraged.
The Nile crosses borders, and so should its journalism. This category rewards cross-border reporting produced through genuine collaboration between journalists from two or more Nile Basin countries. It also explicitly welcomes accountability journalism — investigations into the governance, financing, or environmental impact of Nile Basin institutions and infrastructure.
Radio remains the most accessible medium across the basin, reaching communities no other platform can. This category recognises audio storytelling on its own terms — the power of voice, sound, and narrative — and actively encourages entries in local languages.
This category is for journalism that doesn't fit a traditional box: social media storytelling, short-form video, interactive web features, data visualisations, WhatsApp-based reporting, photo essays, or any hybrid format. Visual storytelling is especially encouraged — the Nile Basin offers extraordinary visual subject matter, and image-led narratives are among the most welcome entries here.
These prizes do not require a separate submission. Eligibility is determined by the information you provide in the standard submission form.
Awarded to the entry that produced the most demonstrable real-world impact — a policy change, community action, a government response, funding mobilised, or measurable behaviour change. Include an impact statement in the form to be considered.
Awarded to the best submission by a journalist aged 30 or under. Entrants indicate their date of birth in the form and are considered automatically. The winner receives a trophy plus a six-month sponsored mentorship placement.
Awarded to the entry making the most effective use of NBI technical datasets — translating hydrological, environmental, or socio-economic data into a story a general audience can understand and act on. Name the datasets you used in the form.
Check the concept note and the eligibility criteria above before you begin.
Pick the one category that best reflects the nature of your story — not the platform.
Fill in the submission form below. It takes about ten minutes.
Send your entry before —. You will receive a confirmation email.
Fields marked * are required. Your date of birth is used only to determine Emerging Storyteller Prize eligibility and is not shared with the jury.
Contact the NBDF8 Secretariat with any query about the awards. We aim to respond within two working days.