Just Transition Young Voices Awards 2026

The Energy Community Secretariat, in cooperation with

CEE Bankwatch Network;
the Balkan Green Energy News (BGEN);
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe; and,
the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO),

is launching the second edition of the Just Transition Young Voices Awards.

This year’s theme “What a Just Energy Transition Means to You and Your Community” invites you to create a short video that raises awareness on Just Transition topics in your community.

Applications Now Open

Send Your Form & Video

Cornerstones
How to participate?

Submit a video in one of two categories:

Creativity for Impact (30s–3min): reels, TikToks, poems, songs, or other creative formats

Storytelling for Impact (3–5min): explainers, interviews, or short documentaries

Who can apply?

Young people (18–30) from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova.

Individually or in teams of two.

How to apply?

Send your video and the application form by email

Deadline: 10 August 2026
The Prize
The Prize

Two winners or teams per category will be selected. Winners will receive:
- Participation in the Just Transition Forum 2026 and presentation of their videos (20 October, Podgorica, Montenegro). The Forum brings together up to 120 international stakeholders and is organised by the Energy Community Secretariat and GIZ.
- A capacity-building session with Partners during the Forum, including media training and Just Transition learning (21 October, Podgorica, Montenegro).
- Regional media exposure, with featured coverage across partner channels among others.
The Energy Community Secretariat reserves the right not to award in case of low-quality submissions.
Successful candidate
Successful candidate
- Application Criteria
  Applicants should be from, and have permanent residence in, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova. The Video should thematically focus on one of the countries.
  
  Individual or joint applications (two people) aged 18-30 years.
  
  Applications in local language are encouraged but must include English subtitles. English applications are also allowed.
  
  Video Requirements: MP4 format (max. size of 5 GB). Vertical videos: 1080 × 1920 pixels (1080p) and for Horizontal videos: 1920 × 1080 pixels (1080p).
- The Task and selection criteria for articles
  Guiding question for the Awareness Raising Campaign: What a Just Energy Transition Means to You and Your Community, and What It Looks Like Through Your Eyes?
  
  Your task is to help your community better understand what a Just Energy Transition means and what it looks like through your eyes. You can express your ideas through a video. The goal of the video is to:
  
  Increase awareness and understanding of a Just Energy Transition in your community.
  
  Share stories, perspectives, needs, concerns and challenges of you and your community regarding the energy transition. This can include engaging your community or highlighting local experiences and regional stories.
  
  Other question the Video can address:
  
  What does Just Energy Transition mean for you and your community?
  
  What is the goal of a Just Energy Transition and why is it important?
  
  How is your community experiencing or participating in the energy transition?
  
  How do you see your region develop within the energy sector? What opportunities and challenges do you see for your region?
  
  Stories or examples from your community that illustrate the energy transition in practice.
  
  Which values and principles should guide a just energy transition?
  
  What are your generation’s needs and expectations for a fair and sustainable energy transition?

Selection process

Timeline
- Application open: 16 April – 10 August
- Winner announcement: approximately 2-4 weeks after the closing
- Just Transition Forum: 20 and 21 October 2026

Valuation Criteria

Information on Jury Members
Jury Members are:
- Nevena Smilevska, Just Transition coordinator for Western Balkans, Bankwatch
- Jelisaveta Perisic, Junior Journalist, Balkan Green Energy News
- Eleonora Allena, Communication Coordinator for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, Climate Action Network (CAN Europe)
- Đorđo Cvijović, Grants Officer, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)
- Marta Schulte-Fischedick, Just Transition Specialist, Energy Community Secretariat

Creativity for Impact Award	Storytelling for Impact Award
Creativity & Originality: Engaging format. Memorable concept that captures attention.	Clarity & Understanding: Clear and well-structured narrative with a coherent storyline and message. Easy for the audience to follow and understand.
Clarity of message & Acting as Awareness Raising Campaign: Communicates the concept of a just energy transition in a creative but clear way, reflecting on the guiding question. Effectively raises awareness about a Just Energy Transition, showing what a just energy transition is and why it matters for the participant and their community.	Acting as an Educational/ Awareness Raising Campaign: Reflects the social, environmental, and/or economic dimensions of a just energy transition and why it matters for the participant and/or their community. Helps the viewer better understand Just Energy Transition and what it entails, potentially highlighting local realities, challenges, and opportunities through stories or examples.
Perspectives & Engagement: Shows how young people and/or their communities experience or engage with the energy transition and may actively engage the community.	Perspectives & Engagement: Shows how young people and/or their communities experience or engage with the energy transition and may actively engage the community.
Impact: Shows strong potential to raise awareness in a creative, compelling, and memorable way.	Impact: Demonstrates a positive impact on public understanding, whether by educating, raising awareness or inspiring reflection.

Just Transition Young Voices Awards 2026

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Applications Now Open

How to participate?

Who can apply?

How to apply?

The Prize

Successful candidate

Selection process

Contact