Applications are now open for the Enel Foundation Open Global Power 2026 for the next generation of energy leaders

Ednah Carrick April 14, 2026

0 943 6 minutes read

Closing Date: 15 May 2026

Applications are now open for the Enel Foundation Open Global Power 2026 for the next generation of energy leaders

Applications are now open for Open Global Power 2026, the first global edition of the training program by Enel Foundation, dedicated to shaping the next generation of energy leaders.

Building on the legacy of Open Africa Power and Open Brazil Power, Open Global Power is a global platform for advanced training, policy dialogue and professional exchange, designed for energy professionals who want to contribute to a just, inclusive and innovation-led energy transition.

The training program includes:

a Foundational module on the basics of the energy sector, electricity markets, economics, geopolitics, technology and digitalization
a Global Policy and Regulation module
Territorial modules tailored to regional contexts
a final Residential module in Italy for top-performing participants

Who can apply?

individuals aged 24–35 as of 13 April 2026
citizens of African countries, Brazil or Chile
currently living in those geographies, or planning to relocate there by the end of 2026
candidates who have completed a Master’s, MBA or PhD by 13 April 2026
professionals with experience in, or a strong interest in, the energy and electricity sector
applicants with C1-level English proficiency
candidates eligible to travel to Italy

If you are ready to deepen your expertise, connect with peers across regions and help shape the future of sustainable energy, this is your opportunity.

Overview

Enel Foundation (hereinafter, the is pleased to launch the Call for Applications for the 2026 edition of Open Global Power (“OGP”).

Open Global Power is the evolution of the Open Africa Power and Open Brazil Power initiatives and represents a single, integrated global platform for advanced training, policy dialogue, and professional exchange in the field of sustainable energy. The programme is designed to equip a new generation of energy professionals with the technical, regulatory, and business skills required to drive a just, inclusive, and innovation-led energy transition at regional and global levels.

The 2026 edition adopts a global architecture with territorial specialisation, combining shared foundational content with region-specific learning paths. Participants will engage in a structured learning journey delivered through online modules and a selective in-person experience, in partnership with top academic institutions from Italy, Africa, Brazil, Chile, and beyond.

Training Programme Objectives

Open Global Power 2026 aims to:

Build a global community of current and future energy leaders;
Provide participants with a solid and integrated understanding of energy systems, regulation, economics, and technology;
Strengthen the capacity to translate global best practices into locally viable solutions;
Foster cross-regional dialogue and peer learning among professionals from different geographies;
Promote gender balance, geographic diversity, and merit-based selection.

Program Structure

The Open Global Power 2026 programme is structured into four complementary modules:

o 1. Foundational Module

Format: Online
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 6 hours per week)
Target group: All selected participants

This module provides a common global toolkit, introducing participants to the fundamentals of:

Energy systems and electricity markets
Energy economics and geopolitics
Power system technologies and innovation
Digitalisation and emerging tools for the energy transition

Following the Foundational Module, participants will be asked to take an assignment in the form of an online multiple-choice test (“First Assignment”).

o 2. Global Policy and Regulation Module

Format: Online (self-paced and live sessions)
Duration: Approximately 4 months (non-continuous)
Target group: All selected participants

This Module will enable the learners to gain a comprehensive vision on how to design appropriate policy and regulatory framework needed to ensure sustainable energy for all. The online Module on Energy Sector for Energy Transition, delivered by an accredited external partner, will start in early June and will end around mid-October 2025.

Participants are required to complete a Country Project (individually or as a group). At the end of the course, the participants can earn a Certificate of Attendance, a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Excellence, depending on their performance and engagement throughout the course.

o 3. Territorial Modules

Format: Online
Duration: 4 weeks (approximately 4–8 hours per week)
Target group: All selected participants

The territorial modules represent the contextual laboratory of Open Global Power. Building on the global concepts introduced in the previous Modules, participants will explore how energy transition challenges and solutions unfold in specific regional contexts.

Territorial tracks will focus on themes such as:

Local energy systems and infrastructure constraints
Regulatory and institutional frameworks
Socio-economic and environmental dimensions
Case studies and applied policy or business challenges

Participants will be assigned to a territorial track based on their country of citizenship, in accordance with the programme design.

Following the Territorial Modules, participants will be asked to take an assignment in the form of an online multiple-choice test (“Second Assignment”).

o 4. Final Residential Module in Italy

Format: In-person
Duration: Approximately one week
Target group: Top-Performing Participants (approximately 10%)

At the end of the online phase, the best-performing participants will be invited to take part in an intensive residential module in Italy. This final module may include:

Advanced lectures and interactive workshops
Applied group work and policy discussions
Site visits and professional networking opportunities

Give Back Module

Upon completion of the Italian module, Enel Foundation could decide to involve the cohort of alumni in teaching activities and events related to its education initiatives.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

a) Be between the ages of 24 and 35 by April 13^th, 2026.

b) Be a citizen of:

an African country, or
Brazil, or
Chile.

c) Currently resident in an African country, Brazil or Chile, or planning to relocate in an African country, Brazil or Chile within the end of 2026.

d) Be eligible to travel to Italy. All Applicants are invited to check well in advance the procedure applicable to their specific cases.

e) Having graduated by April 13^th, 2026, from a PhD, MBA or Master’s degree (MSc, LLM, MPP, etc.) degree. Current undergraduate students, people only in possess of a Bachelor’s degree or people who are currently enrolled in a Master’s degree (i.e. graduate students) are not eligible for this program. At least one degree (PhD, MBA, Master’s, Bachelor’s) must be from an African, Brazilian or Chilean university, according to their citizenship.

f) Have competences and a demonstrated interest to pursue a career – in private or public sector – in the energy and electricity space at large.

g) Be fully proficient in English (CEFR C1 level) and be able to demonstrate this via an official language certificate or completion of at least one degree completely taught in English.

Recognizing that women play a critical role in the energy sector, but they are often left out of decision-making and have restricted access to energy education, employment opportunities and finance, their participation in Open Global Power is highly encouraged. Enel Foundation will ensure that 50% of the participants are women.

Application process and deadline for the submission of the Application

The Open Global Power application period opens on April 13^th, 2026, and closes on May 15^th, 2026 at 23.59 Central Europe Summer Time.

Any application received after the deadline will be automatically rejected.

Before submitting an application, all Applicants are required to carefully read and acknowledge this Call for Applications and its rules. By submitting an application through the BeeZ Platform, Applicants expressly confirm their full acceptance of both the terms and conditions set out in this Call for Applications and the terms of use of the BeeZ Platform.

Applications are to be filed through the dedicated platform exclusively. Enel Foundation highly invite you to start and complete your application on both Google Chrome and a desktop environment for the best results possible in terms of stability and reliability of the platform. Please click on the link and copy- paste the code written here on the right in order to begin the process.

OAPF1397

Applicants must provide:

a) A copy of their CV (in .pdf format).
b) Copy of their Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates (plus eventual MBA/PhD certificates) AND academic transcripts (in .pdf format).
c) A copy of their passport (in .pdf format).
d) A motivation letter (max 700 words, in .pdf format).
e) Two reference letters from two different industry, academia and/or civil servant representatives (in .pdf format).

All documents must be provided in English.

Each Applicant cannot submit more than 1 application.

The application process begins with a registration form that allows Applicants to sign up by entering their contact details. They will then receive a confirmation email redirecting them to the actual Application Form, which is divided into stages. At any given stage, if the required document is not uploaded, the system will prevent the Applicant from advancing to the next stage. To successfully complete the process, all the documents listed in the bullet points above and any other personal details requested on the platform are required. Applications can be saved and resumed at a later stage. However, once an Application is submitted, it cannot be amended. Therefore, please make sure your submission meets the requirements.