African Union Development Agency/NEPAD 2019 Youth Essay Contest on ‘The Africa We Want’

Application Deadline: midnight on 28 February 2019.

In an effort to promote African youth’s active participation in the continent’s development, the African Union Development Agency/NEPAD is running a short essay contest, targeting young African people and its diaspora in proposing concrete pathways through which Agenda 20632, the continent’s framework for transformation, can be fast-tracked. The contest aims to provide the space through which youths can express their views freely on “The Africa We Want” by articulating their aspirations and ideals for shaping the future of our continent.

Benefits:

Winners will be announced in April 2019 at the ‘Championing of Agenda 2063 for #TheAfricaWeWant’ advocacy event in Johannesburg, South Africa. We urge all entrants residing outside South Africa to therefore have their passports ready, as the top five winners will be invited to the prize-giving ceremony in Johannesburg!! The winners will all be notified prior to the event by email or phone number provided in the submission.

Eligibility
Contestants must be aged between 15 and 35 years by the contest deadline. Only one proposal per contestant will be accepted. Contestants must be African citizens; non-African citizens are
not eligible to participate in the contest. All youths (between the ages of 15 and 35) and especially girls, women and people living with disabilities are strongly encouraged to participate.

SHORT ESSAY CONTEST

AUDA/NEPAD recognises African youth as important stakeholders in achieving the Agenda 2063 goals and aspirations. In this regard, deliberate efforts are being made to harness the intellectual
insights and energies of the youth in shaping the pathways and participating in the implementation of Agenda 2063. Accordingly, AUDA/NEPAD is organising a short essay contest that will serve to solicit novel ideas from Africa’s youth.

Rules and requirements
The rules and requirements for this short essay contest are outlined below:
The short essay subject is “The Africa We Want”. Participants are invited to submit their
innovative ideas through a short essay format – the ideas or proposals should be those that can potentially have positive societal impact currently, or those that will transform the African continent in years to come through action/s that need to be taken now.

The essays will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
1) Content and relevance in terms of Africa’s development;
2) Innovation and creativity;
3) Potential for implementing the idea on a large scale using Africa’s own resources.

Requirements
All contestants must submit a completed and signed version of the document below. Please
place a check next to each item below to be certain you have not missed anything!
 The essay – as per the instructions below
 Parental consent (Applicable only to those below the age of 18)
 Consent Form

Essay instructions
Type the essay on A4 paper size, 2-3 pages maximum. Handwritten essays are accepted and should be on A4 paper size, 2-3 pages maximum. Please include your name on the essay.
LANGUAGE: Essays can be written in any of the African Union (AU) official languages namely:
Swahili, English, French, Arabic and Portuguese.

Submitting your entry
If sending by EMAIL: Scan your entry documents to a .jpg or .pdf format and attach them to thevemail. Please send the email to essay@nepad.org
If sending by POST: Address the mail to: NEPAD Agency, 230, 15th Road Randjespark, Midrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa.

• If posting your entry, please be sure to paperclip all of your documents together, including thevessay.
  RIGHT OF PUBLICATION: All essay submissions will become the property of AUDA/NEPAD.
  Announcement of winners’ names, photographs and essay content will appear in print and/or electronic media – at the sole discretion of AUDA/NEPAD.

JUDGING PANEL:

The judging panel is comprised of five independent individuals who will be nominated by the AUDA/NEPAD. The panel will review the essays and will select a total of five(5) finalists.

The finalists will be invited to a high level platform in April 2019, called ‘Championing of Agenda 2063 for #TheAfricaWeWant’ in Johannesburg, South Africa. In addition, the best essays will be posted on AUDA/NEPAD’s website and other platforms.

All five winners will be awarded with prizes at the awards ceremony attended by high profile leaders in Africa.

Contact information
African Union Development Agency/NEPAD
230, 15th Road Randjespark
Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
www.nepag.org
Primary contact person: Linda Gouman
Email: lindag@nepad.org
Telephone number: +27 11 256 3600 / 12

Entry dates, deadlines and announcement of winners
This contest opens on 21 January 2019 and closes at midnight on 28 February 2019. Essays must be received by 11:59PM GMT on 28 February 2019 OR postmarked by 28 February 2019 if sent by post.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Union Development Agency/NEPAD 2019 Youth Essay Contest