ILO Accel Africa Regional Media “Voices Against Child Labour” Competition 2024 for media professionals and students.

Application Deadline: April 30th, 2024

Applications are now open for the ILO Voices against child labour: A media competition. This media competition is more than just a contest; it’s a call to action for media professionals and students to contribute their voices and skills to a crucial global cause, leveraging their influence to make a real difference in the fight against child labour.

Objectives:

• Awareness and advocacy: To increase public awareness and understanding of the complexities and realities of child labour in Africa.
• Engagement and empowerment: To engage and empower local communities, activists, and media personnel to contribute to the fight against child labour.
• Showcase best practices: To highlight innovative and effective strategies being employed across Africa to combat child labour.
• Encourage positive change: To inspire action and advocacy at both the grassroots and policy levels through compelling storytelling.

Themes:

• The realities of child labour in Africa
• On-line and off-line technology innovations in eradicating child labour in Africa
• Gender perspectives in child labour in Africa
• Community-led solutions to child labour in Africa
• The role of supply chain actors in combating child labour in Africa: Focus should be on the Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Tea and Gold Mining Supply chains.

Eligibility:

• Eligibility is extended to journalists, filmmakers, photographers, and media professionals from Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and Egypt who are employed by either African or international media outlets focusing on African topics. Additionally, students from these specified countries who are enrolled in any African university, whether within their home country or abroad, are also welcome to participate.
• Participants must be above 18 years old.
• Participants can participate in a maximum of 2 of the following areas : video, written media, photo stories.
• All entries must be accompanied by the corresponding signed consent forms as attached.
• To prepare your participation in this competition, you are recommended to first undertake this ITC-ILO on-line training: SELF-GUIDED COURSE ON REPORTING ON CHILD LABOUR FOR MEDIA  (in English)

Awards:

Grand Prize:

• One (1) journalist will be invited to attend and report on the ILO’s “Knowledge Sharing Forum: Innovative Solutions to Reduce Child Labour and Forced Labour in Africa” in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024. This is your chance to shine on a regional stage and amplify your voice on a significant cause.
• The ILO will cover all travel expenses and provide daily allowances in line with organizational policies, ensuring a comfortable and enriching experience.
• The winner will also participate in the subsequent knowledge sharing and capacity-building event (described below) further enhancing its capacity to continue to report on child labour.

Top Journalists:

• A maximum of the best 10 participants, representing a balance of genders, will be invited to a dynamic knowledge sharing and capacity development event in Kampala, Uganda, in October 2024. This is an unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded professionals.
• Travel and daily expenses for these journalists will be fully sponsored by the ILO, adhering to organizational guidelines, to ensure a focus on learning and collaboration.

Submission Guidelines:

• Only submissions via email or WeTransfer by email to accel-africa-media@ilo.org will be accepted.
• Only submissions with appropriate subject name will be accepted as follows APPLICANT NAME_PROFESSIONAL OR STUDENT_VIDEO/WRITTEN/PHOTOGRAPHY.
• The email content should be:

1. WeTransfer submission for video, attached writing or attached photo stories with descriptive caption;
2. consent forms ;
3. CV of the applicant (please indicate your gender)

• Written submissions, including articles and essays, should not exceed 800 words.
• Video submissions must be no longer than 7 minutes.
• A participant may submit up to two entries across the available categories.
• All entries must focus on one or more of the specified thematic areas related to child labour in Africa.
• Entries must be original and recently developed (from June 2023 to the date of submission), if entries have been published, a notification of consent for the re-publication and use of the publication by the ILO.
• Entries can be submitted in French, English or Local Languages. However, submissions not in English or French must include a translation or subtitles in one of these languages. The translated version will be considered for judging. Participants are responsible for the accuracy and quality of their translations.
• The quality and presentation of submissions are crucial. Entries will be judged based on their appearance and how effectively the submissions convey the themes highlighted above and meet the objectives of the competition through the chosen medium.
• Entries must adhere to high journalistic standards, respecting the dignity and rights of individuals, particularly children, portrayed in the stories.

– No sensationalism
– Veracity
– Relevance
– Educational relevance
– Safeguards
– Protection

• Consider the following guides to guide the development of your submission:

Child labour: A practical guide for journalists 
GUIDELINES CHILD LABOUR 
Ethical and quality reporting on child labour 
Child Labour: A Practical Guide for Journalists – TIP SHEET 

• Submissions containing harmful, misleading, defamatory, or inappropriate content, or promoting illegal activities, will be disqualified.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the ILO Regional Media Competition