youth-empowerment-network

Application Deadline: June 14 2013

The Youth Employment Network (YEN), an interagency initiative of the United Nations, International Labour Organization, and World Bank, and Making Cents International have partnered to launch a new online competition called Project Impact!

According to the World Bank, as much as 40% of youth employment projects have no impact on labor market outcomes for youth. The Youth Employment Network (YEN) wants to help reduce this percentage and see more projects impact youth positively.

The reality is that even the best program plans will face challenges in successful implementation as they respond to the realities on the ground. Many organizations have learned valuable lessons both when projects succeed and fail. Sharing these lessons from the field could help other projects to increase their impact.

This is why YEN has launched a new online competition called Project Impact! to gather these important lessons and share them with our community of practitioners.

YEN is seeking submissions from any youth employment project anywhere in the world. The projects with the most insightful lessons will receive a cash award and be featured at the 2013 Global Youth Economic Opportunities in Washington DC.

The overarching focus of the competition is on rural youth and increasing opportunities in rural areas. Projects must either be based in rural areas or show that the lessons learnt are relevant to rural youth. The projects with the most insightful lessons will receive a cash award and be featured at the 2013 Global Youth Economic Opportunities in Washington DC.

Who can submit an entry?

The competition is open to anyone working on a youth employment project in any country. The competition is therefore open to all practitioners whether within or outside Making Cents and YEN.

The individual applicant must be personally involved in the youth employment project and they must have the consent of the project manager to submit an entry on that project.

The project that is discussed in the Smart Note must be targeted at young people.

YEN and Making Cents reserve the right for either organization and their partners to verify the authenticity of a
project and their Smart Note before awarding any prize.

Verification may require the organization to provide documents proving the existence and results of the organization, or a field visit conducted by YEN, Making Cents, or its partners in the field.

How long is this competition running?

The competition will have 2 rounds. The deadlines for submitting entries, voting and the date for announcing winners will be shown on the website as each round is launched.

Round 1: September– December 2012

Round 2: May – July 2013

What topics can the entries cover?

The competition entry should highlight a specific approach that has had significant impact on the labour outcomes of young people.

Applications must fit into one of the following categories:

•Workforce Development
•Adolescent Girls and Young Women
•Youth- Inclusive Financial Services and Financial Capabilities
•Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Assessment
•Youth Enterprise Development

How do I submit an entry?

To submit an entry, go to
http://yenmarketplace.org/whats-working-submission-guidelines.

Here you will be able to download the guidelines and submit an entry form. Make sure you have the written agreement of the project manager to before submitting an entry.

What are the awards for the competition?

An award valued at $800 will be offered to the first place winner, $500 to the second place winner, and $300 to the third place winner.

In addition, some entry forms may be recognized with a title of Special Mention. The  entry forms awarded with the first place, second place, third place and special mention awards will be turned into Smart Notes and published on the YEN Marketplace and Making Cents International websites, and feature a short biography of the author.

What is the deadline to enter ?

The deadline to enter is June 14, 2013 at 24:00 GMT and the deadline for voting is June 28, 2013 at 24:00 GMT.

The results will be announced on July 5, 2013.

Please read the Submission Guidelines before you apply.