Are you a young African between the ages of 18 and 28 and currently residing in Africa? Here is another chance for you to have your say on building your nation and continent! As you know, Africa’s exponential youth growth comes with immense opportunities for you to inject fresh ideas, vibrancy and optimism into addressing many of Africa’s challenges.
READ ALSO: SSRC Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship 2021
World Bank #Blog4Dev Competition 2021 for Africans.
World Bank Blog4Dev Competition 2021: Earlier this year, the entire world came to a standstill as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) quickly spread across the globe. In an attempt to combat the pandemic, the world went into lockdown; schools closed, production chains ground to a halt, social life was disrupted, and people retreated into their homes. Everything changed.
Although figures show that African countries appear to have been relatively spared compared to other regions in the world, the socioeconomic impact of the virus is nonetheless severe. In its analysis of the region’s economic outlook, the World Bank’s latest Africa’s Pulse report projects that growth in Sub-Saharan Africa will contract by -3.3% in 2020, driving the continent into its first economic recession in 25 years. The pandemic could also push 40 million Africans into extreme poverty, erasing at least five years of progress in poverty reduction efforts.
In an effort to find a common solution to a common challenge, we would also like to hear the views of African youth on the COVID-19 response. Based on the situation in your country, answer the following question:
How can young people work with their governments and civil society organizations to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and build a stronger post-pandemic economic and social system?
Be bold, be creative, be practical – chart an inclusive and impactful path to progress for your continent.
World Bank Africa Region Competition Eligibility.
To be eligible for the #Blog4Dev contest, you must:
- Be a citizen of any of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Be between the ages of 18 and 28 years of age
- Not have been a previous winner
World Bank Africa Region Competition Prizes.
Winning authors are eligible for several prizes, including
- Being invited to attend a dedicated program during the World Bank – IMF Spring Meetings 2021 (if the health situation improves)
- Opportunities to represent Africa’s youth at high-level events
- A chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office, or
- An opportunity to have your blog published on the World Bank Africa blog Youth Transforming Africa.
World Bank Blog4Dev Competition Selection Criteria.
A panel of expert judges from inside and outside the World Bank Group will review all entries and select the top five from each country. The selected authors will be interviewed, and a top winner will be chosen from each country.
The winning submissions will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Originality
- Clarity in Writing and Presentation
- Practicality and Relevance
- Potential Impact on Development
How to Submit Entries for World Bank Blog4Dev Competition 2021.
Using this link, submit your original blog entry, written in English, French, or Portuguese, detailing your ideas about addressing the impact of COVID-19 and building a stronger post-pandemic economic and social system by November 30, 2020.
The blog post length should not exceed the following limits: 500 words in English, 650 words in French and Portuguese. Longer entries will be disqualified.
Submissions through email or post will not be accepted.