Deadline for submitting applications extended to 15 August 2010!
Youth finding solutions to challenges in agriculture and rural development using ICT !
ESSAY CONTEST
Win up to 1,500 euros and improve your capacity!
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, PAFPNET , is organizing an essay writing contest on “Youth and ICTs in Agriculture and Rural Development”. This is the first activity of the project “Agriculture, Rural Development and Youth in the Information Society” (ARDYIS) initiated by CTA; this project aims at raising the awareness and capacity of youth on the issues of rural and agricultural development for ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries through new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
1. Aim of the essay contest
The contest aims at identifying innovative solutions on challenges faced by youth in agriculture and rural areas using ICTs, in ACP countries (see the list of ACP countries below). The essay contest will contribute to raising youth awareness on the potential and opportunities of ICTs in agriculture and rural areas.
What do we mean by ICTs?
UNESCO defines ICTs as the ”new or advanced technologies that enhance the dissemination or creation of information and communication”. In the same line of thought, ICTs include, within the framework of this contest, all “new” information and communication technologies (Internet, mobile phones, computers, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), etc.), associated or not with “traditional” communication technologies (such as radio, television, written press, video, etc.). Entries submitted should not deal exclusively with the use of traditional information technologies (traditional radio, video, etc.).
2. Who can participate
The essay contest is open to young people, aged 18 - 25 years old, from urban or rural areas of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific countries. Young women, young agricultural producers and students in agricultural training courses are particularly encouraged to participate. Applicants will submit their entry in French or English.
3. How to participate
Participants will write an essay (between 1,200 and 1,500 words) responding to any of the following questions or issues:
a) Choose two challenges which you experience in your country or region related to agriculture or rural development, and explain how you could use ICTs to address them;
b) How can ICTs be used for effective advocacy and lobbying to promote agriculture in your country or region?
c) How can ICTs be used to improve access to market for agricultural products from your country or region?
d) Tell the story of a young producer or a youth leaving in rural area, in your country/region, who uses ICT successfully or in an innovative way (even if the experience was not a full success) for his/her work. Describe lessons learnt and alternatives envisaged, especially if the experience was not successful.
Each candidate will address only one issue and submit only one essay. The title of the issue or question chosen and the name of the author should be clearly written on the cover page to the essay. For each essay, concrete examples to support arguments developed have to be presented.
4. Selection process and prizes
An international panel of judges, made up of experts in ICT, agriculture and rural development will be set up to review entries. The selection process and prize awarding will be conducted as follows:
a) Finalists – Oral presentation
In the first instance, the best two (2) essays from each of the six ACP regions (West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, Pacific and Caribbean) will be pre-selected. The 12 finalists will participate in an international meeting on rural development where, apart from attending the sessions, they will make an oral presentation of their submission before an international jury.
b) Regional Winner Prizes
Based on oral presentations, prizes will be awarded to the best entrant from each region (“East Africa Prize”, “West Africa Prize”, “Central Africa Prize”, “Southern Africa Prize”, “Caribbean Prize”, “Pacific Prize”). Thus, there will be 6 regional winners. Each of them will receive a cash prize of 1000 € (one thousand Euros).
c) Overall ACP Winner Prize
From the regional winners, another round of selection will be conducted to choose the “ACP Prize”, as the culminating award of the competition. The winner selected will receive an additional prize of 500 Euros (five hundred Euros); the author of the best essay from all regions will then receive 1,500 Euros in total.
The best essays received will be published and promoted on the project website and in other CTA and partners’ publications. Participants in the contest, in particular prize-winners, will have the opportunity to be involved in other ARDYIS project activities. Complementary or consolation prizes, at CTA discretion, could be awarded, notably to other best candidates.
5. Deadlines
Applications should be sent to CTA by email (see addresses in section 8 below) by 31 July 2010 [Deadline now extended to 15 August 2010!)
Finalists (the 12 authors pre-selected) will be announced in mid-October 15 October 2010.
Oral presentation and final selection of winners will be made in November 2010.
6. Documents to be submitted
All applications should include the following documents:
- The essay the participant is submitting (in French or English);
- A short biographical note (to introduce the applicant), including participant full contact details (email address, telephone number(s), postal address, town, country, etc.) - no more than 1 page;
- A scanned photocopy of the applicant’s identification card or passport details.
7. Address for submitting applications or for more information
All applications should be sent simultaneously to the following two addresses:
Ardyis-project@cta.int This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ictprogramme@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
While sending the applications, the subject of the e-mail should be “Entry for essay contest”.
More information here.
Youth finding solutions to challenges in agriculture and rural development using ICT !
ESSAY CONTEST
Win up to 1,500 euros and improve your capacity!
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, PAFPNET , is organizing an essay writing contest on “Youth and ICTs in Agriculture and Rural Development”. This is the first activity of the project “Agriculture, Rural Development and Youth in the Information Society” (ARDYIS) initiated by CTA; this project aims at raising the awareness and capacity of youth on the issues of rural and agricultural development for ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries through new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
1. Aim of the essay contest
The contest aims at identifying innovative solutions on challenges faced by youth in agriculture and rural areas using ICTs, in ACP countries (see the list of ACP countries below). The essay contest will contribute to raising youth awareness on the potential and opportunities of ICTs in agriculture and rural areas.
What do we mean by ICTs?
UNESCO defines ICTs as the ”new or advanced technologies that enhance the dissemination or creation of information and communication”. In the same line of thought, ICTs include, within the framework of this contest, all “new” information and communication technologies (Internet, mobile phones, computers, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), etc.), associated or not with “traditional” communication technologies (such as radio, television, written press, video, etc.). Entries submitted should not deal exclusively with the use of traditional information technologies (traditional radio, video, etc.).
2. Who can participate
The essay contest is open to young people, aged 18 - 25 years old, from urban or rural areas of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific countries. Young women, young agricultural producers and students in agricultural training courses are particularly encouraged to participate. Applicants will submit their entry in French or English.
3. How to participate
Participants will write an essay (between 1,200 and 1,500 words) responding to any of the following questions or issues:
a) Choose two challenges which you experience in your country or region related to agriculture or rural development, and explain how you could use ICTs to address them;
b) How can ICTs be used for effective advocacy and lobbying to promote agriculture in your country or region?
c) How can ICTs be used to improve access to market for agricultural products from your country or region?
d) Tell the story of a young producer or a youth leaving in rural area, in your country/region, who uses ICT successfully or in an innovative way (even if the experience was not a full success) for his/her work. Describe lessons learnt and alternatives envisaged, especially if the experience was not successful.
Each candidate will address only one issue and submit only one essay. The title of the issue or question chosen and the name of the author should be clearly written on the cover page to the essay. For each essay, concrete examples to support arguments developed have to be presented.
4. Selection process and prizes
An international panel of judges, made up of experts in ICT, agriculture and rural development will be set up to review entries. The selection process and prize awarding will be conducted as follows:
a) Finalists – Oral presentation
In the first instance, the best two (2) essays from each of the six ACP regions (West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, Pacific and Caribbean) will be pre-selected. The 12 finalists will participate in an international meeting on rural development where, apart from attending the sessions, they will make an oral presentation of their submission before an international jury.
b) Regional Winner Prizes
Based on oral presentations, prizes will be awarded to the best entrant from each region (“East Africa Prize”, “West Africa Prize”, “Central Africa Prize”, “Southern Africa Prize”, “Caribbean Prize”, “Pacific Prize”). Thus, there will be 6 regional winners. Each of them will receive a cash prize of 1000 € (one thousand Euros).
c) Overall ACP Winner Prize
From the regional winners, another round of selection will be conducted to choose the “ACP Prize”, as the culminating award of the competition. The winner selected will receive an additional prize of 500 Euros (five hundred Euros); the author of the best essay from all regions will then receive 1,500 Euros in total.
The best essays received will be published and promoted on the project website and in other CTA and partners’ publications. Participants in the contest, in particular prize-winners, will have the opportunity to be involved in other ARDYIS project activities. Complementary or consolation prizes, at CTA discretion, could be awarded, notably to other best candidates.
5. Deadlines
Applications should be sent to CTA by email (see addresses in section 8 below) by 31 July 2010 [Deadline now extended to 15 August 2010!)
Finalists (the 12 authors pre-selected) will be announced in mid-October 15 October 2010.
Oral presentation and final selection of winners will be made in November 2010.
6. Documents to be submitted
All applications should include the following documents:
- The essay the participant is submitting (in French or English);
- A short biographical note (to introduce the applicant), including participant full contact details (email address, telephone number(s), postal address, town, country, etc.) - no more than 1 page;
- A scanned photocopy of the applicant’s identification card or passport details.
7. Address for submitting applications or for more information
All applications should be sent simultaneously to the following two addresses:
Ardyis-project@cta.int This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ictprogramme@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
While sending the applications, the subject of the e-mail should be “Entry for essay contest”.
More information here.
