Eligibility
Open to students and young professionals aged 18-30.
Special weight will be given to essays submitted by citizens of non-OECD
countries.
Topic Categories
- Citizenship in a Democratic Society
What needs to be done to develop a sense of citizenship in young people and help them realize their role in a democratic society?
True reform occurs only when
citizens actively participate in the governance
process – it can’t be
achieved by street protests
alone. Young people are an integral part of society
and their input and participation in their countries’ governance
is necessary to effect political and economic reform.
However, many lack the skills and opportunity to communicate with
policymakers and get involved in their country’s development.
Youth are often disengaged from the political process and rarely
develop the sense of citizenship that is so crucial to building an
inclusive, participatory democracy. To become active
citizens in their countries, young people must
have the skills to develop their ideas on reform
and outlets to express those ideas in a constructive
manner. What
does citizenship mean to you? How are citizenship
and good governance connected? How can your country
engage and enable young people to participate constructively in the
governance process? Be sure to begin your essay by describing
the situation in your country.
- Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities
How can you reform your country’s education system so that graduates have the necessary skills for employment in the public and private sectors?
In many countries, the youth unemployment rate
is very high. In some countries, this is caused
by a lack of jobs. However, in many others, young people entering
the workforce are not prepared for the jobs available – they
lack the necessary skills and education. Unable
to find good jobs, they face a difficult choice:
remain unemployed or accept low-paying jobs with no opportunity for
advancement. Improving the educational systems of many countries
is a key step towards creating a generation of young people who possess
the skills and knowledge to participate in the economy, locally and
globally. What are the
major employment problems young people face in
your country? What can be done to give them the
right skills and opportunities to enter the workforce? Who should
taking the lead in doing so? Be sure to begin your essay by
describing the situation in your country.
- Entrepreneurship and Leadership
What needs to be done in your country to provide youth with the opportunity
to become entrepreneurs and/or leaders in their communities?
Young
people can play a positive role in the political
and economic spheres in their countries, on both local and national
levels. Unfortunately they often lack access to the resources and
groups that would help them get involved and have an impact. However,
when provided with the opportunity and skills to become influential
members of their communities, youth can accomplish their goals. What
are the skills that young people need to acquire to start a successful
business or civil society group? What are the major barriers that
prevent them from opening a business or assuming a leadership position
in your country? What programs or policies would give youth the skills
to become active and influential members of society? Be sure
to begin your essay by describing the situation in your country.
Click Here for Background Readings on the Essay Topics
Top Essays
In each category, a first, second, and third place
winner will be chosen by a panel of CIPE staff and international partners.
The three winning essays from each category will be published as Economic
Reform Feature Service articles. CIPE will provide each of the
nine winners an honorarium of $1,000.
Other essays of merit will be considered for publication as well.
CIPE may translate certain articles into other languages, including
Arabic, Russian, Spanish, or French.
Judging Criteria
Essays will be judged on clarity, originality, and their contribution
to the understanding of development issues facing countries. The logic
of the ideas expressed is more important than perfect English grammar.
Judges: Essays will be evaluated by a panel of
judges comprising CIPE staff and CIPE’s international
partners.
About CIPE
The Center for International Private Enterprise is a non-profit affiliate
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one of the four core institutes
of the National Endowment for Democracy. CIPE has supported more than
1,000 local initiatives in over 100 developing countries, involving
the private sector in policy advocacy and institutional reform, improving
governance, and building understanding of market-based democratic systems.
CIPE maintains that countries need to build market-oriented and democratic
institutions simultaneously, as they are essentially two sides of the
same coin. Without a functioning market system, democracies will remain
weak. Likewise, without a democratic process, economic reforms are
unlikely to succeed.
Formatting and Competition Guidelines
- All essays must be written in English.
- All essays must be original and unpublished.
- Joint entries are not permitted.
- Word count: 2,000-4,000.
- Indicate the essay’s category on the cover page.
- Provide full contact info on the cover page, including citizenship Please see guidelines for cover page example.
Timeframe
All essays must be submitted by March 1, 2009.
How to Submit
- E-mail a copy of the essay as a Microsoft Word document
to essay@cipe.org.
- An
e-mail will be sent confirming receipt of the submission.
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