GDN - UNECA 2014 Essay Competition - Concours de rédaction - Appel à candidatures/Call for Essay submissions

English | French

Imagining the future of Africa 2025
If you are currently a student enrolled in an African university and are 21 to 29 years old, speak out on the future of Africa 2025: What does the future hold for the African continent? What are the possible scenarios? How will the future be different from the Africa that exists today?

• Write a paper of 15 000 characters (with spaces). Submissions will be judged for both their analytical rigour and their quality of exposition and written expression. Your paper must be innovative and able to put forward positive proposals for the future of the African continent on three main issues:
• Economic challenges: What are the main determinants and engines for growth and are they likely to anchor a high potential growth rate for the short, medium and long term? How do you describe and analyse the economic transformation that is taking place?
• Environmental challenges: Is African growth sustainable? How to harness natural resources for structural transformation? How to combine sustainability with the demands of growth and urbanization in terms of access to energy and natural resources?
• Social and political challenges: How inclusive has growth been and how much does it also lead to a social and political transformation? How can we build a bridge between informality and formality and initiate the process of moving out of informality?
• In partnership or individually, whatever your degree or your specialisation, take this opportunity to make your voice heard and take part in the discussions on the future scenarios for Africa!

If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to join the GDN 15^th Annual Global Development Conference and exchange your views with experts, researchers, policy-makers and economists from around the world.

• 50 selected students will be invited to attend to the Conference, on June 18-20, 2014 in Accra - Ghana (travel and accommodation paid by the organizers of the conference). Students will participate in a dedicated session the day before the Conference on June 17^th, 2014.

If you have any queries, write to us at: conference@gdn.int.
Click here to apply!
Website: www.gdn.int  

Deadline on March 31^st, 2014, 18:00 IST

How do I Inspire Change?

Thursday 27^th February 2014.

By Kate Kiama

This post originally appeared on IWD's website to mark this years International Women's Day on March 8th 2014.

Where you are born should not, and does not define the whole person you are, or are yet to become. Unfortunately for others, some experiences, normally harmful cultural practices and their socialization processes, limit their potential greatly and as such they do not have the ‘luxury’ to live a full life which many of us take for granted.

I may be considered a lucky girl having being born and raised up in a city. In many African contexts, this may be the world of difference between being a child bride or having had to undergo female genital mutilation and thereby increasing the risk of being infected with HIV & AIDS amongst a plethora of other issues that most girls in rural cities are twice as likely to go through every day.

We have no control of where we are born, or what continent and culture we most identify with. We do on the other hand have control of what we can do to end all form of violence against women and children and break the circle of silence everywhere and especially in our own back yards. We also have control to change the course of this story through our own small way by building young women’s self-esteem and empowering them to speak up and let their beautiful voices be heard. This is how I inspire change...

My name is Kate Kiama and I am a proud African young woman. I was born and educated in Nairobi, Kenya and run my own unregistered mentorship project called Sisterhood for teenage girls in Nairobi’s informal settlements and within the outskirts of the town. Sisterhood aims to inspire, support and encourage young impressionable teens to be the best they can be through teaching the young ladies vital life skills. Key among these lessons are self-esteem, sex education, career advice as well as goal setting. I am of the considered opinion that if we empower a younger generation of women, they will be at a better bargaining power if they are self-confident, educated and able to articulate their issues. To get to the desired promise land, society has to be willing to unlearn some things and thus begins the genesis of a new socialization process...

Sisterhood may not be as fancy as most renowned mentorship programmes. In fact it is the very basic element of what mentorship is. I knew I had to do something to change the course of the path that most girls’ life face, and what better way to do that when they are young and in safe-spaces. I initially identified a school where my grandmother comes from in Ruchu area of Murang’a in central Kenya. I initially noticed that the girls did not identify with me because I was from a city. Still fired up with my mission, I started hunting for women and young ladies who were originally from the area and have defied all odds to be successful mothers, wives, business women and professionals even if culture necessarily dictated that they could only be family carers and nothing more. I did not have to look far and started with my own family, my grandmother, mother, aunties and their friends have all been focal mentors to the girls in the area to inspire them and help them realize that where you are born does not define all of you and that if they want to be whatever they dream about, they are entitled to it as much as anybody else. It has been an amazing journey having being in the area for four years at the first initial school and it makes me believe that you can do something small that will have a lifetime of impact and you can start today in your own garden or in your own small bedroom…

There is a local saying in many African communities that women like children should be seen and not heard. This would be the barometer to measure a ‘good African woman’. I do value my culture and heritage but I do also acknowledge that some of the beliefs and practices are both archaic and morbid and must be done away with for the full realization of young women to flourish to their potential. It is easier to teach a new dog a new trick and never vice versa. It is for that reason of paramount importance to ensure that young ladies are reinforced with positive imagery of the joys of being a woman and never the shame or second class citizenry they are often portrayed as.

Inspiring change begins with me. It begins with me taking action. It begins with the basics of what are my beliefs and values that I hold dear as a young woman. It begins with the gesture that I am willing to hold another young woman’s hand so we can go the mile not necessarily faster but further. Inspiring change means that I am willing to speak up for my sister until she finds her voice because I know she would do the same for me and my sisters-sister! How are you inspiring change I wonder?

The Musings of a Kenyan serving in the U S of A.

Part One

It’s been 45 days already since I left home to the land that has been long thought of flowing with milk and honey. I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying what I came here to do which is another blog post altogether. Today however, I want to share some of the most interesting, surprising, funny and downright ridiculous experiences and culture shocks that yours truly has been dealing with thus far...

As a Kenyan of course it surprises me that “everyone” seems to be jogging. From DC to Portland this has been a common occurrence on my way to work, or on my way to church. Runners in droves seem not to be too bothered even by such horrid weather. I have honestly never seen such a phenomenal especially hailing from a country that prides itself with exceptional athletes. Not to give away the Kenyan formula for sweeping all the marathons, training well has lots to do with altitude...

I have recently take up the jogging bug  for the sole reason of burning calories which is something I have never thought of in my life until getting here. The food as interesting as it is, is extremely fatty, salty or sugary. Being the carnivore that I am, I am disappointed about the strange taste of every meat I have eaten. I have never cared much about portions and what is in a meal, but more and more I am finding myself reading the ingredients closer. The food frustration gets worse when I am offered cold food for lunch in the name of a sandwich. In Kenya that is considered a snack or an appetizer in anticipation of the real hot food! It is even more frustrating when I ask for chips and get crisps. Chips which is what many East Africans would also call French fries is considered a meal and comes in generous portions. I have bought laughable sizes of this here! I have found it very strange to be offered chips (I mean crisps) for lunch. From where am from this ‘chips’ are considered children’s snacks and I would be fired if I offered consultants in Nairobi this and dips for lunch!

I do love my coffee and tea and I still think that Kenyan coffee and tea is the best (I travel with my own supply) and so I understand the Starbucks craze. What I don’t get is the sticks!!!!Honestly how much more would it cost to get disposable spoons? I have found this interesting kitchen cutlery in virtually every office and coffee shop I have been to. Since I don’t want to jinx my day by stirring my hot beverage with this thing I know not its name, I now carry my own supply of disposable spoons in my lunch bag too!

I have found it very weird in reading the groceries papers or coupons to also find on sale a riffle! Am I the only one who has difficulty seeing the lack of market intelligence or the lack of correlation in purchasing tomatoes and guns? Other foodie things I can’t get over are the sink erector! And purchasing food on board a local airline! It leaves me wondering what the airfare covers exactly. Especially when it’s a seven hour local flight!

Flights, airlines and airports bring me to my next experience. Albeit an upsetting one, I like finding the hidden humour. Did I mention that the average time it took me from Nairobi to DC was about 18 hours? On arrival, it took me another two hours to clear though customs. The officer I met looked at me and said ‘you look tired madam-where was your last destination?’ I was too tired to talk and handed him my passport. Even before I spoke he immediately said-‘wrong line American passport holders only!’ I knew I was tired but the counter he was attending said VISITORS!!!! He then proceeded to reject five or six other travellers who like me had ‘no idea’ what the word VISITOR meant. Too tired to line up in a different queue I walked up to someone who looked like a supervisor and explained my predicament....long story short, the guy did not apologize to neither me nor the other passengers for making our wait longer than necessary and instead gave a funny announcement that his desk despite the visible sign will only handle a certain group of people! It made me wonder why the signs are there in the first place!

On a separate day in a different airport, I was speaking to an interesting traveller on various topical issues. She looked like she was well in her forty’s and asked me where I was from. Her expression on learning that I was born and educated in Kenya was quite strange and I should be offended! Her next question was ‘Oh my, where did you learn English from? You sound British? This statement on where I learnt the language of the Queen has been repeated on more than this occasion and I just want to say here and now ‘we are taught in English’!!!I learnt it in school like everyone else! As for the British ascent it must be historic. They once upon a time colonised my people and we pronounce and spell some words differently as a result, like colour or issue.

It has been very clear to me during my short stay here that most Americans have no idea on what is happening in the world outside their borders. It is shocking to me that in such a developed country I have to actively seek out international news to keep up to speed with the crisis in Syria or on the status of the recent peace accord in South Sudan. The most reported piece of news here in my opinion is the weather! With such limited or lack of diverse reporting it is not surprising when someone thinks all Africans speak Swahili or worse still when someone tries to convince me that Saudi Arabia is in Africa!! I am the one who should be asking where you learn geography from. Or what exactly do most people here have Google Maps for? Driving from within the same city ONLY?

Do stay tuned to for part two of my American shockers...

2014 MILEAD FELLOWS APPLICATION

Engaging Inspiring and Equipping

A New Generation of African Women Leaders

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

2014 MILEAD FELLOWS PROGRAM

Application Deadline is Friday March 14, 2014

Moremi Initiative for Women's Leadership in Africa (Moremi Initiative) is pleased to announce its annual call for applications for the 2014 Moremi Leadership Empowerment and Development (MILEAD) Fellows Program.

The MILEAD Fellows Program is a long-term leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African Women leaders to attain and thrive in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole. The program targets dynamic young women interested in developing transformational leadership skills that help them address issues facing women and girls across communities in Africa. The MILEAD Program equips Fellows with the world class knowledge, skills, values and networks they need to succeed as 21st century women leaders. Applications are welcome from young African women between 19 – 25 years of age, living in Africa and the Diaspora.

The MILEAD Fellowship will be awarded to 25 outstanding young women who have exhibited leadership potential in their community, organization, and/or profession. To be eligible for the program, an applicant must be African, living on the continent or in the Diaspora; agree to participate in all required activities related to MILEAD – beginning with a three-week residential Summer Institute in Ghana; and commit to a community change project. Specific requirements of the program and related dates are outlined in the application package. Please review program and application guidelines carefully, before completing your application.

Please note that this one year program is not a full-time fellowship. Selected candidates may remain full time students or work full time for the program duration, except during the 3–week summer institute. The 3-week summer institute is an intensive and full-time residential program and all fellows will be required to attend. The rest of the program involves community-based, online and other distance activities.

 We invite you to share this application information with emerging African women leaders in your network who have the passion and potential to help transform the continent.

How to Apply: Applications are available online at www.moremiinitiative.org or by request via email. Download the full 2014 Application Package and Forms from the link http://www.moremiinitiative.org/milead-fellows/2014-application

Completed application forms must be submitted along with two recommendation letters and a CV. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by email.

The deadline for completed MILEAD Fellows applications is Friday 14th March, 2014.

 For more information, visit: www.moremiinitiative.org or Join us on www.facebook.com/MoremiAfrica or contact the MILEAD Program Coordinator:

Call for Applications: The 2014 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards for female entrepreneurs

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are an international business plan competition created in 2006 by Cartier, the Women’s Forum, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Award is looking for committed female entrepreneurs heading initiatives with the potential to grow significantly in the years to come. The selection of the finalists and laureates of the competition is done by an independent international Jury of entrepreneurs, investors, business executives and other profiles engaged in the support of female entrepreneurship.

The mission of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards is threefold:

·         To identify and support initial-phase women entrepreneurs through funding
and coaching

·         To foster the spirit of enterprise by celebrating role models in entrepreneurship

·         To create an international network of women entrepreneurs and encourage
peer networking

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards aim to encourage the most vulnerable category of entrepreneurs in their most vulnerable phase: women entrepreneurs starting up. Since their inception in 2006, they have accompanied over 100 promising female business-owners and recognized 32 Laureates.

Eligibility Criteria

The project to be considered for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards must be an original for-profit business creation in the initial phase (1-3 years old) led by a woman.

·         The “for-profit” requirement: the business submitted for the Award must be designed to generate revenues. We do not accept non-profit project proposals.

·         The “originality” requirement: we want your project to be a new concept, conceived and imagined by the founder and her team and not a copy or subsidiary of an existing business.

·         The “initial phase” requirement: the project you submit should be in the first stages of its development with one year of operations and sales to account for but no older than 3-4 years. The ‘age’ of the company will not be measured solely on the basis of the date of incorporation. The development and size of the company will also be taken into account.

·         The main leadership position must be filled by a woman. A good command of English is required (both verbal and written) to take full advantage of the benefits the Award has to offer.

·         All entrants must be aged 18 or the age of legal majority in their respective countries or states of citizenship, whichever is older, on the day of the application deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

The Jury evaluates the projects based on criteria of creativity, sustainability (potential for growth) and impact.

·         The creativity criterion: the Jury looks at the degree of innovation shown by the overall business concept, the uniqueness of the project on the market or country where it is being developed.

·         The sustainability criterion: the Jury examines the financial impact of the business, its revenue model, development strategy and other aspects indicating its chances of long-term success and future growth.

·         The impact criterion: the Jury evaluates the effect of the business on society, in terms of jobs created or its effect on the immediate or broader environment.

·         The overall quality and clarity of the material presented: the Jury is looking for motivated and committed entrepreneurs who are passionate about their initiatives. Being clear and concise, organizing your ideas and not repeating yourself will show that you are serious about your application.

The annual competition involves two rounds:

Round 1 (in June): The Jury selects 18 Finalists*, the top three projects of each region (Latin America, North America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Asia-Pacific), on the basis of their short business plans. They receive coaching from experienced businesspeople to move to the next round.

Round 2 (in October): The Finalists are invited to France for the final round of competition which includes submitting a detailed business plan and presenting their projects in front of the Jury. They are also invited to the Annual Global Meeting of the Women’s Forum.

Based on the quality of the plan and the persuasiveness of the verbal presentation, one Laureate for each of the six regions is selected and receives a unique and comprehensive support package: US $ 20 000 of funding, one year of coaching, networking opportunities and media exposure.

Application deadline: February 28, 2014 at 10am Paris time (CET)

Click here to apply! 

For more information,visit: Cartier Women’s Initiative

PEACE FELLOWSHIPS

Are you looking to make a significant impact on the world by promoting tolerance and cooperation? Each year, Rotary funds some of the world’s most dedicated and brightest professionals to study at our Rotary Peace Centers. These fellows are committed to the advancement of peace, and often go on to serve as leaders in national governments, NGOs, the military, law enforcement, and international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank.

WHAT ARE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIPS?

Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. These fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship/field study expenses. Two types of peace fellowships are available.

MASTER'S DEGREE

We offer master’s degree fellowships at premier universities in fields related to peace and conflict resolution and prevention. Programs last 15­–24 months and require a practical internship of 2–3 months during the academic break. Each year we award up to 50 master’s fellowships from these institutions:

·         Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US

·         International Christian University, Japan

·         University of Bradford, UK

·         University of Queensland, Australia

·         Uppsala University, Sweden

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE

For those with more extensive experience in peace-related fields, we offer a 3-month program in peace and conflict resolution at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. This program incorporates 2–3 weeks of field study. We award up to 50 certificates each year.

PEACE PROFILE: KATIA DE MELLO DANTAS

Katia is policy director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Brazil. "The tools and techniques I've learned—from a simple stakeholder analysis to the much more complex dynamics of international aid—are all applied on a daily basis to my job." Katia was a 2007-09 endowed fellow at the Rotary Peace Center at Duke/UNC.

IS A PEACE FELLOWSHIP RIGHT FOR ME?

We select fellows from around the world, based on their ability to have a significant, positive impact on the world. To be considered for a peace fellowship, we look for:

·         A strong commitment to international understanding and peace, demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal and community service

·         A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (at a minimum) with strong academic achievement

·         Relevant work experience:

·         For master’s degree—3 years paid or unpaid

·         For professional development certificate—5 years and current full-time employment in a mid- to upper-level position

·         Proficiency in English for both fellowship types and in a second language for master’s degree

WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS?

The following are not eligible for master’s degree fellowships. However, they may apply for the professional development program, but if selected, must pay for all costs associated with the program:

·         Active and honorary Rotarians

·         Employees of a Rotary club, Rotary district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity

·         Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in the categories above

·         Former Rotarians and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of resignation)

Additionally, fellows in the professional development program or participants in Rotary’s former Ambassadorial Scholarships program must wait at least three years before they can apply for the master’s degree fellowship.

Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the master's degree program may not apply for the professional certificate program.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

To apply for a peace fellowship, download the application, complete the applicant portion, and submit it to a Rotary club or district for endorsement. The deadline for submitting applications to Rotary International is 1 July, while the deadline for submitting to a local club can vary (generally March–June).

I WANT TO SUPPORT THE ROTARY PEACE CENTERS

You can support the Rotary Peace Centers program with your gift. Help us raise $125 million by 2015 to build a permanent endowment for the program. Many naming opportunities are available.

Find ideas for recruiting candidates and promoting the program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

·         Contact Rotary Peace Centers staff

·         Visit our Facebook page

Call for Application: African Women Leadership Institute (AWLI) by AMwA and WACSI

Applicants must be from Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia
Application Deadline: Thursday February 6th, 2014.

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in partnership with Akina Mama WA Afrika (AMwA) is pleased to invite applications from interested and qualified persons to a 5-day training on “Economic Justice for Women working in the Oil and Gas sector”.

The training which is specially designed for African women is scheduled to hold from March 31 - April 4, 2014 in Accra, Ghana with primary focus on "Economic Rights of Women", mainly in Oil and Gas sector. It also seeks to strengthen the capacities of African women to effectively influence related policies and build a regional network of women in the extractive industry in Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana.

AMwA will cover the costs towards accommodation, air travel and meals. We kindly request that you cater for your medical travel insurance as AMwA does not cover this.

Please find attached detailed Call for Application, Application form and other important documents. Completed application forms and MOU forms should be sent to the following email addresses:

amwa@akinamamawaafrika.org / vivian@akinamamawaafrika.org and 

policyadvocacy@wacsi.org

To learn more and apply for the programme, please visit this link http://www.wacsi.org/en/site/newsroom/2368/Call-for-Application-African-...(AWLI)-by-AMwA-and-WACSI.htm