Applications are open for the Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition 2025. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition
Opportunity Details
- Date Published: November 13, 2024
- Application Deadline: November 25, 2024
- Category: Contest
- Eligible Locations: Africa
What does it take to make your voice heard in an election year? In a world where social media, misinformation, and representation can shape outcomes, young people have a unique power and a responsibility to contribute to the integrity of elections, the development of democracy and enriching their civic participation.
The essay writing competition as part of the Youth and Elections in Africa Dialogue Series is an opportunity for you to reflect, delve deeper, bringing fresh insights and perspectives on the real issues surrounding African elections in 2024 and beyond. It aims to encourage critical thinking and empower young voices to share perspectives on the role of social media, combating misinformation, and promoting female representation in elections.
Competition focus/ themes
Participants are required to choose from one of the following themes, and be creative with the title and content of their Essays:
- Internet Culture in Shaping Digital Social Halls for Youth Engagement in Elections in Africa
- Discuss African governments’ readiness to promote online space tools for civic discourse and public participation in Africa.
- Discuss challenges on all forms of content governance and moderation and surveillance in digital social halls and how to address these in an ever-changing digital world.
- Social Media in Shaping Youth Engagement in Elections
- Discuss how platforms like Instagram, X, and TikTok are influencing youth voter turnout, youth leadership and political advocacy.
- Combating Mis/Disinformation
- Explore the impact of misinformation on elections and propose strategies young people can employ to combat fake news and deep fakes.
- On Intersectional Representation in African Elections
- Analyze the current state of female representation in African politics, discuss the barriers women face in the electoral process, with recommendations.
Benefits of Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition
First three winners of the essay competition will receive the following:
- Cash prize (1st – $300, 2nd – $200, 3rd – $100)
- Certificate of recognition
- Publication of essays on Pollicy’s Medium with credit given to the author.
Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition Requirements
- Age: Participants must be adults between 18 and 30 years old.
- Geography: Open to young people residing in African countries.
- Language: English and Swahili
Evaluation Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Originality and Creativity: Uniqueness of ideas and the creative approach to presenting them. Essays must be original works and should not have been previously published. Plagiarism and AI generated essays will automatically result in disqualification.
- Relevance: The extent to which the blog addresses the outlined themes.
- Potential Impact: The anticipated impact of the content on the audience and wider community.
Application Date and Process
Submission Guidelines
- Word Count: Essays should be between 800 – 1,000 words
- Language: The essay must be written in English or Swahili.
- Title Page: Include a title page with the following information:
- Title of the essay
- Your full name
- Age
- Country of residence
- Contact information (email and phone number)
How to Submit
- Submissions should be sent strictly via email to [email protected] by Monday, 25th November 2024, 11:59 pm EAT with the subject line: “Youth and Elections In Africa Essay Submission – (Your Name)”
- Ensure that your essay and all required information are included in both the body of the email and your essay document.
Application Deadline
25 November, 2024
Scholarship Application Portal
View details of
Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition
Apply for Pollicy Youth & Elections in Africa Dialogue Series Essay Writing Competition
