Call for Applications: GDN Next Horizons Essay Contest 2014

The Global Development Network (GDN) in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces an international essay contest. The contest invites essays on the future of development assistance. The primary objective of the contest is to invite fresh thinking related to the future of aid that can inform the ongoing discourse on development assistance and to make this thinking available to policymakers and key stakeholders.

Up to 20 winning entries will be chosen, and receive $20,000 each. An independent panel will make the final selectionsof the best and most potentially consequential submissions, based on criteria defined. Select winning ideas may be promoted by GDN and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The competition is open in three languages. Guidelines are currently posted in English. The French and Spanish versions of the guidelines will be available as of 17 July, 2014.

Essays in English, French and Spanish can be submitted as of now on this platform. However, dedicated platforms for submissions in French and Spanish will also be available as of 17 July, 2014. The closing date for submisison is 15 September, 2014 (14:00 hrs GMT)

Eligibility

• Age: Entry is open to all adult individuals over 21 years of age.
• Staff: Current employees, contractors and agents of the Global Development Network and, as primary funder for this round, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, together with members of their immediate families (parent, child, sibling and spouse of each) and those living in their same household are ineligible to participate in the contest.
• Countries: Residents of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar and Sudan are ineligible to apply. This program is void in these countries and where prohibited or restricted by law. The verification of the citizenship and residency of short listed and qualifying authors will be verified wherein authors will be requested to submit proof of residency and citizenship. The identification proof will be treated as strictly confidential by GDN and will be used for purposes of the contest only.
• Restricted individuals: Individuals included on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List, available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx) maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control are not eligible to participate in the contest.
• Reviewers and Translators: Reviewers, selection committee members and translators for this contest are not eligible to  participate.

For more information,visit: GDN Website