Deadline: 30 November 2018
Open to: a citizen of, and currently living in, a Sub-Saharan Africa country and be between 18-28 years of age
Prize: winning authors are eligible for several prizes, including a chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office, or an opportunity to have your blog published on the World Bank Africa blog Nasikiliza
Description
Topic of the competition: What will it take to enhance the skills needed to prepare Africa’s youth for the digital economy and the future of work?
Technological progress is constantly changing how we work, from automation to artificial intelligence. With these advancements, firms adopt of new ways of production, helping markets to expand, and societies to evolve.
While advances in technology can eliminate the need for some jobs, the World Development Report 2019 notes that it also paves the way for the creation of new jobs which will require a mix of skills – such as complex problem solving, teamwork and adaptability – to meet the increasing demand in the labor market. Skill building is particularly important in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to the world’s youngest population; every year for the next decade, as many as 11 million young people are expected to enter the labor market.
In 2014, the World Bank Kenya office launched the Blog4Dev competition, an annual writing contest that invites young people to weigh in on a topic critical to the country’s economic development. The competition is a way to engage Africa’s young people and provide a platform to share their views—and solutions—about development topics that are important to them.
Since then, Blog4Dev has grown to include the voices of hundreds of young people from countries throughout the region who have submitted blogs on topics such as how to end gender-based violence to debating the role of the private sector in public service delivery. The competition tests originality, creativity and innovation.
This year, for the first time, the World Bank Africa Region is hosting a regional blog competition, inviting young people from 48 countries to share their ideas for how they, and other young people, can prepare themselves for the digital economy and a technology-driven workplace.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the #Blog4Dev contest, you must:
- Be a citizen of any of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Be between the ages of 18 and 28 years of age;
- Currently reside in a Sub-Saharan African country.
Read the terms and conditions here.
Prizes
Winning authors are eligible for several prizes, including a chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office, or an opportunity to have your blog published on the World Bank Africa blog Nasikiliza.
How to apply?
Visit the official website in order to submit your 500-word, original blog detailing your ideas about what it will take to enhance the skills needed to prepare Africa’s youth for the digital economy and the future of work, written in English, French or Portuguese by November 30, 2018.
Submit English-language submissions | Portuguese language
Please note; submissions through email or post will not be accepted.
For more information please visit the official website.
