ARC essay contest deadline draws near

16 Jul 2010

WASHINGTON, DC: The National Peace Corps Association's (NPCA) Africa Rural Connect (ARC) essay contest with the World Policy Journal on Africa food security closes for entries on 31 July 2010. Essays identifying innovative solutions to the problem of food insecurity in the rural regions of Africa are invited for submission.

ARC is an NPCA program which brings people together from around the world to discuss rural Africa's greatest challenges.

"We know there are many forward-looking perspectives out there on improving food security in Africa and we want to hear them," said Molly Mattessich, manager of online initiatives for the NPCA who leads the ARC programme.

Panel of judges

The panel of judges which will decide on the winner includes Dr. Hans Herren, recipient of the 1995 World Food Prize and president and CEO of Millennium Institute USA; Ferial Haffajee, editor-in-chief of City Press, a South African newspaper; David A. Andelman, editor of World Policy Journal and a former New York Times and CBS News correspondent; Emmy Simmons, former assistant administrator for the US Agency for International Development and independent consultant; and Roger Thurow, former foreign correspondent with the Wall Street Journal and senior fellow on global agriculture and food policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

An edited version of the winning essay will be published in the World Policy Journal. Runners-up will appear on the websites of World Policy Journal and NPCA. The judging panel will select the top essay suggesting a unique initiative that African governments, private organisations, or individuals in the international community can implement to improve food security in rural Africa.

Looking for novel perspectives

Contest entries must be an 800 to 1,200 word essay in English using Associated Press style. The winning essay will be announced by 30 August 2010.

"We expect to read a lot of original and fresh ideas in these essays," adds Mattessich. "The judging panel is looking for novel perspectives that will help shape a new way of thinking about improving one of rural Africa's greatest challenges in the years to come."

To submit an entry and learn more about the contest, go to www.AfricaRuralConnect.org/EssayContest.