The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition 2011 highlights crucial issues facing the developing world by overlooked or underrepresented by the media. It is organized in partnership with a group of UK-based international NGOs such as Marie Stopes International, CARE International UK, The David Rattray Memorial Trust (UK), Direct Relief International, FHI, International Childcare Trust, Malaria Consortium, Plan UK, and Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. It is sponsored by Barclays and GlaxoSmithKline.
The challenge is to write a feature of 650 to 1,000 words by 13 June on an aspect of global poverty that deserves greater media exposure. The 16 best writers (eight amateur, eight professional) will be selected from a longlist of around 40 entrants, all of whom will have their articles published online at Guardian website.
The 16 finalists will be flown to a developing country to research a new assignment. The finalist pieces will then be published in two Guardian newspaper supplements, after the announcement of the two winners at an awards ceremony in November 2011.
The themes for the competition are:
- ‘Aids orphans and the challenges they face’ – Theme sponsored by International Childcare Trust
- ‘Can empowering women end poverty? ’ – Theme sponsored by Care International
- ‘Can long-term disaster recovery lead to improved healthcare? ’ – Theme sponsored by Disaster Relief International
- ‘Early marriage: what is the right age for a girl to become a woman? ’ – Theme sponsored by Plan UK
- ‘Emergency Preparedness – how do prepared areas fare better post-disaster? ’ – Theme sponsored by Disaster Relief International
- ‘From small farmers to big levers: how can smallholders best link up to improve their livelihoods? ’ – Theme sponsored by Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture
- ‘Malaria: a disease whose days are numbered’ – Theme sponsored by FHI
- ‘Socio-cultural barriers to family planning’ – Theme sponsored by Marie Stopes International
- ‘The challenges faced by disabled girls’ – Theme sponsored by International Childcare Trust
- ‘The greatest health burden in developing countries? Non-communicable diseases’ – Theme sponsored by FHI
- ‘The impact of unsafe abortions on MDG 5: Improve maternal health’ – Theme sponsored by Marie Stopes International
- ‘What are the challenges and the long-term importance of providing shelter after emergencies? ’ – Theme sponsored by Care International
- ‘What stops children in rural areas going to school? ’ – Theme sponsored by the David Rattray Memorial Trust
- ‘What role should the private sector play in international health development? ’ – Theme sponsored by the Malaria Consortium
- ‘Why are Neglected Tropical Diseases neglected? ’ – Theme sponsored by Malaria Consortium
- ‘Youth unemployment: what future? ’ – Theme sponsored by Plan UK
The entry deadline is 13 June 2011. For more information, visit this link.
