Opportunity Title: Malaria Innovation Essay Competition 2023 for African Youth |USD$5,000 Prize

Do you want to make a difference in your community while also combating one of Africa’s most critical public health challenges, malaria? Do you have new ideas and perspectives on how to battle this disease? Then this is the competition for you!

Malaria is still a major problem in Africa. Malaria will kill over 600,000 people worldwide in 2021, according to the World Health Organization.

The Ifakara Health Institute has collaborated with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Youth Advisory Council to launch the Malaria Innovation Essay Competition in order to raise awareness and develop a better understanding of malaria innovations. The goal of this competition is to encourage young people to think outside the box and come up with new, inventive ways to combat malaria, one of Africa’s most severe public health challenges.

The competition aims to encourage fresh thinking and promote the creation of practical and successful malaria solutions by offering a platform for young people to display their unique ideas.

Malaria Innovation  Eligibility Requirements

• The competition is open to all young champions in Africa aged 18-35 who are passionate about malaria control and elimination.
• Participants may be required to submit proof of age and citizenship in an African country.
• While membership in a national malaria youth army is an added advantage, it is important to note that the challenge is open to all youth regardless of their background. Therefore, youth from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to participate, and no academic or health-related profession is required for one to take part in the competition.

• Competition Format

  The competition will be structured in two stages:

  STAGE 1: CALL FOR ESSAYS

  Participants are invited to submit an essay of no more than 2,000 words in any of the following 5 tracks/ thematic areas:

• New Technologies and Approaches: This track could focus on innovative approaches or technologies for preventing, diagnosing, or treating malaria. Submissions could include ideas for new drugs, technologies, vaccines, insecticides, or other interventions that could help to reduce the impact of malaria in Africa.
• Community-Based Solutions: This track could focus on community-led initiatives or programs that aim to prevent or treat malaria. Submissions could include ideas for outreach and education programs, community-based treatment or prevention programs, or other community-driven initiatives.
• Social Innovation: This track could focus on innovative approaches to mobilizing resources or raising awareness about malaria. Submissions could include ideas for social media campaigns, crowdfunding initiatives, or other creative approaches to engaging the public and driving action on malaria.
• Cross-Disciplinary Solutions: This track could focus on innovative approaches that bring together experts from different fields to address malaria. Submissions could include ideas for interdisciplinary research collaborations, partnerships between health professionals and community organizations, or other cross-disciplinary initiatives.
• Youth-led Solutions: This track could focus specifically on solutions that are led by young people in Africa. Submissions could include ideas for youth-led advocacy campaigns, innovative approaches to engaging young people in malaria prevention and treatment efforts, or other initiatives that empower young people to take action on malaria.

• STAGE 2: PRESENTATION OF ESSAYS FROM THE TOP 5 CHAMPION GROUPS

  The top five participants will be invited to present their essays in a virtual competition through a pitch format. The pitch should be no more than 5 minutes and should focus on explaining the essay and its potential impact, how it addresses malaria innovations, and how youth champions can be good agents of promoting innovations in the fight against malaria.

  Language: The submissions are acceptable in English, French or Portuguese languages.

  PRIZES

• The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 respectively.
• All finalists will receive certificates of participation and their essays will be published.

• Timeline

• 25^th April 2023(World Malaria Day): Announcement on the call for essays.
• 25^th May 2023: Submission deadline
• 26^th May to 16^th June 2023: Evaluation and selection process.
• 25th June 2023: Top 5 finalists notified.
• 12th July 2023: Pitch competition held.
• August 12th 2023: Top 3 winners announced on International Youth Day.