Food security is one of the principal problems facing the African continent—especially acute in vast rural areas where famine and drought all too often afflict broad populations. It is a subject profoundly important to World Policy Journal and its editors as well as the World Policy Institute.
Accordingly, World Policy Journal is teaming up with Africa Rural Connect, a unit of the National Peace Corps Association—the alumni group of former Peace Corps volunteers—to identify the most original solution to the problem of food security in less populated areas of Africa.
The competition will the take form of an essay competition, with each entrant submitting a paper of 800 to 1,200 words, aimed at “African governments, private organizations, or others in the international community.” The winning essay will be published in the Fall 2010 issue of World Policy Journal. Entries may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2010.
The essays will be judged by David A. Andelman, Editor of World Policy Journal; Emmy Simmons, former assistant administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and Roger Thurow, a former correspondent for the Wall Street Journal for Europe and Africa.
Specifics regarding the length of the essay, multiple submissions and judging criteria can all be found on the Africa Rural Connect website.