Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition 2024

The Commonwealth Secretariat is pleased to launch the Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition. This competition, brought to you by the Trade and Youth teams of the Commonwealth Secretariat, invites young researchers and students aged 18-29 to share their insights on a crucial topic: How can trade and trade policy address an aspect of the climate crisis in your country?

Objective: To challenge young people in the Commonwealth to explore the relationship between trade and climate change and propose how trade policy can be part of the solution to the climate crisis.

The Commonwealth’s 56 member countries have a combined population of 2.7 billion people, with over 60% aged between 15 and 29. The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) has focused on youth empowerment for over 50 years, recognising it as a prerequisite for economic growth and inclusive development.

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth Foundation(CF)
• Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition
• Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition
• Requirements for Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Commonwealth Foundation(CF)

The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Foundation is located at Marlborough House in London, a former royal palace which was assigned for the use of these Commonwealth institutions by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth. As the Commonwealth agency for civil society, the Foundation is funded by 49 member states to support ... continue reading

Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition

Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition

• First prize: £1,000
• Second and third prizes: £500 each

The top three essays will be published as part of the Trade Competitiveness Briefing Series and launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October.

Requirements for Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition Qualification

You must be aged between 18-29 years old and a Commonwealth national to participate in this competition.

• Essays must be a maximum of 2,000 words (including in-text references and footnotes, excluding reference list)
• Full referencing in any style (in-text and reference list)
• Entries should be submitted as a single PDF or Word file, 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman font

Details to include

• Name
• Age
• Nationality
• Contact information (email, address, telephone)
• CV or short bio

Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition

Important dates

• Start date: 15 July 2024
• Submission deadline: 21 August 2024
• Winners informed: 2 September 2024

Judging criteria

• Entries will be evaluated based on the originality of the challenges identified and solutions proposed, quality of writing and coherence with international trade policy frameworks
• All essays will be blind peer-reviewed by the Trade and Youth Team. A distinguished panel will assess the papers and award a prize to the author of the best essay.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Essay topic: In what ways do you think trade and trade policy can help to address an aspect of the climate crisis in your country? Identify a specific problem, explain how it is linked to the climate crisis, and clearly explain how trade or trade policy can be used to address it.

Please email your submission and details to [email protected] by 21 August 2024.

If you have any questions about the competition, please contact [email protected].

For more details, visit Commonwealth website