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Colin Relf Young Voices Award - Rural Transport and Development

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The International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD) is calling for entries for the IT Transport-sponsored Colin Relf Young Voices Award, which aims to encourage young people from developing countries to express in writing their innovative ideas, perspectives, and approaches to rural transport and sustainable development.

The first award question is: "Drawing on examples from a local and/or national context, discuss the role that transport infrastructure and mobility (ie. transport services) play in improving poor communities’ access to health services in the face of the urgent need to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6. Explain major constraints facing developing countries in ensuring efficient rural transport infrastructure and mobility to meet basic access needs. What strategies would you suggest to ensure that transport infrastructure and mobility are improved, and to bring about better synergies between the transport and health sectors?"

The second question is: "What are the likely effects of climate change on rural transport in developing countries? Reflecting on examples from a local and/or national context, discuss the role that non motorised transport systems and means of transport, including footpaths, trails and rural waterways, can play in addressing the accessibility and mobility needs of poor communities in a climate challenged world. What must be done to ensure that these options are not neglected by decision and policy makers?"

The award is open to young people (35 years and under) from developing countries. Prize amounts are US$600 (1st), US$200 (2nd), US$200 (3rd), as well as an opportunity to have one's writing published by IFRTD.

Application Info

Entries should be sent for the attention of the Award Coordinator by post, fax, or email to the address given below. Include full name and contact details with the entry.

Contest Rules:

  1. One entry per person per award round.
  2. Entries should be between 2,000 and 2,500 words – Entries exceeding this limit can be disqualified.
  3. Entries can be submitted in English, French, or Spanish.
  4. One photo illustrative of your entry can be included. Maximum size is 500kb if sent electronically. Anything larger will be deleted.
  5. Entries must be received by the Award Coordinator by the deadline date.
  6. One first prize winner will receive US$600 as a prize, and their entry will be published online.
  7. One second prize winner and one third prize winner will receive US$300 and US$200, respectively, and their entries will be published online.
  8. Non-winning entries may also be published online at the discretion of the IFRTD Secretariat. IFRTD reserves the right to publish all entries received on any of the IFRTD websites. Full credit will be given to the author at all times. Identification of plagerism will lead to disqualification from this and future Colin Relf award rounds.
  9. Winners will be contacted directly and announcements will be made in the IFRTD e-newsletter and at their website. IFRTD cannot enter into correspondence regarding the selection of winners.
  10. Entrants must be 35 years of age or under and from a developing country. IFRTD reserves the right to request proof of date of birth.


Judging and Criteria

 

Judging will be carried out by a panel of experts engaged with the IFRTD. The judges are looking for entries that:

 

  • Respond well to the question
  • Advance current thinking on rural transport
  • Focus on rural rather than urban transport
  • Address issues of poverty reduction and sustainable development
  • Take a practical/implementation-oriented perspective



 

Click here for more information.

 

Date
Source

Email from Juliette Harries to The Communication Initiative on August 18 2010.