[Kictanet] Fwd: CIPESA Commentary writing competition: publication plus $100 cash prize

[Brian Longwe]

Begin forwarded message:

>
>
> Commentary Writing Competition
> A competition to support writers and encourage reflection on  
> international
> ICT policies that affect East and Southern Africa
>
> COLLABORATION ON INTERNATIONAL ICT POLICY FOR EAST & SOUTHERN  
> AFRICA (CIPESA)
> --------------------------------------------
>
> CIPESA commentaries are short informative articles or essays on  
> current
> issues affecting East and Southern African stakeholders. They focus
> specifically on international policy-making processes related to
> information and communications technology (ICT), and the use of ICT  
> for
> poverty reduction. Commentaries present basic facts, explain points of
> tension, and highlight areas of concern, and they stir discussion by
> presenting strong views and raising provocative questions. The  
> objective is
> to spark thinking and dialog around the topic, rather than just to  
> present
> expert opinions in an authoritative way. Commentaries are  
> disseminated via
> the CIPESA website and our Stakeholders email list, and
> readers are encouraged to respond to the points raised by submitting
> comments that are also published.
>
> COMMENTARY WRITING COMPETITION
> We are holding this writing competition to spur writers from the  
> East and
> Southern African region to share their perspectives on the issues and
> initiate discussion and debate.
>
> =>  Eligible participants must be from countries that fall within the
> CIPESA mandate (see list below).
> =>  Participants are invited to submit 2-3 page articles on one of the
> themes listed below.
> =>  Our panel of judges will select 5 winners.
> =>  The winning articles will be edited by a CIPESA staff member  
> who will
> work with each author to fine-tune the piece, and the final  
> commentary will
> be published on the CIPESA website and newslist by the end of the  
> year.
> =>  In addition to publication, the 5 winners will receive a $100  
> cash prize.
>
> Deadline for submissions is 15 October 2005.
> Winners will be announced 30 October 2005.
>
> PARAMETERS FOR SUBMISSIONS
> Themes to choose from:
> *  Interconnection costs for telecommunications and Internet
> *  Intellectual property rights
> *  Harmonization of e-government strategies in view of regional blocks
> (such as the East African Community or Southern Africa Development
> Cooperation)
> *  Trade agreements and ICT in the context of the World Trade  
> Organization
>
> CIPESA countries include: Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya,
> Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda,
> Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,  
> Zambia,
> Zimbabwe
>
> The following tips can greatly increase your article's chances of  
> winning:
> *  Use a catchy title that frames the main point or question of  
> your article
> *  Make the first paragraph a good summary of the rest of the article
> *  Explain the background to the issues before launching into  
> opinions on
> them
> *  Include appropriate references to the work or opinions of others  
> that
> have informed your views
> *  Describe points of controversy or disagreement
> *  Raise unresolved questions
> *  Try not to write in the first-person voice using "I" or "we"
>
> The criteria we will use for judging winners:
> *  Issue has a direct impact on East and Southern Africa stakeholders
> *  Issue is relevant to the field of information and communications
> technology policy
> *  Issue is timely and falls within the context of the designated  
> themes
> *  Article has an international dimension
> *  Argument is presented well with flow from one point to the next
> *  Grammar and writing style is appropriate to a commentary format
>
> To submit commentaries or for more information contact:
> Vincent Waiswa Bagiire
> Email: vincent at cipesa.org
>
> The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East & Southern  
> Africa
> (CIPESA) is an initiative to help Africans to better understand the
> policy-making processes that affect them, especially in the area of  
> ICT and
> development. Our objectives are to raise awareness about key issues,
> provide useful information to assist African participation in
> policy-making, and stir debate by sparking discussion and convening
> productive gatherings. Decision-making related to the use of ICT for
> poverty reduction is a primary area of interest.
>
> CIPESA was established under the Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa
> (CATIA) initiative, funded by the UK Department for International
> Development. CIPESA is a program of bridges.org.
>
> For more information see www.cipesa.org.
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East & Southern  
> Africa (CIPESA)
> Plot 30, Bukoto Street, Kamwokya, P.O. Box 26970 Kampala - Uganda
> Tel: +256 31 280073, +256 41 533057, +256 41 533054, Website:  
> www.cipesa.org
>
>