2025 Nelson Mandela Essay Prize Competition

Essay Themes

Essays should focus on one or more of the following priority areas, presenting specific, actionable proposals:

Climate change resilience: e.g., Developing policy frameworks to ensure equitable access to climate adaptation technologies for vulnerable African communities.

Economic empowerment: e.g., Designing microfinance models that address regulatory capture and promote democratic economic participation in rural areas.

Healthcare systems: e.g., Proposing reforms to intellectual property laws to improve access to essential medicines in underserved African regions.

Education: e.g., Creating programs to educate youth on global governance structures and encourage civic engagement in international policy-making.

Digital transformation: e.g., Analyzing the impact of trade agreements on digital inclusion and proposing more balanced policies for technology transfer to African nations.

Gender equality: e.g., Researching the effects of austerity measures on women’s economic participation and advocating for gender-responsive economic policies.

Peace and security: e.g., Developing strategies to address forced migration and statelessness as drivers of conflict in African regions.

Eligibility and Submission

• Open to citizens of African countries without a PhD degree
• Joint submissions by two eligible authors are accepted
• Submit essays to mandelaprize@academicsstand.org by March 21, 2025
• Include university or organization affiliation and essay title in the email
• Ensure the essay is anonymized for blind review

This competition offers a unique opportunity for young African thinkers to contribute to global efforts on poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and economic progress. We encourage all eligible scholars to participate and share their innovative ideas for addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges in the global context.