The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) , in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, PAFPNET, organised an essay writing contest on “Youth and ICTs in Agriculture and Rural Development”, aimed at identifying innovative solutions on challenges faced by youth in agriculture and rural areas using Information and Communication Technologies.

The essay contest was open to young people, aged 18 - 25 years old, from urban or rural areas of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific countries. Young women, young agricultural producers and students in agricultural training courses were particularly encouraged to participate. Entries were to be submitted in either French or English.

On 13^th October 2010, the Finalists were announced with Maureen Agena, WOUGNET’s Information and Networking Officer being among the best in Eastern Africa .This was what was shared:

“About 180 youth (35% of women) from 34 ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) submitted their analysis and proposals. Participants are students enrolled in communication, economics, data computing, agricultural or other studies, young farmers, young professionals in various sectors. After deliberations, the following candidates (alphabetical order) have been shortlisted as finalists by an international jury.

West Africa:

- Inoussa Traore (Burkina Faso)

- Itodo Samuel Anthony (Nigeria)

Central Africa :

- Dolly Angela Ngandjou Mela (Cameroon)

- Gabriel Dacko Goudjo (Cameroon)

East Africa

- Chris Ngige Mwangi (Kenya)

- Maureen Agena (Uganda)

Southern Africa

- Gerald Musakaruka Mangena (Zimbabwe)

- Isaac Chanda (Zambia)

Caribbean

- Samantha Kaye, Denise Christie (Jamaica)

- Tyrone Christopher Hall (Jamaica)

Pacific

- Riten Gosai Chand (Fiji)

- Ruben Nui (Papua New Guinea)

The jury and organizers warmly congratulate finalists. As specified in the rules of the competition, the winners will be announced after the evaluation of oral presentations of the short-listed essays by their authors in front of the jury. These oral presentations will take place in South Africa on 22 and 23 November 2010, as part of the CTA/NPCA Week events organized by CTA and the NPCA (NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency) from 22 to 26 November 2010. The 6 winners of the contest will be announced on 24 November 2010. One winner per ACP region, and an overall winner, will be selected.

The six regional winners will each receive a sum of Euros 1,000 (Regional Prize), along with other rewards. The overall Winner will be selected from the regional Winners and he/she will receive an additional sum of Euros 500 (ACP Prize). CTA will cover the 12 finalists’ costs for the trip and stay in South Africa. They will take part in one seminar of the CTA/NPCA Week to strengthen their capabilities and interact with other players. CTA and its partners thank and congratulate all participants in the essay contest. Apart from finalists, outstanding participants will have the opportunity, among others, to take part in an Exchange and Training Workshop on Web 2.0 for Development in 2011. The essay contest is one of the activities organized by CTA to commemorate the International Year of Youth established by the United Nations.”