Do you have a fresh, interesting, and innovative perspective on improving citizens’ engagement with policymakers? Are you between the ages of 18 and 35? If so, participate in our essay challenge by sending in a written submission in line with the guidelines below.

The Challenge
This challenge is intended to engage citizens, particularly young people, to develop innovative ideas on citizens’ participation and engagement. Interested persons are invited to share their innovative ideas and solutions for: “Improving engagement and connecting policymakers to citizens.”

Innovation: Submissions could be a policy solution, project idea, service or even product (e.g., using technology to engage policymakers). It should demonstrate how it is innovative in approach and how it builds on existing solutions in ways that have not been explored before and/or that address change from a new angle or perspective. It should also address how it takes advantage of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political contexts.

Background and Objectives
Citizens and civil society groups are major stakeholders in policymaking. But often in Nigeria, they are rarely engaged in the process. Public input into the policy-making process is not only a way of conveying citizens’ expectations to the government but also an opportunity for sharing of expertise, knowledge perspectives, solutions, research findings etc. on policy issues with policymakers. Unfortunately, in a country like Nigeria where policymaking is not inclusive and heavily politicised, participation in policymaking can quickly become tedious and discouraging especially for young people. This essay contest aims to spur conversation on innovative strategies that can be used particularly young people, to improve citizens’ engagement with policymakers.

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35.

How to Apply
Submissions should be written entries made via email to:
essaycontest@placng.org with “Policy Engagement Challenge” as the subject.
Submissions should be between 500 and 1,000 words and should be typewritten on Microsoft Word using Arial font 12 points, 1.5 spacing with justified margins.
It should be labelled properly indicating the full name of the applicant. The entry should also contain the email address and phone number of the applicant.
A scanned official Identification (ID) showing proof of age should be sent along with the entry.
Each submission will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges.
Compliance with the submission requirements will be strictly reviewed along with the content and innovativeness of the essay.
Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Benefits for the top 3 finalists

• Shortlisting to interview for the next PLAC Legislative Internship Programme (Please note that the age ceiling for this internship is 35 years).
• Policy advocacy orientation session with PLAC and free copies of relevant publications.
• Online publication of the innovative idea.

Note: The winning entry will get a National Newspaper publication of their submission and automatic placement in the Legislative Internship.

The deadline for submission is 15th November 2021 no later than 12:00 midnight West Africa Time (WAT).