Deadline: 31 March 2024

The call for nominations for the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Award 2024 is now open! Do you know a young leader who has shown exceptional leadership in promoting or defending democracy? Nominate them for the second edition of the Kofi Annan NextGen Prize Democracy .JUST ONE DAY TO GO!

Concept notes: helping to improve your chances of successDate: Thursday 14 March 2024Time: 10:30 to 11:30 GMT Hurry, seats are filling up fast! RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW

The Democracy & Culture Foundation (DCF), in association with the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF), has launched the second edition of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. The prize will be awarded jointly at this year's Athens Democracy Forum (ADF), which will take place in October.

Objectives

• This Award aims to:
  • Recognising exceptional leadership intellectual and/or "in action" demonstrated by a young activist in the defence and promotion of democracy;
  • Provide support to the prize winner, including a year's mentoring with a recognised democracy expert or senior leader;
  • Through appropriate publicity, inspire young people to commit themselves to the advancement of democracy.
• The Prize will highlight actions carried out by young people to:
  • promote genuine participation in decision-making;
  • promote peaceful dialogue on divisive political issues;
  • promote intergenerational exchange on issues related to democracy;
  • give a real voice to people and communities who have traditionally been excluded from decision-making;
  • contribute to or defend the organisation of free and fair elections and their acceptance;
  • protect freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and freedom of expression;
  • garner support for the independence of democratic institutions; or
  • fight for reforms in the public and private sectors to ensure that democracy adapts, develops and survives as the pre-eminent method of government.

Prize information

• The Prize includes a monetary award of 10,000 dollars and is presented annually at the Athens Democracy Forum. The recipient will also be invited to lead the organisation of a session on youth and democracy at the Forum the following year.

Election criteria

• Each year, the call for nominations will be announced publicly and shared directly with around a hundred organisations working to promote democracy or empower young people. Nominees must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of nomination. There are no restrictions in terms of nationality, gender or profession.
• DCF and KAF will receive and filter the nominations to ensure that the candidates meet the requirements. A list of ten nominees will then be submitted to the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will consider the following when deciding on the winner:
  • Impact: The nominee's actions have had a proven result, for example, a change in the politics of a given country, the turnout in elections, the number of people reached through a specific campaign, the number of users of a specific application, the number of students who gain a broader understanding of the importance of the democratic process, the number of community associations involved in an educational campaign, etc.
  • Innovation : The innovative nature of these actions.
  • Sustainability: If the nominee promoted the cause of democracy and human rights for a sustained period of at least one year and whether their actions are sustainable over time and replicable in other contexts;
  • Values: The values displayed by the nominee through their actions.
  • Benefit: The added value that the Prize could bring to the nominee in terms of notoriety and international support.

For more information, visit KAF .