Call for applications by the The World Justice Challenge for young changemakers ($20,000 Award)

The 2024 World Justice Challenge for young changemakers, themed “The Rule of Law Foundation of Democracy,” has been announced by the World Justice Project. This Challenge aims to recognize, promote, and support individuals who are implementing effective strategies to strengthen the rule of law, reverse autocracy, and rebuild trust in democratic governance.

There are several categories in which awards will be given:

1. Ensuring that electoral processes and transitions of government power are governed by the law.
2. Building citizen trust in justice institutions and ensuring that justice systems are independent, impartial, accountable, transparent, and ethical.
3. Protecting free media and establishing a robust and reliable information ecosystem in the face of challenges brought by technological advancements in the 21st century.
4. Strengthening young people’s engagement with and commitment to the rule of law and democratic processes and institutions.
5. The U.S. Building Trust Prize, which will be awarded to a project from the United States that demonstrates exceptional impact in one or more of the above categories.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the competition, initiatives must address at least one of the issue areas mentioned in the categories.
• The competition is open to applications from any country or territory worldwide, except for the U.S. Building Trust Prize, which is exclusively for United States-based projects.
• The competition is multidisciplinary and welcomes participation from various sectors, including non-profits, social entrepreneurs, media organizations, multilateral organizations, government bodies, businesses, bar associations, law firms, foundations, and academics.
• Collaborative entries from multiple organizations are encouraged for the World Justice Challenge 2024.
• It is important to note that all entries must be submitted in English.
• However, please be aware that the evaluation of entries will be based solely on the quality of the project itself, not on the level of English language proficiency or ability.

Evaluation Criteria

Entries will be assessed based on the following factors:
1. Impact: The initiative must have clearly shown its effectiveness in addressing a significant issue related to the rule of law and democracy.
2. Sustainability: The initiative should demonstrate the ability to operate continuously and effectively in the long run.
3. Scaling and/or Replicability: The initiative should have the potential to grow and be implemented in other contexts, such as different regions, populations, or sectors.

Awards

• There are cash awards of $20,000 USD for five initiatives that show promising results and prospects for future progress and replication/scaling.
• WJP will select thirty finalists, who will be featured on WJP’s website and social media to increase visibility and promote the adoption of these promising approaches.
• The five winning initiatives will be chosen through a combination of experienced judges and a network of finalists from previous World Justice Challenge competitions.
• The competition will conclude with an event held alongside the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, USA, from August 3-9, 2024. All finalists will be invited to attend in person to showcase their work and participate in the Challenge awards ceremony.
• Furthermore, all finalists will have the opportunity to join the World Justice Challenge Alumni Network, which provides ongoing networking, partnership, visibility, and learning opportunities to support their work.
• For details visit Official Website of the World Justice Challenge 2024. Deadline:  January 31, 2024