Call for Senior Fellow Contributions on UN Summit of the Future 2024

We are interested in innovative, creative ideas. A few additional interdisciplinary thematic frameworks around the 5 Summit Areas* to keep in mind may include, but are not limited to:

1. Sustainable Development and Financing for Development with a Focus on Democracy and Human Rights: Explore sustainable development goals, financing mechanisms, and the pivotal role of education in fostering democratic values, human rights awareness, and inclusive citizenship while combating inequities and discrimination against historically marginalized and minorities communities.

2. International Peace and Security Anchored in Pluralism and Human Rights: Provide insights into peace building, conflict resolution, and the promotion of pluralistic societies through educational initiatives that uphold human rights, promote restorative justice, and resist discrimination and resistance to diversity.

3. Science, Technology, and Innovation for Digital Cooperation and Democratic Engagement: Examine the impact of technology and innovation on advancing human rights protections, digital democracy, and civic engagement while promoting pluralism, equity, accessibility, and inclusive digital cooperation.

4. Youth and Future Generations Empowered through Education and Global Citizenship: Discuss strategies for empowering youth as agents of change through education, promoting active citizenship, education, and fostering intercultural dialogue to uphold pluralism and human rights and mitigate polarization and fractures in society that threaten social cohesion.

5. Transforming Global Governance for Inclusive Democracy and Human Rights: Propose ideas for improving global governance structures to promote democracy, protect human rights, and ensure pluralistic representation at all levels of decision-making, with a focus on education as a catalyst for transformation and combating anti-democratic forces, extremism, violence, and the manipulation of truth.

*More details on the Summit topics can be found here.

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this before submitting your proposal. We are happy to speak to you about your idea and give you advice about your proposal. You can email j.pottle@humanityinaction.org.

• We welcome original essays, policy briefs, commentaries, and research papers related to the summit themes (word limit: 1500 words).
• Submissions should be in English and formatted according to academic or professional standards.
• Please submit your entry via the following form here by 7 July 2024.
• Include a brief bio (100 words), contact information, and a title for your submission.
• Selected contributions might be published on our website, shared with our network of academics, activists, educators, policymakers, and more, and distributed across our platforms and various communication channels.
• All rights to the published materials, excluding our publishing rights, will remain with the author.
• Submissions will be reviewed by a panel based on creativity, relevance, clarity, feasibility, and impact. Please see the scorecard below.
• Finalists will be chosen for publication and winners selected based on the panel’s recommendations. Please see Expectations for selected pieces and winners below.

Review Committee Scorecard for Writing Competition | Criteria:

1. Relevance to Theme (5 points):
   • How well does the submission address the competition theme?
   • Does the submission provide new insights or perspectives related to the UN Summit topics?
2. Creativity and Innovation (5 points):
   • Does the submission demonstrate creative thinking or innovative approaches?
   • Are the ideas presented original and engaging?
3. Clarity and Structure (5 points):
   • Is the submission well-organized and easy to follow?
   • Are the key points communicated clearly and effectively?
4. Depth of Analysis (5 points):
   • Does the submission provide a thorough analysis or exploration of the topic?
   • Are arguments supported by evidence or examples?
5. Feasibility and Practicality (5 points):
   • Are the proposals or ideas presented feasible in real-world settings?
   • Are there practical suggestions or recommendations included?
6. Impact and Relevance (5 points):
   • What potential impact could the submission have on addressing global challenges or advancing international cooperation?
   • How relevant is the submission to current discussions on inclusive democracy, sustainable development, peace and security, technology, youth engagement, or global governance?

Overall Impression (5 points):

• What is your overall impression of the submission?
• Does the submission stand out in terms of quality, significance, or potential impact?

Total Score (35 points):

• Scores will be totalled based on the above criteria to determine finalists and winners.

• Opportunity to contribute to global discussions on critical issues impacting education, democracy, and human rights.
• Visibility and recognition within the international academic, activist, and advocacy community.
• Engage in dialogue and networking opportunities with fellow contributors and experts.
• Selected authors may be invited to participate in a virtual roundtable and Q&A with the Humanity in Action network following the UN Summit for the Future.
• Up to 3 prizes of USD 500 each will be awarded.

Expectations for Finalists and Winners include:

1. Feature Across Organization’s Platforms:
   • Finalists and winners may be featured across the organization’s website, social media channels (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), and other relevant publications and platforms.
   • By submitting their entries, finalists and winners grant permission for their work to be published and shared on the organization’s platforms, with appropriate credit given to the authors.
2. Adherence to Selection Criteria:
   • Finalists and winners must adhere to the selection criteria outlined for the competition, including:
     • Relevance to the competition theme and UN Summit topics.
     • Creativity and innovation in their submissions.
     • Clarity, impact, and depth of analysis.
     • Feasibility and practicality of proposals or ideas.
     • Overall quality and potential impact on addressing global challenges.
3. Engagement and Promotion:
   • Finalists and winners are encouraged to actively engage with the organization’s audience, respond to comments or inquiries, and promote their featured work within their networks.
4. Professional Conduct:
   • Finalists and winners are expected to maintain professional conduct and uphold the values and mission of the organization in their interactions and communications related to the competition and their featured work.
5. Continuous Collaboration:
   • Finalists and winners may be invited to participate in future events, discussions, or collaborations with the organization, contributing their expertise and insights on relevant topics.

Yes, you are very welcome to apply. If you are in doubt, please contact us at j.pottle@humanityinaction.org.

No, unfortunately, this opportunity is limited only to current Fellows and alumni of the organization, i.e. past participants of the Humanity in Action Fellowship or other Professional Fellowships that we offered. 

You meet the eligibility criteria. However, it’s important to note that by participating, you must consent to the public disclosure of your name and title. Any associated concerns or issues will need to be addressed on your end.