Deadline:
March 31, 2025
Location(s)
Greece Online
Overview
Details
Awarded each year to a young leader aged between 18 and 30, the aim of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy prize is to recognise exceptional leadership and inspire more young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.
The Context
Democracy is in retreat in many parts of the world, with catastrophic consequences such as the war in Ukraine, the toppling of elected governments in countries in Africa and Asia, and the rise of populist and authoritarian leaders on all continents. Young people have lost faith in the system and express their disillusionment with the capacity of elections to deliver representative and accountable governments, yet most are committed to positive change.
About the Prize
Launched by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Democracy and Culture Foundation, the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize is awarded each year to a young leader aged between 18 and 30 and presented at the Athens Democracy Forum. The aim is to recognise exceptional leadership and inspire more young people to commit to the advancement of democracy. The prize consists of a USD 10,000 award accompanied by a 1-year mentoring programme. An independent judging panel reviews the applications and selects the award recipient.
How to nominate a young leader?
Applications for nominations open in general from mid-January and closed end of March each year. Exact dates will be communicated.
Nominations must come from an organisation, and nominees must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of nomination.
Nominations must include all of the following:
- Completed Submission Form
- A Cover Letter of support (max 500 words)
- Short video testimony from the nominee (2 minutes max, can be shot on a smartphone)
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
What are the criteria for nominating someone?
Nominees must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of nomination. There are no restrictions in terms of nationality, gender, or occupation. The Selection Committee will consider the following when deciding the winner:
- Impact: The nominee’s actions had a demonstrated outcome, for instance, a change in policy in a given country, the rate of participation in elections, the number of people reached through a specific campaign, the number of users of a specific application, the number of students gaining a wider understanding of the importance of the democratic process, the number of community associations engaged in an educational campaign etc.
- Innovation: The innovative character of these actions.
- Sustainability: Whether the nominee has advanced the cause of democracy and human rights for a sustained period of one-year minimum, and whether her/his actions are sustainable over time and replicable in other contexts.
- Values: The values displayed by the Nominee through her/his actions.
- Benefit: The added value the Award could bring to the nominee in terms of international notoriety and support.
Dates
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
What is the prize?
The Prize includes a monetary prize of USD 10,000. The award will be presented at the Athens Democracy Forum, and all travel and accommodation expenses linked to the Awardee’s participation in the Forum will be covered by the organizers. Awardees will be invited to take a leading role in organising a panel session on youth and democracy at the following year’s Forum.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
