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SADC Secretariat is calling for submissions of essay entries from active tertiary institution going learners. The wordings of the think piece and content should aim at promoting the role played by the Founders of SADC taking into account the prevailing peace and security which contributes to the SADC’s Objectives and Common Agenda.
ELIGIBILITY:
All active tertiary institution-going learners from all 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States are welcome to participate in the competition.
TOPIC:
The topic of the competition is “Compare and contrast the challenges faced by the SADC founders in the 20th century against the current challenges. Which lesson(s) from the SADC Founders would you advise or adapt to address today’s regional dilemma(s)?
MARKING GUIDELINES:
The set of questions below are meant to guide entrants in constructing their essay accordingly. In answering the research question above, tertiary students should ensure that they address the sub-questions listed below in their essays:
Historical Context:
What were the major political, economic, and social challenges faced by the founders of the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), later SADC during its
formation in the late 20th century, particularly in the context of colonialism and apartheid-era regional dynamics? (1000 words, 25 points)
Institutional Resilience:
In what ways has SADC evolved institutionally and politically to address modern regional dilemmas, and how does this reflect or diverge from the founding vision of regional self-reliance and solidarity? (1000 words, 25 points)
Lessons from the Founders:
What core lessons or principles from the SADC founders, such as regional integration, economic cooperation, and political independence and tolerancy remain relevant and applicable in addressing today’s regional challenges? (1000 words, 25 points)
Policy Implications:
How can SADC adapt the founders’ legacy and values to strengthen regional integration, peace, and sustainable development in the face of 21st-century pressures such as globalization, digital transformation, and shifting geopolitical interests? (1000 words, 25 points).
Judging criteria are as follows:
Uniqueness - unique in its genre or create something entirely new, exciting, original material that stands out from the pack.
Creativity – Creation of new dimension, twist to a style of writing and great new spin.
Communication – Communicating positive message of the region, with brilliance, creativity and imagination in use of words.
The brief - The essay type, subject and content focus, word limit and any other set requirements in conformity to the guidelines
Knowledge and understanding - Assessing how well one has understood the question and how much they know and articulate the subject matter, and see breadth and depth of knowledge.
Argument and critical thinking - This is an area to give attention to convincing the reader of your argument, and how one uses information to tell the story or make your particular point.
Use of sources – This examines all type and range of sources used in the construction of your essay to demonstrate analysis beyond any core texts to include current, respectable works, and maybe even discuss controversial ones.
Style and presentation - This is how one manages to package substance and content, e.g. such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence construction, etc.
Note: The essay should not depict violence, sexually explicit language, or substance abuse, profanity by substituting symbols or words, and should be overly sensitive on matters of race, culture, tribe, religion and freedom of association.
Competition rules and guidelines
The entrants’ work should not have been published/broadcast by a registered and/or authorized broadcast company, newspaper, blogs, radio station, television station or agency or carried on an online of a registered and/or authorized agency in any of the SADC Member States.
The competition will only accept one (1) submission per writer and is open to all registered tertiary School learners with a valid Student ID.
All writers/candidates who are SADC nationals may enter the competition, except those in institutions contracted by SADC, subsidiaries of SADC and the SADC Secretariat staff.
All essays entering the competition should be in one of the SADC working languages, i.e. English, Portuguese and/or French. However, the writer can use some inserts in any national indigenous language of the SADC Region, but provide translation in the glossary.
The tone/composition of the essay must be reflective of the SADC region; and relate to the people and culture of its inhabitants.
Entries will be initially screened and judged by the Ministries of Education in all respective SADC Member States which will consequently submit the top three (3) essays per Member State to SADC Secretariat for adjudication at regional level and selection of the top three (3) overall winners.
Entry through adjudication by the three (3) selected SADC panelists/judges, and the decision of the Secretariat shall be final.
Entries from lecturers/ tutors and employees of tertiary schools will not be accepted, and shall not be entered for adjudication.
The use of Artificial Intelligence is strictly forbidden. Entries that have utilised Artificial Intelligence will be disqualified.
In a spirit of fairness, all past winners are urged not to participate. The SADC Secretariat reserves the right not to award a prize in any of the essay if the entries do not satisfactorily meet the competition requirements.
WINNER AND PRIZE
The winning entry will receive a once off prize money which will cover the outright payment of the Intellectual Property Rights of the essay.
The monetary prize will be accompanied by a certificate signed by the SADC Executive Secretary. The prize will be paid directly to the winner in his/her home country through the Secretariat.
The prizes are as follows;
- 1st prize = USD2000
- 2nd Prize = USD1500
- 3rd Prize = USD1000
the top 10 winners will all receive certificates signed by the SADC Executive Secretary.
Announcement of the winners will be done through the SADC website (www.sadc.int) including its social media platforms on 17th August 2026.
The Secretariat reserves the right to use the essay as and when required, and the writer reserves the right to share/ distribute the essay outside the SADC Secretariat sphere without consequences, but will not distort the original content and meaning of the piece. The writer will not claim any future additional royalties or fees for the piece for future use by the Secretariat. The winning entry will remain the property of the SADC Secretariat.
DEADLINE: Submit to Ministry of Higher Education, Botswana by 31st January 2026.
ISSUED BY SADC SECRETARIAT
GABORONE, BOTSWANA
SADC Secretariat,
Plot 54385 New CBD
Private Bag 0095
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: (+267 395 1863)
Fax: (+267 397 2848)
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