How are the local agricultural sector and rural advisory services coping with COVID-19?

GFRAS has recently conducted a survey on what kind of COVID-19 information our constituency would like us to provide. The absolute top interest lied on understanding the impact of COVID-19 on food value chains, and possible mitigation strategies. We have also seen more than 1,000 unique hits on our COVID-19 website section which shows that this information is in clear demand. 

This is very encouraging and needs a swift response. We, therefore, suggest immediately launching a competition for relevant stories from the field on how the local agricultural sector in general and the rural advisory service, in particular, are coping with COVID-19.

This is part of GFRAS’ response to COVID-19 under LMP requested by IFAD. What we are looking for are novel stories on local solutions that enable the agricultural sector to operate under the current partial or full lock-down of society. We would especially encourage young people to share local success stories.

The competition is very straight forward and will assess those who can, within ten days, write or record the most compelling stories. Suggestions for stories are to be submitted to the regional network either as written text, preferably with pictures, as short videos, or in other ways appropriate for mass communication via a website and social media. The (sub-)regional networks will form the selection committee and will select the winners within 48 hours of the submission deadline, in order to publish and promote the stories while they are still fresh and up to date.

Below are the conditions for participation:

1. Only submissions coming from an LMP involved country will be accepted. 

• Eligible countries are Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, and Malawi.

2. There will be two categories, a general category and a special youth category for people below 30 years of age (verified by ID/passport submission) each with their own contest.

3. Participants can submit entries in the following formats:

• Written text, accompanied by photos: submissions must respect the minimum and maximum requirements of 500 and 700 words, and must be an original work that has not been previously published. Any references made must be credited and noted. Between 2-4 captioned photos illustrating what is written in the text should be included. Not submitting photos will give a lower score. 

• Videos: they must be between 60 and 120 seconds long and not previously published elsewhere. Submissions exceeding 120 seconds (or 2 minutes) may be disqualified. Videos must be uploaded as one single file in the highest quality.

4. One entrant may submit a maximum of three entries: 

• An entry consists of one written text or one video clip, in total in the competition, and must have full copyrights to the submitted material, including photos, sound effects and music if used.

• Competition submissions must not include any endorsements of products or services, or any obscene, violent, racist or defamatory content. 

• Incomplete entries or entries that do not comply with the formal specifications will be automatically disqualified. 

• The copyright of the materials submitted for this competition remains with respective participants. However, each entrant grants GFRAS, YPARD, and its partners the right to use the submitted materials in its environmental communication crediting the copyright owners.

5. Participants can submit in the following languages: English, Spanish, French and Russian  

6. Entries will be judged on:

• Relevance to the competition topic

• Clarity of the message 

• Persuasiveness of the entry 

• Creativity expressed

• Technical ability

7. In each eligible country there will be awarded: 

• A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for general submission. 

• A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for submission by young participants (below 30 years of age, verified by ID/passport submission).

8. Winners will get their contribution published on the GFRAS COVID-19 homepage, on YPARD website, and spread through social media. The selected stories will also be recommended to the local and international press.

9. Winners will be awarded a cash gift in the magnitude of USD 500 for first place USD 250 for second and USD 100 for third place. In compliance with LMP requirements for fund transfer, the winners will be paid by the Country Fora or (Sub-)Regional Networks.

Entries must be submitted via wetransfer.com alongside the name, address, and copy of ID of entrants. For the youth category for people below 30 years of age, entries in this category must copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kindly note the e-mail addresses to refer to for the various eligible countries:

Bangladesh - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AND This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cameroon, Kenya, and Malawi - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AND This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Colombia, Costa Rica, and Grenada - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AND This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Kyrgyzstan - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AND This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.