This post originally appeared on the GFAR Website.
This post originally appeared on the GFAR Website.
We, at GFAR and CGIAR, are committed to integrate, stimulate and mentor the involvement of youth in all of our collective programs. At GCARD3, the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, we are taking any opportunity to live up to that commitment.
We want to use the upcoming GCARD3 global event to pilot a number of innovative projects and approaches. One of these projects is “YAP”, the Youth Agripreneurs Project. “YAP” is a pilot project targeting young agricultural entrepreneurs or “agripreneurs”.
Within “YAP” we want to select young agripreneurs from all over the world, and provide a seed fund to facilitate the startup of their project. During one year, we will mentor these young agripreneurs within their project, linking them with seasoned researchers and practitioners, by integrating them in the YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) mentoring program. We also want to train them on new ways to advocate and network using innovative communication tools.
We are now ready to accept submissions from you, the young agripreneurs from all over the world. Here are the details how you can apply to be one of our “YAP champions”:
What do we offer our “YAP champions”?
- We will provide a US$5000 grant, allocated in 3 tranches over one year;
- We will fund your travel and accommodation to attend the #GCARD3 global event in Johannesburg (South Africa) and integrate you into the panel discussions;
- At #GCARD3, we will integrate you into a two days mentor-ship program, to initiate you into the ins-and-outs of agripreneurship, linking you up with your mentor(s), and assist you to make your project a success;
- We offer you three days of social media training, as we firmly believe that using online tools is a key factor to bring your project to a success;
- We will integrate you into the YPARD mentoring program;
- We will assist and mentor you during one year, to bring your project to a success.
How can you apply to become a “YAP champion”?
It is simple. And complex.
“Simple”, as a YAP application is just one email. But it is also “complex”, as in one email, you need to condense everything you’ve got! :-)
You need to submit one application blogpost, which will be published on the GFAR blog.
What should your application consist of?
If you want to apply to the “YAP” program, you will need to submit a blogpost. Here are the critical elements you should include in your blopost:
- WHO: Describe your background: “who are you?” – include your age, as the applications are restricted to those younger than 39 yrs at the time of submission;
- WHAT: Describe your project: What do you want to do? How do you want to do it?. Your proposal has to be agri-related (see details below). Show it is realistic and sustainable. We’d also like to know if your project has a socio-economic impact on your community;
- WHY: What motivates you to do the project you submit? What are the gains for you and your community?;
- HOW: List the steps you intend to take to achieve your goal, leading to the success of your project;
- Describe what have you done already to get your project started, until now, either alone or with help;
- Describe the actual measurable success factors for your project: How do you measure your success?
- How do you plan to use the US$5000 grant? Define a budget of at least five line-items, and a time frame.
- Submit your proposal in the form of a blogpost to p.casier(at)cgiar.org. We will confirm your submission, and send you the link to your submission blogpost by email.
What should your submission look like?
- Your submission should be a blogpost of 1-2 pages. The blogpost should be in a story-telling format i.e.: no list of bullet points, Check out some tips on how to write a good blogpost;
- Your text should be submitted as attachment to an email, and be written in MS Word or any other text editor;
- The submission can be in English, French, or Spanish;
- Don’t use any fancy structuring in your text (e.g. no tables or columns);
- You can submit either up to two pictures, or one video and a picture, introducing your project. You should hold the copyright for the pictures/video, or have a formal permission to use the picture(s) or video. Include picture credentials in your submission blogpost;
- Pictures/video should be attached to your submission email. We also accept links to videos you have uploaded on YouTube or Vimeo e.g. Do NOT include the picture in your text, but send them as separate attachments to your email.
- Your submission should be emailed to p.casier(at)cgiar.org.
Which projects are eligible for “YAP”?
- The projects have to be related to the agriculture supply chain: input (seeds or fertilizer, tools,…) or production (crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, agro-forestry,..), value-added services (such as processing or storage), market access,…;
- The US$5000 seed funding by itself has to make a difference in your project: e.g. we don’t want projects where you have to wait for another $20,000 to come in before you can start;
- Your project has to be practical, realistic and hands-on;
- Your project has to show self-sustainability. e.g. no repeated financial investment is needed, and it has to be be eco-sustainable (let’s not ruin the earth while trying to feed the planet);
- Your project should show concrete results within one year;
- We prefer projects which have a direct impact on rural areas;
- The agripreneurs have to be younger than 39, at the time of their submission;
- We do accept “group submissions”, e.g. projects run by a group, an organisation, institute or from a small company (with an annual turnover of less than US$50,000). The proposal has to be submitted by the person who would be the project coordinator, and will be the mentee in our project;
- We accept up to two project proposals per person.
OK, I get it, so this is like a competition?
Yes, each YAP project submission will be an individual post on our blog. The winners will be determined in two steps:
First selection? Public voting!
The first selection of the top ten projects will be based on the appreciation of your entry by the online public. We will pick the top submissions, based on:
- How many “Likes” the post gets: How many people clicked on the “Like” button below the post;
- How many comments each blogpost gets: We encourage “dialogue” and we would like every blogpost to be an opportunity for the online public to exchange views and feedback about the project you describe;
- How many times your blogpost was viewed.
The first selection score will be calculated with the formula:
First selection score = (5 * #comments) + (2 * #likes) + (#views)
Please note:
- One can only “Like” a post if you have a wordpress.com account;
- Submitted comments are not published immediately: to avoid spam, we manually screen the comments before releasing them. We release comments at least once a day. So, monitor comments on your submission blog regularly, and post your replies.
The final selection:
Based on the public voting formula, a panel of judges (judges to be announced later) will give a final score on the top submissions, which will determine the finalists. The panel will consist of scientists, communications specialists and experts in sustainable development.
They will, individually, score each blog entry based on the project or initiative you presented (originality, impact, sustainability…) and the way you presented the project in a blogpost. We will total the individual judges’ score to make the final score.
Timeline
- We accept your online submission from now, until March 9th (midnight CET). Submit your proposals to p.casier(at)cgiar.org . Once we receive your submission, we will sent you an email to acknowledge your submission. Once your submission is online, we will send you the link, so you can promote it within your network;
- The online voting will start once your submission is online, until March 13th midnight CET;
- The online voting will determine the 20 most popular projects;
- The jury will make the final selection by March 14th;
On March 15th, we will inform you, if you are selected. From then, we will work with you on the logistics to get you to #GCARD3 Global Conference.
The conditions
By submitting your proposal,…
- You allow us to publish the blogpost, video and pictures on our blog;
- You agree to come to The Global #GCARD3 consultation in South Africa;
- You agree to write a bi-monthly follow-up blogpost to be published on the GFAR blog;
- You agree to write a short wrap-up blogpost after one year, describing the concrete outcomes of your project, and how the seed funds have been spent;
- You will moderate the comments on your submission blogpost(s), by replying to incoming comments, questions, suggestions…
Background:
CGIAR (the Global Agricultural Research Partnership) and GFAR (the Global Forum on Agricultural Research) co-organize the global event of GCARD3 (the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development) in April 2016. This event will be held in Johannesburg, co-hosted by the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa.
The “YAP” program is run in cooperation with YPARD (the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) who manages the mentoring program. Together we aim to fully integrate youth in the whole GCARD3 process and to showcase their crucial role in the future of agriculture.
Current “YAP” funders include:
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Agripolis Foundation.
We are still seeking additional funders. If you want to co-fund this exciting project, contact Fiona Chandler – fiona.chandler(at)fao.org
Details for YAP funders, you can find in this blogpost