AUDA- NEPAD Communications Unit will run an African Youth Art Calendar contest from November 16, 2020, to December 15, 2020, to encourage African youth to innovate and be creative in showcasing the mandate of the AUDA-NEPAD as tied to the Agenda 2063 Vision.

The Youth will be encouraged to capture in photographic or art illustrative format, the success stories of Agenda 2063 implementation and the vision thereof. The contributors will be expected to be innovative and creative in presenting in art format, the images will be used in the AUDA-NEPAD Calendar for 2021.

The contest will be tied to the theme, “Arts, Culture and Heritage for The Africa We Want” and will specifically focus on Youth participation in the context of the AU 2021 theme.

• The main aim is to harness and encourage innovation among the Youth of Africa by tapping into their creative talent.

• To create awareness around the Agenda 2063 Vision and the role of the AUDA-NEPAD in implementing this vision.

• It is expected that the competition will generate increased traffic to the AUDA-NEPAD via its website and other partner platforms thus deepening and expanding the knowledge of AUDA-NEPAD and its collaboration with partners, especially in implementing the Agenda 2063 vision.

• To involve youth in ‘telling’ the AUDA-NEPAD and Agenda 2063 success stories through graphical and art illustrations.

• Original photos and graphical art demonstrations are expected to be creative, innovative, and interpretive of the AUDA-NEPAD role in the implementation of Agenda 2063.

• Submissions should refer to the broader theme of “Arts, Culture, and Heritage for the Africa We Want.”

• Entries shall be accepted from (November 16, 2020) at midnight (CAT) until (December 5, 2021).  Entries received after that date shall not be considered.

• The contest is open to all African youth aged 13 to 35. Entrants are responsible for ensuring that their submission complies with the legal requirements of their country.

• Photos and art illustrations must have been captured or created in the past six months

• The entry is free of charge.

• All entries not respecting the theme or the technical/authorship requirements set out below will be systematically ruled out.

• Staff members, including immediate family members, working for AUDA-NEPAD, African Union, African Union organs, and including other partners and sponsors of this competition are not qualified to participate in the contest.

• There shall be TWO categories of contestants – Photography and Art illustration

• Contestants can enter only one photo or art illustration be a landscape  ( Horizontal) image for purposes of the design, layout, and printing of the Calendar

• Only images not yet published may be submitted.

• Each image that is uploaded or sent should include the following information: Full name of content; location of photo/ art illustration; date photo/ art illustration was taken/produced; include a caption of the photo/ art illustration, and the full name of the person/people in the photo, if available.

• The information must be repeated on the entry form.

• Photos and art illustrations entered will not be returned to contestants.

• Only digital photos and art illustrations, in colour and black-and-white, will be accepted.

• Digital submissions should be a minimum size of 3,000 pixels in length at 300 dpi non-interpolated (approximately a 20-meg file when opened in Photoshop).

• File sizes of 1MB and over are also acceptable but not ideal especially since winning submissions will be part of an exhibition.

• Files can be submitted in the following formats: JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

• No photo or art illustration should be digitally altered or enhanced except for basic cropping or colour correction. The content and context of the image should in no way be altered or enhanced.

• Judging will be anonymous.

• All entries will be judged by a five-member panel and the panel will announce its decisions on December 20, 2021

• Decisions of the judges are final and binding and no negotiations may be entered into.

• The first prize for the Photography and Art illustration category shall be electronic gadgets to the value of USD 1,500.

• The second prize for the Photography and Art illustration category shall be electronic gadgets to the value of USD 1,000.

• The third prize for the Photography and Art illustration category shall be electronic gadgets to the value of USD 500.

• Photos submitted for the contest should as far as possible include the names and contact information of all people shown therein. Minors - meaning children under the age of 18 years - should have the signed approval of their parent(s) or guardian(s) before being photographed. Photographers must attach the signed release form from the parent(s) or guardian(s) with their entries. This form will be provided on the website and other platforms when the contest is advertised.

• Alternatively, photographers should submit a declaration bearing responsibility for the subject and subject matter in the photos.

• The copyright of submitted and winning photos will be owned by the participating photographers. The winning photos owned by AUDA-NEPAD and partners for usage are restricted to the promotion, publicity, news, informational education, or awareness usage relating to the AUDA-NEPAD and partners. Contest photographers will be able to use their photos, which they retain the copyright to, in their print and online portfolios. They will be identified as the authors of the photos.

• The top 12 submissions (6 photography and 6 art illustration) will be used as the images of the AUDA-NEPAD 2021 Calendar.

• The top 20 images will be exhibited on the sideline of the Annual Agenda 2063 Media and Youth Engagement session with the AUDA-NEPAD CEO.

At the time of entry, entrants are deemed to have read, understood, and be in agreement with all rules and conditions. The AUDA- NEPAD Agency reserves the right to rule on any issue(s) not covered by these rules and disclaimers. If an entrant should disagree with any decision made that entrant will have the right to withdraw his or her entry. All related expenses incurred shall be borne solely by the entrant.

If the efficiency, security, selection procedure, fairness of the contest or any related operations are deemed to have been compromised by forces beyond the control of AUDA- NEPAD -such as but not limited to troubles relating to computer networks computer virus infections or unauthorized computer access then the receipt of some or all entries via the Internet may be postponed or discontinued.

• Entrants are entirely responsible for all entry-related costs, including but not limited to purchase or renting of equipment, use of computer systems, transmission fees, etc.

• Winners will be entirely responsible for any taxes or charges related to the receipt of any prize.

• The decisions of the judges are final. No correspondence will be entered into Indemnity

• AUDA-NEPAD is not responsible for any damage or loss that may occur during the sending of entries via the Internet.

• AUDA-NEPAD is not responsible for any problems or damages experienced by the entrant due to forces beyond the control of the Agency, such as but not limited to troubles relating to computer networks, computer virus infections, or unauthorized computer access.

• Entrants must possess the exclusive rights to each entered work and are responsible for having obtained any necessary permission relating to the subject/subject matter.AUDA- NEPAD will not be responsible for any claims or complaints against infringement of rights or damages from third parties relating to the subject/subject matter of entries, and the entrant agrees to indemnify and hold NEPAD harmless in such cases.

• A photograph or art illustration which displays an identified or identifiable person may infringe on such a person's right to privacy or may disclose such person's personal information. Entrants shall use due care to avoid any infringement of personal rights including but not limited to obtaining necessary permission from such person.