“New Models of Development” 2009-2010 SEVEN Fund Essay Competition

Cambridge, MA – April 26, 2009 – The S.E.VEN Fund (SEVEN) is announcing its 2009 - 2010 Student Essay Competition. This year we are seeking essays on inspiring new models of economic development from around the globe. The competition will award one (1) student prize of $10,000. The submission deadline is December 7, 2009 at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST). Winners will be announced on February 7, 2010.

Quick Links:
• Essay Question
• About S.E.VEN
• Questions & Answers
• Important Dates
• Acceptable Use of Prize Monies
• Terms & Conditions
Essay Question
Business journalist Jeff Chu’s article “Rwanda Rising: A New Model of Development” (Fast Company Magazine, April 2009) tells the story of how the African nation of Rwanda is pioneering a new model of economic development that has broken existing paradigms and subverts traditional dynamics where rich donors parentalize the poor, and where development solutions are top-down, driven by sentimentality, and ultimately ineffective.

Chu describes Rwanda’s model of development as placing the locus of responsibility for peace and prosperity on its own shoulders, using business as a force for positive change, turning mere sympathizers into friends, and benign donors into effective partners and investors. With strong leadership, a clear vision, and a mandate to control its own national economic destiny, Rwanda’s approach requires having not just a heart, but also more importantly, a mind for the poor. The more deeply one explores Rwanda’s model, the clearer it becomes that because all partners derive unique benefits this form of development is sustainable.
The SEVEN Fund is looking for other models like this, at the national, regional, or city levels, where communities and leaders have decided to stimulate human and economic development through a “heretical mix” of business strategy, local wisdom, and mutual benefit. Essay writers are asked to review the article, “Rwanda Rising: A New Model of Development”, and in a similar fashion, tell the story of enterprise solutions to poverty in other places, to highlight where these models are taking root and flourishing around the world.
The winner will be announced on February 7, 2010. The winning essay may be published on SEVEN’s website, or in selected magazines and publications. SEVEN intends to publish a selection of all submitted essays on its website and in other publications. By entering the essay competition, students are understood to give their permission for their essay to be used in that fashion.
About S.E.VEN
Foreign economic aid and government programs have spent billions of dollars during the past five decades to alleviate the high number of people living in poverty. No country has been lifted out of poverty as a result of these efforts, but the mindset remains the same: aid programs are the key to poverty alleviation.
Entrepreneurship, as a solution to eradicate poverty (i.e. a focus on wealth creation rather than poverty reduction via re-distribution), remains controversial because it goes against the prevailing mindset that solutions to public problems are created by the government, rather than from the private sector. The notion of creating wealth is often stigmatized as “exploiting the poor;” and businesspeople in developing nations are sometimes regarded as too self-interested to be a force for positive social change.
There are efforts by international organizations and personalities that aim to correct this, but these efforts often turn into “top-down” and “social engineering” solutions, or into calls for philanthropic donations and handouts, rather than focusing on economic integration, improved productivity, and growth. The prevalent mindset in trying to “solve” the problem of poverty focuses too little on the opportunity these new, vast markets represent as a way to create new producers and consumers; to connect, as Pope John Paul II has said, all people to networks of productivity and exchange.
At the core of the approach to poverty alleviation is the basic question: Are individual persons, no matter where they live, able to determine their own future? Does positive change come from the ingenuity of the individual or does a group of us (well-educated Westerners, primarily) have to tell the rest what to do? The answer to these questions goes to the core of our view of how we see the person, as fatalistic or self-determined, and it determines whether our proposed solution to an issue like poverty involves a “top-down” approach or a “bottom-up” solution. Indeed, to what extent do we rest the locus of responsibility for a person’s future on him or her, or on others, out of their beneficence?
SEVEN is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting rolemodels - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations;
and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private-sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.
The aim of SEVEN Fund programs is to challenge the prevailing mindset in the fight against poverty. We want to stimulate discussion around the questions of whether wealth-creation may be the most effective solution to alleviate poverty. We invest our efforts and resources to discuss, find, research, and document examples where entrepreneurial success is shown to have led to poverty alleviation. In the process, we support entrepreneurs in developing countries with case studies, mentorship programs and publicity and services that help them succeed at what they do.
Questions & Answers
What is the essay question?
“Read the article ‘Rwanda Rising: A New Model of Development” and write an essay about models of economic development anywhere in the world that subvert traditional top-down approaches, and instead use a ‘heretical mix’ of business strategy, local wisdom, culture, and mutual benefit to bring about sustainable economic change at the city, country, or regional level.”
Who can participate in this competition?
The 2009-2010 student essay competition is open to high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students. Students may be in any field of study (including professional fields, such as medical, business, or law). This is a global competition, US citizens, international students, and non-US citizens are welcome to participate. If you are currently in college, you must be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution. If you are a high-school student or in the process of submitting applications to enter or re-enter college, you must have active applications underway and must be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution by the competition’s close date.
Where do I get a paper application?
There is no paper application required for this competition. Essays should be submitted following the instructions in the section below: “How do I submit my essay?”
How do I submit my essay?
Submit your essay electronically in an MS Word or PDF format only, using the submission form on SEVEN’s website. All information requested, including contact information, abstract, and essay should be included in a single document. The url is:
http://www.sevenfund.org/contest-forms/new-model-development.php
Every essay MUST, in addition to the actual essay, include a 100 word abstract at the beginning of the document.
Along with the submission, you MUST include the following information in the submission form, as well as on the first page of your submitted essay:
Your full name and mailing address, a contact telephone number and your academic email.
Your degree-level and field of study.
Your University’s name, official address and main telephone number as well as the name, phone number and email address of someone we may contact at the university (Faculty member, Department Chair, or registrar) to verify that you are enrolled as a full time student.
A brief paragraph biography of the author(s)
Why has SEVEN selected the short essay format for this competition?
We believe that the short essay format is a powerful and underutilized mechanism in development thinking. It is a versatile medium that requires succinct, insightful writing that can be published in multiple venues.
Does SEVEN have a preferred philosophical or scientific agenda?
We see a number of experts who opine about poverty and prosperity: i.e., macroeconomists, businessmen, educators, political scientists, social scientists, etc. We rarely see enough integration, where the experts of one domain borrow insights from another, and attempt to create an even more robust intellectual framework. We intend to foster this kind of integration, at the level of thought leader and practitioner.
Does SEVEN have any guidance to students preparing essays?
Essays should be original works that directly address the topic as outlined. We strongly discourage students from repurposing papers from college courses.
Who qualifies to compete in the SEVEN Fund Student Essay Competition?
Any full time student who studies at an accredited educational institution worldwide or a student who has been confirmed acceptance and matriculation for the following academic year may submit an Essay in English to compete in the SEVEN Fund competition as long as the essay reflects the scope and guidelines stated in the call for essays. The winning student will be required to enter into a contract with SEVEN prior to final award. We welcome applicants from every field of study.
How long should the essay be?
Essays may not exceed 2000 words and must be written in English. Students may write an essay of less than 2000 words. Do not forget that you MUST submit an abstract along with your essay. The abstract can be up to 100 words, and it is not included in the word count for the essay. You may also choose to add references within your essay, though references are not required. Please note that references and bibliographies are also not included in the word count.
What is the abstract?
We ask you to submit, along with your essay, an abstract that states the essence of what your paper is about. This is a very useful process for both the writer and the reader as it forces the writer to concisely state his or her point and it allows the reader to enter the reading of the essay with a better understanding of the idea and subject matter.
Do Undergraduate and Graduate Students compete with each other?
For purposes of this essay competition, all students compete for a single scholarship.
Are there any restrictions on the prize money? What may the prize money be used for?
The prize money is intended for use at an accredited academic institution for the winning student’s education. SEVEN will release the money directly to the educational institution or a student loan provider, not directly to the winning student.
How will essays be judged?
All essays that comply with the call for essay rules will undergo a competitive process of a confidential jury review. Expert SEVEN Fund jurors will evaluate and rank the essays according to the criteria described in the call for essays. The winning authors will be required to enter into a contract with SEVEN prior to final award. The contract gives the SEVEN Fund permission to use the winner’s name, photograph, and a brief biography in communications; including, but not limited to, the SEVEN Fund website, newsletter, press releases, and interview communication related to the competition. It also provides the SEVEN Fund with permission to publish the essay at its discretion, assuring proper credit is given to the author. Additionally, winners agree to be available for interviews with press provided adequate notification (at least 24 hours).
Can I submit multiple essays?
No, each student may only submit one essay.
Can I collaborate with another author?
You may decide to submit an essay together with another student, but the prize money is per essay, not per student. The two (or more) of you would share the prize. SEVEN especially welcomes teams of students from different disciplines, as we believe that integration across domains provides the greatest insight into complex global problems.
What if I am unable to submit my application electronically?
Only applications submitted through this form on our website will be accepted. If you encounter problems, please contact SEVEN at info@sevenfund.org.
How is SEVEN financed?
This call for essays is supported initially by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
What sort of legal organization is SEVEN?
SEVEN is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
How is SEVEN administered and run?
SEVEN is primarily managed by two people, Andreas Widmer and Michael Fairbanks. They are co-directors with different experiences in the high-tech industry and development, respectively. They founded and ran the only venture-backed firm in the USA to focus on selling software and strategic consulting services to developing nations. There is a board of advisors, and a board of directors with vast experience in global markets, advisory work, and enterprise solutions to poverty.
What if I have additional questions?
You may send your questions to info@sevenfund.org.
Important Dates
Inaugural SEVEN Fund Call for Essays: April 26, 2009
Deadline for Essay submission: Midnight Eastern Standard Time, December 7, 2009
SEVEN Fund Essay Award Announcements: February 7, 2010
Acceptable Use of Prize Monies
Full Time Tuition
University/School Housing (only if it is to be paid directly to the University or School)
Payment against Student Loans
Terms & Conditions
The SEVEN Fund has sole and absolute discretion to determine which submission entries, if any, merit an award. The SEVEN Fund reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change, modify, extend or reduce the terms and conditions of, or to suspend or terminate, the competition without prior notice. SEVEN will endeavor to inform participants of any such change, modification, extension, reduction, suspension or termination, as the case may be, through any media outlet deemed appropriate by SEVEN in its sole and absolute discretion. SEVEN further reserves the right to nullify and/or cancel any part or all of the competition if it appears that any fraud or malfunctions have occurred in any form whatsoever. Each participant undertakes to indemnify and keep SEVEN harmless from and against any loss, damage, claims, costs and expenses which may be incurred by or asserted against SEVEN as a result of such participant's participation in the competition.