International Aid Transparency Initiative

| October 30, 2018

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are inviting young journalists around the world to submit stories focused on transparency in international. This is part of a research and writing competition called the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) research challenge. Participants should report on a country’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and its management of development funds.

Stories should address the question: “How are aid and other external resources being used to achieve sustainable development – based on data published to the International Aid Transparency Initiative.”

This competition is open to youth aged 15 to 25. Journalists can apply by submitting a 700-1,000 word article that uses IATI data as well as data obtained by using the country’s national access to information laws. The essays should be submitted to: iati-challenge@undp.org

Articles must be written in English. Deadline to apply is Dec. 20.

Prizes include a laptop or tablet as well as publication of the winning essay(s) on the IATI and UNESCO websites.

For more information, go to: https://iatistandard.org/en/events/iati-research-challenge-for-journalists-/

SciDev.Net has published a practical guide about reporting on international aid and development that offers tips on this type of reporting, particularly in the scientific field. Among other things, it encourages journalists to go beyond announcements and follow up on results. It also suggests that journalists ask who is involved, not just who benefits, and other tough questions. Read the practical guide here: https://www.scidev.net/global/journalism/practical-guide/how-to-report-on-foreign-aid-for-science.html