VENTURES AFRICA  – The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has announced the winners for its Fourth Annual International Youth Essay Competition. The nine winning essays were selected from over 400 entries in three categories: Corruption, Democratic Transitions, and Economically-Sustainable Development. Entries were received from 65 countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Moldova, and Uganda.

Corruption
1st   Chukwunonso Ogbe (Nigeria)
2nd  Riska Mirzalina (Indonesia)
3rd   Ruth Nyambura Kilonzo (Kenya)

Democratic Transitions
1st   Vikas Prakash Joshi (India)
2nd  Kirsten Han (Singapore)
3rd   Judith Aduol Nyamanga (Kenya)

Economically-Sustainable Development
1st   Sarita Sapkota (Nepal)
2nd  Babatunde Oladosu (Nigeria)
3rd   Michael Olumuyiwa Kayode (Nigeria)

Winners were selected by an international panel of judges including CIPE’s partners from business associations, think tanks, and other international development organizations around the world, as well as CIPE staff. CIPE will publish the winning essays as Economic Reform Feature Service articles, and profile winners on the CIPE Development Blog (www.cipe.org/blog) in the coming months.

About CIPE

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and journalists to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include anti-corruption, advocacy, business associations, corporate governance, democratic governance, access to information, the informal sector and property rights, and women and youth.