Application Deadline: 31st May 2025.

Applications are now open for the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay Competition. In 1996 the Council of Ministers approved the established of the annual SADC Secondary School Essay Competition to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the Region. The SADC Secretariat is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay Competition.

ELIGIBILITY

• All secondary school going students from all 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States are welcome to participate in the Competition.

TOPIC

In 1980 the SADC Founders o cially formed the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), in Lusaka, Zambia which was later transformed into SADC on 17th August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia. Since its inception SADC has demonstrated unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and security in the region through adoption of several instruments aimed at ensuring peace and stability, as preconditions for socio-economic development.

The topic for the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay competition is;

“How can innovation enhance SADC industrialisation and sustainable economic growth and development?”

The topic is derived from the theme of the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in the Republic of Zimbabwe, Harare on 17th August 2024, which is;“ Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC”. The theme seeks to recognise that innovation is a fundamental instrument with signi cant potential to drive priority sectors of manufacturing, mineral bene ciation and agro-processing to enhance industrialisation and economic growth of the SADC region.

Submission Instructions

• The essay must contain a maximum of 1000 words and a minimum of 900 words in English, and a maximum of 1200 words and a minimum of 1100 words in French and Portuguese.
• Essays that do not comply with the permissible number of words will not be considered.
• A complete word count must be provided at the end of the essay. Learners must provide references for their work where necessary; however, references do not contribute towards the word count of the entry.
• The preferred format of citation is APA.
• To facilitate simple sequencing, each answer must be accompanied by the question at the top.
• Learners are cautioned against using the bullet point format for their work.
• ALL entries must be typed and submit in electronic version in Microsoft Word and and in hard copies.
• Entrants should sign and initial each page of the hard copy document to make sure that they have not been altered.
• All essays entering the competition should be in one of the SADC working languages, i.e. English, Portuguese and French.

Winner and Prize

The winning entry will receive a once o prize money which will cover the outright payment of the Intellectual Property Rights of the essay. The monetary prize will be accompanied by a certi cate signed by the SADC Chairperson.

The prizes at regional level are as follows;

• 1st prize = USD1500
• 2rd Prize = USD1000
• 3rd Prize = USD750
• the top 10 winners will all receive certi cates signed by the SADC Executive Secretary. The top three (3) winners travel to the Member States hosting the SADC Summit to receive their prizes during the o cial opening ceremony.

  The prizes at national level are as follows;

• 1st prize = USD500
• 2rd Prize = USD300
• 3rd Prize = USD200
• the top 3 winners will all receive certi cates signed by the Minister of Education and the SADC Executive Secretary.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the SADC Secondary School Essay Competition