Applications Invited for UNCCD Land Heroes Challenge 2020

About the Organization:

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa (UNCCD) is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization—the backbone of Good Governance and Sustainable Development.

Become UNCCD Land Heroes Challenge:

The incredible power and deep concern of young people for the climate emergency is evident proven. They have witnessed youth in action during protests and strikes (Fridays for Climate movement is going strong and growing, after nearly 100 weeks) and similar movements are born all around the world, following the same purpose: to ensure a sustainable future for all.

Good land stewardship plays a critical role in achieving international commitments for climate, biodiversity and sustainable development. Effective land management is important to meet all of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Desertification and Drought Day 2020

This year, Desertification and Drought Day focuses on changing public attitudes to the leading driver of desertification and land degradation: humanity’s relentless production and consumption. This year's slogan is "Food. Feed. Fibre.”

As populations become larger, wealthier and more urban, there is far greater pressure on land to provide food, animal feed and fibre for clothing. Meanwhile, the health and productivity of existing arable land are declining, worsened by climate change. This Desertification and Drought Day we want to draw attention to the consumer behaviors as the leading driver of desertification and land degradation. Everyday actions of individual consumers and producers are key to the rapid turnaround that is urgently needed to protect the land, preserve biodiversity and address climate change.

Who can participate:

• The campaign “Become #UNCCDLandHeroes” appeals to the youth (15-30 years old) worldwide. It is a social media campaign “by the youth for the youth” that will trend under #UNCCDLandHeroes and #FoodFeedFibre.
• By entering the contest, you are automatically considered a UNCCD Land Hero.
• Due to the current COVID-19 situation, large gatherings are no longer permitted on the streets and in public spaces. But we still have the possibility, the will and power to create a large virtual crowd standing for land.
• Please read the Application Rules carefully to ensure that you are eligible to apply and that your submission follows the rules.

Ways to participate:

Participants are invited to submit a short text with a photo or video where they propose a specific solution to limit the footprint that our production and consumption of food, feed and fibre leave on the land.

• Examples of individual actions can vary from swapping clothes with friends, composting or using a fabric handkerchief instead of disposable tissues
• Example of existing projects to make a difference can include planting a community garden, a school campaign to become plastic-free or mobilizing people to ban food waste, a school club that meets to mend and repair clothes to donate to a local shelter or resell to raise school funds
• Share your story on social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram), tagging UNCCD and using the official hashtags of the contest #UNCCDLandHeroes and #FoodFeedFibre

They welcome submissions in any of the six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish). If your original post is not in one of these because your followers are more likely to be reached through another language, please send us the translation, so we can consider your entry.

UNCCD will monitor daily all the posts featuring the official hashtags of the contest and share some inspiring and impactful ideas suggested by participants worldwide.

Prize:

• A USD500 cash price will be awarded to one of participating UNCCD Land Heroes for an outstanding project with significant outreach capacity, to invest in the impactful and scalable action to be implemented by the end of 2021.
• The winner will be selected by the UNCCD secretariat, and the project widely promoted on social media and shared with UNCCD Land Ambassadors for them to support through their channels. The winning project will also be showcased at UNCCD major events, such as Desertification and Drought Day global observance event.

Eligibility of participants:

• Participation is free
• Participants have to be between 15 and 30 years old on the day of their participation. A proof of age could be asked to the finalists in May
• Only entries with #UNCCDLandHeroes AND #FoodFeedFibre will be considered
• Current and former staff, consultants, and interns of the United Nations, as well as first degree relatives of the aforementioned individuals, can participate but are not eligible to receive the monetary prize
• The participants grant the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), its partners and other UN agencies as well as other persons or entities authorized by the UNCCD, the right to publish the photos, videos and texts, and to promote the projects and initiatives shared through this context, mentioning the name of the participant
• The UNCCD reserves the right to modify the videos and photos in order to include the corporative elements of the UNCCD, such as, but not limited to, the UNCCD Logo
• Competition submissions must not include any endorsements of products or services, or any obscene, violent, racist, religious intolerance or defamatory content. Entries that do not comply with the formal specifications will be automatically disqualified
• Submissions may also not be accepted into the contest if the image in the entry features an identifiable individual who has not given their consent to appear or if the image, advertising or trademarks which would otherwise require the UNCCD to obtain permission to use

Important Dates

• Deadline to send submissions: 15 May 2020
• Announcement of the winner and promotion of project: 17 June 2020

If participants have any questions or comments or if they need assistance, they should send an email to L4L@unccd.int

For more information please check the Link