- Central Africa

Gabriel DACKO GOUDJO (Cameroon)

- East Africa : The jury decided that the two finalists are winners because they all did very well and deserve the prize. This was an unexpected event. CTA agrees to prepare an extra award to the second winner of that region. The two winners for East Africa are thus:

Chris MWANGI NGIGE (Kenya) and Maureen AGENA (Uganda)

- Southern Africa

Gerald MUSAKARUKA MANGENA (Zimbabwe)

- West Africa

Itodo Samuel ANTHONY (Nigeria)

- Caribbean

Tyrone Christopher HALL (Jamaica)

- Pacific

Riten Gosai CHAND (Fiji)

The overall winner selected among regional winners is Tyrone Christopher HALL (Jamaica)

Regional winners will receive each 1,000 Euros and others rewards, while the overall winner will receive in addition 500 Euros (so 1,500 Euros in total for him). Winners also received each a trophy. The overall winner received in addition to his regional winner trophy, the All ACP winner trophy.

Two finalists were not able to be present in Johannesburg, one from Central Africa and one from the Pacific. For these regions, the jury mainly took into account written essays evaluations. The two candidates who attended the finals did their oral presentations and the jury appreciated positively their knowledge of the arguments presented.

All winners, along with other best entrants, will attend an advanced web 2.0 training and networking workshop in 2011. Best entries will be published. Best participants will be offered the opportunity to attend future CTA and its partners' activities.

The jury panel was composed of:

- Balraj Rajkomar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Productions and Systems Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius, Mauritius

- Helen Hambly Odame, Associate Professor, School of Environmental Design & Rural Development, University of Guelph, Canada (she could not make it to South Africa for the oral presentations)

- Annie Chéneau-Loquay, researcher/lecturer, ICT4D in Africa, Sciences Po, Bordeaux, CNRS, France

The prizes were given by eminent personalities including Dr. Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD (he gave the overall winner trophy and prize), Mr Michael Hailu, Director, CTA (he gave the East African trophy and prize).

That very joyful event was preceded by the prize giving ceremony of a Photo Competition organized by CTA within the framework of the Annual Seminar on Water Management (another event organized within the framework of the CTA/NPCA Week) and embellished with south african music and danse.

The essay contest is one of the activities organized by CTA to commemorate the International Year of Youth established by the United Nations.

More information on finalists' essays and profiles, see http://ardyis.cta.int/en/news/project-news/item/67-ardyis-essay-contest-finalists-essays-and-profiles