Global Health and Social Development Policy Challenge

Overview
The Kiphart Center offers an annual Global Health and Social Development Policy Challenge (the Challenge). The Challenge is designed to catalyze the ingenuity, skills, and enthusiasm of the College’s students to generate innovative and cross-cutting policy solutions to address some of the most pressing health and social development issues around the globe.

The Challenge brings together teams of second and third-year undergraduates to propose and develop innovative and practical solutions to complex issues in global health and social development, with a specific focus on addressing structural and social determinants of global health. Teams will be asked to consider the social, historical, political, and policy contexts which contribute to health inequities presented in the Challenge prompt.
Examples of prompts include:
· Increasing access to clean water and sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya
· Improving protections for individuals working in the informal e-waste recycling economy in urban India
· Addressing air quality in homes using solid mass fuels for cooking and heat sources in Honduras  

 
Participation Requirements
Participants must have a strong interest in global health, social development, and policy development; be willing to work with a team of peers; and attend virtual and in-person meetings and events to discuss team project and progress.
 
Students selected for participation will be divided into teams of four to five individuals to tackle the problem and propose a solution. Student teams have 4 weeks to complete an analysis of the provided scenario, and devise actionable and research-informed policy recommendations to address the issue, presented in the form of a policy brief. The Challenge will culminate with students presenting their policy recommendations and solutions to a panel of judges. Members of the winning team will receive a cash prize.
 
Eligibility
The Challenge is open to all second and third-year students of the College. First-year students, fourth-year students, and graduate students are not eligible. Students may be of any major in the College, but must be currently enrolled at the University of Chicago, and in good standing. Students should have a demonstrable interest in global health and/or social development, including participation in relevant service-learning or volunteer opportunities and related coursework.
 
Applications and Timeline
Applications for the 2022 Challenge have closed. Applications for the 2023 Challenge will open in early 2023. Applications are posted on Handshake and require students respond to a series of questions regarding their interest in global health and social development in the form of a brief essay. Application deadlines and timelines for the 2023 Challenge will be announced in late 2022.

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