Competition and Consumer Rights Essay Contest 2019

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) in collaboration with University of Rwanda (UR) and Rwanda Consumer Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR) is launching/organizing the first edition of Competition and Consumer Rights Essay Contest.

This is going to be an annual staged event where contestants will research, generate and articulate impactful ideas on how Competition and Consumer Rights can be promoted and protected.

The event is to encourage discussion around Consumer Rights, Competition and Regulatory related issues as a strategic approach to increase awareness and compliance by traders. We are therefore inviting young people and University students to enter into the writing competition entitled “Competition & Consumer Rights Essay Contest 1st Edition”.

The contest is organized as a part of awareness rising campaigns among students, individual consumers, civil society organizations, policymakers, business community and academia. The awareness program is also expected to serve as an eye opener to students and excite more research projects on this subject matter.

This contest is a great opportunity to generate student and general public interest in issues relating to empowering consumer and promoting competition among traders as Rwanda is in process of fast tracking operationalizing the competition authority, namely Rwanda inspectorate, competition and consumer protection authority (RICA),.” This is also in line with Rwanda’s aspiration and reforms to modernise its regal and institutional framework for trade, investment and Industry development with the aim of fostering a modern and competitive private sector led economy as well ensuring protection and promotion of consumer rights. Consumer International, an umbrella of Consumer Rights Protection Organizations, has announced a theme for this year “Trusted Smart Products”, the theme and supporting document can accessed https://www.consumersinternational.org/newsresources/news/releases/consumers-international-announces-the-theme-worldconsumer-rights-day-2019/. However, contestants are free to choose any topic that relates to Competition among enterprises as well protection and promotion of Consumer Rights. The winners will be awarded during celebration of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2018, an annual staged event, celebrated every year on 15th March.

Essays may be submitted by anyone from 18 to 30 years old and the deadline for submission of entries/Essays is 15th February 2019.

INTENDED OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to create more awareness on empowerment and protection of
consumer rights as well as encouraging rule based competition among enterprises.

Specific objectives are

• Excitement to conduct research projects on competition and consumer  protection related topics;

• To stimulate genuine dialogue between students, consumers association, policy makers and traders on how fair and rule based competition can encouraged while ensuring consumers right promotion and protection;

• Discussion on how to improve the quality of goods and services given to the consumer and establish trust among them;

• Consumer Protection mechanisms in digital markets;

• How best digital technology can be used in consumer rights responsive manner;

• how to control cartels, monopolies, and abuse of dominance;

• Regulatory framework or legal redress available to the consumers

Terms and Conditions

❖ The competition is open to all young people and students of 18 to 30 years old

❖ Essays should be original and minimum 3000 words and essay will be tested through turn it in to confirm its originality based on its similarity

❖ All essays must be in English

❖ Only one entry per applicant/or Group of contestants

❖ The deadline for submissions is 15th February 2019

❖ The three finalists will be announced in early march ahead of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2019 where they will present their essays.

Prizes

➢ The winner will receive 700,000 francs and Masters Scholarship (not yet
confirmed)

➢ The first run-up will receive 500,000frw

➢ The second run-up will receive 300,000frw

➢ Other top 20 contestants will also be invited in a Ward giving ceremony and celebration of World Consumer Rights Day 2019. The organizers will cover all costs related to their participation.

Tentative calendar of activities

AWARENESS RISING

Awareness will be created and students to enter into competition, this will be done by meeting students through students Union and University administration. A group of experts will also explain more about the competition terms and conditions.

Presentation of the Essays

Presentation and Valuation of entries submitted will be done by group of experts composed of the government agencies, civil society and University lecturers. This group will also set criteria that will be followed during valuation of quality and originality of submitted essays.

Timeframe Activities Responsible Institutions

For more information, please contact our Competition and Consumer Protection Officer on +250 788 625 725 or via email: emugabe@mineacom.gov.rw or Pascal
Nyiringabo at +250 788 433 431 or via email: piscosmuka@gmail.com.

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