The OSLO CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER (OCHRC) is pleased to announce the OCHRC International Essay Contest 2009.

OCHRC was created in 2000 with the mandate to advocate research programs directed at addressing the conditions responsible for the most important diseases suffered by children, especially in developing countries, where the major burden of disease remains. In particular, OCHRC aims to influence policy decisions and program development to fast track the adoption of cost-effective and sustainable solutions.

We are undertaking the OCHRC International Essay Contest 2009 in order to compile and showcase examples of research that had an impact on policymakers, donors or relevant stakeholders to implement evidence informed policy or to allocate more funds for research focused on key issues that affect child health and nutrition.

Theme: This year’s contest is focused on examples of policies oriented to improve child health and nutrition that are based on research findings. OCHRC is looking for the best examples of how research has been translated into policy that improved the child health and/or nutrition status at national, regional, or global level within the past 20 years. Interested participants should provide a specific example of how the evidence was generated to help establish, modify or implement a policy, based on research. The essay should describe the context in which the described case took place, which may include the history of the institution, and provide a substantiated and specific example of how research results influenced policy-making as well as program development.

The 12 most outstanding essays will be published in an anthology and the authors will be featured on the OCHRC's home page throughout the year. The best 3 essay winners will receive cash prize of US$1000 each. The first prize winner, in addition to cash prize, will receive financial support for presenting his/her paper at a relevant international academic conference. Grant assistance from OCHRC will be subject to acceptance of the paper in the conference.

Entries will be judged on originality, expression of ideas, presentation, and understanding of the research environment, and evaluated by an ad hoc committee via blind review, based on the following criteria:

1.Clear statement of the problem being addressed, specifying its magnitude and importance for child health and nutrition (10%).
2.Clear description of the contribution made by the research described (25%).
3.Description of the mechanism(s) by which the research findings were incorporated into new or existing policies, or generated new research on the topic (25%).
4.strength of conclusions and implications drawn (“lessons learned”) (20%).
5.Robustness of the support provided to substantiate the case (10%).
6.Clarity and quality of written presentation (10%).

Eligible papers may be submitted by:
1. Any researcher resident in low or middle income country (according to the World Bank classification), presenting original work carried out by the applicant.
2.From any nationality i.e. it is not necessary for the applicant to be a national from the country where the work was carried out.
3.Any organization in a low or middle income country that conducts original research, including university, institute, medical college, government, NGO, etc.

The essay:
1.Must be written in English using 12-point font in Times Roman or Arial, with one-inch margins.
2.Must include a cover sheet including the applicant’s name, date of birth, institutional affiliation, official designation (title), mailing address, e-mail address, phone and fax number.
3.The essay should include an abstract, with a maximum of 300 words (without counting spaces).
4.The body of the essay should contain a maximum of 2,000 words (without counting spaces).
5.Additional to the words-length allowed for the essay, the applicant must provide support for the case presented, in the form of references to papers published in journals, evidence of changes in policy (i.e., official manuals or documents), letters of evidence, or any other documentation deemed relevant by the applicant.
6.References must be cited in Vancouver style.
7.Papers not complying with these rules may be eliminated upon receipt.

Essay submission rules:
1.Entries must be submitted in either electronic format to [email protected] or in hard copy mailed by courier to OCHRC Secretariat, addressed to:

Dr. Tanvir M. Huda
Coordinator
OSLO CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER (OCHRC)
Host Org: ICDDR,B
68, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani
Mohakhali, Dhaka -1212
Bangladesh

2.Entries must only be submitted once. Further submissions will not be accepted.
3.The applicant may submit more than one essay, provided they address different issues.
4.The deadline for electronic receipt of the applications is 5 pm (Pacific Time) on June 1, 2009. For applications sent by courier, the package must be post-marked by the abovementioned date and time.
5.Failure to follow these rules may lead to disqualification from the contest.
6.All entries become of the property of OCHRC. In addition to receiving cash prizes, winners may have their essays published in the OCHRC publications and/or website.
7.If the research submitted, had previously been published, the publication detail should be listed.
8.If the essay is written by a person working at the organization where the research was conducted, a member of senior management must validate the authenticity of both the research and author affiliation by issuing a letter.
9.If the essay is written by a student, s/he must provide proof of association with the organization by providing copy of identification card and/or number.
10. Results will be published on OCHRC’s website and communicated via electronic mail to the winners, by August 16, 2009.
11. The contest may be declared deserted, at the discretion of the evaluating committee.
12. For further information or questions please contact Dr. Tanvir M. Huda, Coordinator, OCHRC Secretariat: e-mail [email protected].