Year of Grant: 2015

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa

Network for a Free Society (NFFS) is a UK-based organization promoting a world of opportunity and prosperity based on the foundations of individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, the protection of private property, free markets and free speech. Established in 1971, its mission is to make texts and ideas that explore the principles of a free society accessible in countries and languages where they are not available. 

As compared to Europe and North America, the libertarian movement in Africa is severely underdeveloped. Libertarianism has not yet become a distinct political movement but is instead represented in one form or another in multiple political and non-political organizations. 

The aim of the essay competition (entering into its 6th year), which could potentially impact 500 students in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, is to encourage them to 1) study the principles and foundations of a free society, 2) the benefits it brings to them and to enterprise in general, and 3) the solutions it thereby offers to the poverty they see all around. 

Ultimately, the focus of this project is to improve understanding of the relationship between freedom, enterprise and prosperity and the principles and foundations of a free society, so that a new generation of professionals can influence public opinion in favor of freedom.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the final ten and the top four winners will attend a three-day conference with top speakers, debates and an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals in their peer group.