The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Commission on Smart Global Health is seeking new ideas that can produce large gains in global health. Through responses to the question that follows, CSIS hopes to gather material for publication in its report of January 2010 that charts the future for United States (US) global health policy.

The contest question is: What is the most important thing the US can do to improve global health over the next 15 years?

What CSIS is looking for:

• Emotionally persuasive argument to back up ideas. If the entrant has been involved in global health as a professional or volunteer, please use that experience to illustrate the point. Personal narrative is especially valued.
• Ideas that are sustainable in the long term - at least 15 years out from now.
• Big gains - ideas that will change lives.
• Ideas that reduce morbidity and mortality of the world’s most vulnerable people, whether by direct intervention or by altering personal, institutional, or governmental behaviours.

 Submission Guidelines

• Submissions will be accepted between October 12 and November 20 2009. 
• Entries must be at least 500 words and no longer than 800 words.
• The student who submits the winning response will receive a US$1,000 scholarship. The student who submits the runner-up response will receive a US$500 scholarship.
• The non-student who submits the winning response will receive a US$1,000 prize. The non-student who submits the runner-up response will receive a US$500 prize.
• The CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health will be the sole arbiter of determining the winning entries.

Click here for more information.

Click here to submit an entry.

Global Health Weekly Update on October 19 2009.