Deadline: Feb. 28, 2021.
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is issuing a call for The Decade of Action Short Stories an initiative targeted at young African creatives in an effort to broaden the conversation, awareness and re-imagination of the Sustainable Development Goals through fiction.
Young Africans born in Africa or with either of the two parents as African are invited to submit their stories in English during phase 1 of the project. At the time of submission, writers should be between 15 and 35 years of age. Submit your story to: eca-info@un.org.
The stories are expected to be grounded on African perspectives, present or possible realities and futures as seen through the challenges of our times: climate change, environment, migration, health, technologies and innovation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. They should capture the imagination around major challenges confronting the African continent such as eradication of poverty and reduction of inequalities; climate action for a healthy planet and achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Guidelines:
- Genre: explore imaginative narratives culled from the following genres: Afrofuturism, Science Fiction, Action Adventure, Fantasy, Speculative fiction, suspense, YA, historical fiction, mystery/crime and literary fiction. Will not accept erotica or chic lit. Submissions in comic book form or graphic novel are welcome.
- Language: English
- Number of words: should not exceed 3,000 words.
- Number of entries: one entry per submission. Stories that are published elsewhere (online or print form) are welcome but do let the team know so that it can explore publishing permissions. If you plan to submit to multiple outlets, please let the team know.
- Where to Submit: Introduce yourself and attach your submission to: eca- info@un.org with the subject: Submission for the Decade of Action Short Stories
- Keep it Simple. Short stories should be in double space and in 12 font Times Roman and not more than 3,000 words.
Shortlisted entries will be included in a special, Decade of Action Anthology of Short Stories to be launched at the annual African Forum for Sustainable Development to be held in March 2021.