World Justice Challenge 2024
The World Justice Challenge is a global competition conducted by the World Justice Project (WJP) to identify, recognize, and promote good practices and high-impact initiatives that protect and advance the rule of law. This year’s Challenge theme is “The Rule of Law Foundation of Democracy” and is dedicated to addressing pressing rule of law concerns that underpin democratic resilience and renewal. To learn more about this theme, please click here.
About the Challenge:
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Applications are due January 31, 2024, by 11:59 PM EST.
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Cash awards ($20,000 USD) will go to five initiatives that show demonstrable results and promising prospects for future progress and replication and/or scaling.
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Awards will be made in the following categories:
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Ensuring that electoral processes and transitions of government power are subject to the law
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Building citizen trust in justice institutions and guaranteeing that justice systems are independent, impartial, accountable, transparent, and ethical
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Protecting free media and a robust, trustworthy information ecosystem in the face of new challenges posed by 21st century technological change
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Strengthening young people’s engagement with and commitment to rule of law and democracy processes and institutions
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The U.S. Building Trust Prize for the project from the United States that demonstrates exceptional impact in one or more of the above categories
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WJP will select thirty finalists. The finalists will be profiled on WJP's website and social media to promote visibility and uptake of these promising approaches.
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The five winning initiatives will be selected in the following manner:
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The competition will culminate at an event adjacent to the American Bar Association Annual Meeting, which will take place August 3-9, 2024 in Chicago, USA. All finalists will be invited to attend in-person to showcase their work and take part in the Challenge awards ceremony.
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All finalists will be invited to join the World Justice Challenge Alumni Network for ongoing networking, partnership, visibility, and learning opportunities to support their work.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements:
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Initiatives that address at least one of the issue areas in the categories stated above are eligible to apply.
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The competition is global and open to applications from any country or territory in the world. As noted, only United States-based projects will be eligible for the U.S. Building Trust Prize. Awards in the other four categories will be given to non-U.S. projects.
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The competition is multidisciplinary and open to organizations across sectors, including, but not limited to: non-profits; social entrepreneurs; media; multilateral organizations; local and national government bodies and agencies; businesses/private sector enterprises; bar associations; law firms; foundations; and academics.
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Collaborative entries among several organizations are welcome.
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Entries must be submitted in English. However, please note that entries will be evaluated solely based on the quality of the project itself, and not on the application’s level of English language mastery or ability.
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Entries will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
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Impact: the initiative has demonstrably made a contribution to improving an important rule of law and democracy problem.
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Sustainability: the initiative demonstrates the potential for sustained operation over time.
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Scaling and/or Replicability: the initiative demonstrates potential for expansion in its current context and/or replication in other contexts (e.g., other geographies, populations, or sectors).
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Please note that the World Justice Challenge is meant to recognize effective projects and policies already in progress and is not a grantmaking program for new initiatives in development. Applications seeking funding for future initiatives will not be considered.
For any questions about the World Justice Challenge, please contact engagement@worldjusticeproject.org.