The Academy's Election 2024 project will highlight the critical value of good government and its importance in safeguarding Democracy. The Academy’s vision is to promote a just, fair, and inclusive government that strengthens communities and protects democracy. Our 12 Grand Challenges in Public Administration offer an agenda for action that can drive solutions that enable good government, build resilient communities, and ensure the protection of democracy. With this effort, the Academy aims to further our vision and encourage productive conversations that lead to a more efficient, effective, and trusted government by soliciting the input of the next generation of leaders worldwide.
As the world moves quickly from the industrial age into the information age, new challenges have arisen and demands on government have increased. But the public sector has often been in a reactive mode—struggling to adapt to a rapidly evolving geopolitical, economic, social, technological, and cultural environment. Over the next decade, all sectors of society must work together to address the critical issues of protecting and advancing democracy, strengthening social and economic development, ensuring environmental sustainability, and managing technological changes. In order to succeed, governments at all levels must improve their operations so that they can tackle problems in new ways and earn the public’s trust. The Academy has outlined 12 Grand Challenges to advance good governance in the future. Details on the 12 can be found below.
In no more than 1500 words, contestants should prepare a policy memo recommending an action the next US Presidential Administration (whether newly elected or reelected) should take to address a critical issue related to the Grand Challenge of their choice.
Please use 12-point Times New Roman font. Documents must be formatted with 1-inch margins on all sides and text should be single-spaced. Use a header on each page with only the title of your entry and use page numbers on all pages. Please include a cover page with your name, school, email, and the Grand Challenge addressed in the memo.