If you’re a postgraduate student with a passion for economics, here’s your chance to showcase your research and contribute to important discussions on macroeconomic policies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The 2025 IMF Youth Challenge in Economics is an exciting competition designed to encourage fresh ideas and give young economists a platform to make their voices heard.

Who Can Participate?

Eligibility Requirements

To take part in this challenge, you need to meet a few key criteria:

Postgraduate Students: This includes anyone who has completed their undergraduate degree and is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in economics or a related field.
Citizenship: You must be a citizen of a country within the MENA region, which includes nations like Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and many others.
Enrollment: Participants must be actively enrolled at a higher education institution, whether in the MENA region or abroad.

Submission Details

What to Submit

Your submission should meet the following requirements:

Language: All submissions must be in English.
Research Summary: You’ll need to provide a 3-page, single-spaced summary of your research project or thesis, focusing on macroeconomic policies that are relevant to the MENA region.
Certification: A letter from your university registrar confirming that you are enrolled as a postgraduate student.
Recommendation Letter: A letter of recommendation from one of your professors, printed on university letterhead, including the professor’s contact details.
Format: Submissions must be in PDF format, including your name, university, and contact information.

What’s at Stake?

Prizes for the Winners

The top three winning students will receive an exciting opportunity to participate in a research conference in Egypt, happening in May 2025. The IMF will cover the following expenses:

Invitation Letter: This letter will be provided to help with your visa application.
Travel Reimbursement: This includes hotel accommodations, travel costs, and incidental expenses.

Key Dates

Don’t Miss These Deadlines

Submission Deadline: April 14, 2025
Winners Announcement: April 17, 2025
Conference Date: May 18-19, 2025
The conference, titled “Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape,” will be held at the American University in Cairo.

How to Apply

Ready to join the challenge? You can apply by visiting the provided link.

Make sure to submit everything by the deadline on April 14, 2025!