The 2025 IMF Youth Challenge in Economics is an exciting opportunity for postgraduate students in economics to showcase their research on macroeconomic policy topics relevant to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This competition aims to encourage innovative thinking and provide a platform for young economists to contribute to the policy dialogue in the MENA region.
Eligibility
Post-graduate students: Defined as individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree and are currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in economics or a related field.
Citizenship1: Participants must be citizens of one of MENA countries. The IMF’s MENA region includes the following countries and territories: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
Enrollment: Participants must be enrolled at an institution of higher education worldwide.
Submission Requirements
Language of submissions: English
Research Summary: A 3-page single-spaced summary of a research project or thesis involving macroeconomic policy topics relevant to the MENA region.
Certification: A letter from the student registrar’s office certifying the participant’s enrollment as a post-graduate student at their university.
Recommendation Letter from the Professor on the University letterhead with contact name and e-mail address of the professor.
Format: Submissions must be in PDF format and include the participant’s name, university, and contact information.
Prizes
Three winning students will be invited to participate in a research conference in Egypt in May 2025. More information on the conference will be shared soon. The IMF will provide:
Invitation Letter: An invitation letter for visa purposes.
Travel Reimbursement: Hotel accommodations, reimbursement for travel costs, and incidental expenses.
Timeline:
Submission Deadline: April 14, 2025
Winners Announcement: April 17, 2025
Conference Name: MF-American University in Cairo MENA Research Conference “Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape”
