Congratulations to the 2022 Lightning

​Talks Contest Winners!

Organizations are at their Best When They Welcome People​

An Innovation for Emerging Readers

Unlocking a Digital Health Strategy to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Tajikistan

Habtamu Buli
FHI360

​Nadya Karim-Shaw 
Creative Associates International

Sarah Romorini and Yuliya Rakhimova
​Abt Associates

The winning videos will be played on the main stage at our Annual Conference on Thursday, May 26 and all entries will be featured in our Lightning Talks Library on our virtual platform. 

Thank You to Our Judges!
​

• Kate Bunting | SID-W Board Member and CEO, Indigo Advisors
• Amy Chase | SID-W Independent Consultants Network Co-Chair and Project Manager, EnCompass LLC
• LeAnn Glover | SID-W Program Associate
• Jeffrey Grieco | SID-W Afghanistan Affinity Group Co-Chair and President and CEO, Afghan American Chamber of Commerce
• Stephanie Vasquez | SID-W Health and Nutrition Workgroup Co-Chair and USAID Portfolio Director, Bixal

SID-W Lightning Talks Contest

Everyone always asks how they can participate in SID-Washington’s Annual Conference. SID-W’s Lightning Talks Contest is a great way for any member to have a voice and a platform. Past participants have ranged from seasoned leaders to young professionals and topics have touched on many issues, some focusing on a specific sector, others on cross-cutting issues of concern.

Check out the 2021 Lightning Talks videos and 2020 Lightning Talks videos!  

How it Works

All you need to do is submit a video of a TED-style talk on an international development topic. You can pick any topic at all – something near and dear to your heart, an experience you have had, an idea or inspiration. Anything goes. You might want to consider this year’s conference theme: Inclusive Development: A Healthy, Prosperous, and Resilient Planet for All. However, you do not need to limit yourself. The one limit we do impose is that your talk must not exceed 5 minutes. Shorter is just fine. 

​See the guidelines below and send us a video of your Lightning Talks no later than Friday, April 22, 2022. Winners of the contest will be selected by our panel of judges and have their talks showcased on the Annual Conference main stage. All entries will be placed in a library on our virtual platform for attendees to view. 

How to Participate

1. Step 1: Please prepare a video (YouTube preferred) of yourself or your team speaking in a TED-style format on a topic related to international development.   
2. Step 2: Send a link to your video, title of the video, the presenter(s) name, and a short 100-word blurb about the video to AnnualConference@sidw.org, no later than Friday, April 22 at 11:59 pm (EDT). Please include "Lighting Talks Submission" in the subject, and your membership affiliation in your submission.  
3. Step 3: The winning and runner-up video entries will be featured at our Annual Conference, so please make sure you are happy with the quality before submitting it.   ​​

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​REMEMBER: Submissions sent after the deadline of Friday, April 22 at 11:59 pm (EDT) will not be considered.  

Guidelines

• Lightning Talks must not exceed 5 minutes. Video entries that are longer than 5 minutes will not be considered.   
• Topic must be related to international development: sector commentary, innovative ideas, lessons learned, etc.   
• One video entry per person. If multiple entries are submitted, only the first one received will be considered. There is no limit to the number of applications from one organization as long as they are submitted by different people.  
• You must be a SID-Washington member and your membership must be valid as of submission date through May 26, 2022. Individual members and employees of institutional members of any age may participate. If you are not a member and are interested in joining, visit here.   
• Lightning Talks may be presented by an individual or in teams of no more than two people. If presenting as a team, at least one person must be a current SID-Washington member as of submission date through May 26, 2022.  
• Winning videos will be featured at the SID-Washington Annual Conference on Thursday, May 26, 2022.   
• Submissions received after Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm (EDT) will not be considered. 

Scoring Criteria

• Well-Organized Information  
• Enthusiasm and Audience Awareness  
• Verbal Effectiveness  
• Content and Meaning  
• ​Articulation and Clarity  

  
Check out the 2021 Lightning Talks videos and 2020 Lightning Talk videos as examples.  

Additional Information

• All winning applicants will be notified by Monday, May 16, 2022.   
• Winners will be featured on the main stage during a plenary session at the 2022 Annual Conference on May 26. 
• Winners and runner-up applicants will have their videos posted on the SID-Washington website.  
• Winners may attend the Annual Conference (in person or virtually) free of charge.  
• SID-Washington has the right to publish all applications and videos on its website, virtual conference platform, and social media  crediting the organization or individual.