Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP)
Guided by our members and extensive network of chapters, we produce evidence for alternative narratives and policies with respect to the world’s poor.
Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) is a global professional association that empowers academics to make greater impact on severe poverty.
Guided by our members and extensive network of chapters, we produce evidence for alternative narratives and policies with respect to the world’s poor.
News
Celebrating the Nelson Mandela Essay Prize Winners
In a groundbreaking move, ASAP, together with the University of Zambia and the University of Lusaka, has launched the inaugural Nelson Mandela Essay Prize for Young African Scholars.
This exciting new initiative is designed to recognize and promote the work of emerging African scholars who are addressing some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. In its first year, the competition attracted an impressive range of essays spanning fields such as sustainable development, governance, education, and healthcare.
Let’s take a closer look at these remarkable scholars and the impactful work they have produced.
ASAP 2024 Book Awards
Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) is proud to announce the 2025 Book Awards, a prestigious recognition of scholarly work dedicated to understanding and addressing global poverty.
Our 2023 Award Winners Showcase Transformative Research:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Else Øyen
- Book of the Year (Monograph): Olivier De Schutter, Hugh Frazer, Anne-Catherine Guio, Eric Marlier
- Book of the Year (Edited Collection): Clemens Sedmak, Gottfried Schweiger.
We now invite scholars, researchers, and thought leaders to submit their most impactful work for the 2024 ASAP Book Awards.
2024 Amartya Sen Essay Prize Winners
Winners
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Eleventh Amartya Sen Essay Prize Competition (2024). This year’s competition showcased exceptional scholarship on critical issues related to illicit financial flows and their impacts.
Three outstanding essays were awarded first prize:
- Wisdom Essien: “Digital Shadows in Illicit Financial Flows: Unraveling Nigeria’s Cryptocurrency Paradox and Illuminating Pathways to Financial Integrity”
- Maunga Mulomba: “Logging in: Dismantling the Dark Web of Africa’s Timber Industry”
- Thant Thura Zan & Soe Thaw Tar Kyaw Min: “From Casinos to Criminal Networks: The Illicit Financial Flows of Southeast Asia’s Online Fraud Schemes with a Focus on Myanmar”
Additionally, the jury recognized Nater Akpen with an honorable mention for the submission “The Biographical, Anatomical, Economic and Legal Aspects of Illicit Organ Trade.” You can also watch their presentations and explore their work on the Yale Global Justice Program YouTube channel. We congratulate all the winners on their outstanding contributions to the field of global financial integrity.
The Twelfth Amartya Sen Essay Prize Competition for 2025 is now open for submissions. Essays should examine a particular component of illicit financial flows, resulting harms, and potential reform avenues. Prizes totaling USD 8,000 will be awarded to two or three winners
For more information on the upcoming competition and submission guidelines, please visit our 2025 Amartya Sen Prize Competition page.
African Union Secures a Seat at the G20 Table
In a groundbreaking development that can reshape the global economic landscape, the African Union (AU) has officially beexan included in the pivotal Group of Twenty (G20).
This monumental decision, which promises to bring Africa’s voice to the forefront of international economic discussions, is a triumph for inclusivity and a testament to the collective advocacy of organizations and voices worldwide.
Among those voices, ASAP stands tall as a proud advocate for this historic milestone.
A Seat at the Table
The G20, comprising the world’s major economies, plays a pivotal role in shaping international economic policies and addressing global challenges. Historically, the AU has been excluded from this influential forum, despite the continent’s immense potential and growing economic significance. However, this has changed with the recent announcement of the AU’s inclusion, marking a significant turning point in international diplomacy.
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We Dare. We Inspire. We leave an Imprint.
Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) is honored to have Dr. Thalia Arawi as a valued member of our organization. Dr. Arawi, the Founding Director and advisor for Khelkhal, has been instrumental in shaping the vision and success of this student-led initiative. Khelkhal, meaning “anklet” in Arabic, symbolizes beauty, audacity, and the lingering chime of a movement. This inspiring volunteering initiative, based at the American University of Beirut’s Faculty of Medicine, aims to spread ethics education, foster humanism, and alleviate poverty. We are excited to announce that Khelkhal will also play a significant role in building the PanArab ASAP chapter this year, expanding its reach and impact beyond Lebanon.
Making a Difference in the Community
Since its establishment in 2019 by Bashar Hassan, a Med III student, and Dr. Thalia Arawi, Khelkhal has grown exponentially, currently engaging over 280 volunteers from across the country and the region.
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ASAP is a global network of academics and researchers conducting research and advocacy in the service of poverty eradication.
Our Membership
ASAP welcomes academics, researchers, students and development specialists to join our growing network. If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about our work, you can either complete the registration form or contact ASAP directly on: global@academicsstand.org
