National Peace Corps Association
Africa Rural Connect
2012 Second Chance Ideas Contest
Official Rules

 

Official Rules

These are the official rules for the Africa Rural Connect 2012 Second Chance Ideas Contest.

 

Sponsor

The 2012 Second Chance Ideas Contest (the “contest”) is sponsored by the National Peace Corps Association (“NPCA,” “Sponsor” or “We”) located at Suite 610, 1900 L Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036.  The office telephone number is +1.202.293.7728 and the email address is <[email protected]>. All inquiries should be directed to Africa Rural Connect Contest, NPCA, Suite 610, 1900 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 or via email.

 

Contest Overview

Africa Rural Connect (“ARC” or the “Project”) is a platform for global collaboration. We intend to put our collective thoughts together in order to identify creative, new plans to deal with the fundamental problems of agricultural development and rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.  We propose that you – the people who have lived and worked in rural sub-Saharan Africa – offer your perspective, expertise and creativity to generate action plans that will address the problems of farmers, who are mostly women, the rural poor and, more generally, the needs of rural communities in one of the most impoverished regions of the world.  Your contributions as part of this online community will form practical plans that, in turn, may gain public exposure, influence public policy and perhaps win financial support for implementation. 

In this contest, we reward the collaborators. People who care about rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and the importance of agricultural development as a path to a better future are invited to submit, contribute, and comment on promising ideas, proposals and analyses, all of which may form action plans aimed at improving the livelihoods of millions of subsistence farmers and their communities. Some areas of interest include improving agricultural education and training, increasing farmers' access to finances and land and supporting people in farmer organizations. Users will be allowed to designate standard ARC themes (water resources, agribusiness, post-harvest losses/storage, transportation and infrastructure and communication methods). 

The ARC Platform reaches and communicates more directly with Africa’s poorest populations and those who have lived and worked with them by directly addressing the problems the rural poor face and the solutions we, its extended community, can imagine for rural economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.  We believe that collaboration is the key to developing the best ideas for Africa.  In the ARC community, we blend the insights of Africans, especially the African Diaspora, Peace Corps Volunteers, Africa scholars, former foreign-aid officials, NGO members and others to generate ideas, form discussion groups and develop project plans.  Although from different backgrounds, participants in the ARC community share first-hand experience with the region’s most difficult development problems.  We face the real needs, identify problems and take action with practical, timely, cost-effective local solutions. Your role as a participant is to offer ideas, involve others in developing your plan and/or help others build or improve their plans drawing on your personal experiences. 

• Best Remix - 1st prize, will recieve a cash prize of: $2,000

• Best Remix's original idea will recieve a cash prize of: $500
• 2nd Best Remix will recieve a cash prize of: $1,000
• 2nd Best Remix's original idea will recieve a cash prize of: $250

The Ideas Contest will begin 12:00 PM EST on September 15, 2012. All posts made on the Website will be considered for the contest.  Plans will be considered for the contest until 12:00 PM EST on November 30, 2012. The plan chosen by the Panel of Judges for the Grand Prize will be announced by December 31, 2012.

How to Enter the Second Chance Ideas Contest

This unique contest rewards the collaborators.  The way to win a prize is by creating a remix of any idea that improves upon original elements in the idea.  Remixes win the top prizes.  The top 10 remixes from endorsements will go to the Leaderboard above and be sent to a panel of judges who will evaluate the top remixes identifying those they feel are the most original, creative, practical, scalable and likely to be successfully implemented.

On the Africa Rural Connect website (www.AfricaRuralConnect.org) post your innovative ideas, build on your ideas or those of others and develop practical action plans on new ways to engage sub-Saharan Africans through educational projects, community-building initiatives, and social programs, all centered around agriculture and farming.

Remixes submitted to the Second Chance Ideas Contest can run the gamut from improving agricultural education and training, to increasing farmers’ access to finances and land, to supporting people in farming organizations. You can designate your idea under standard ARC themes such as water resources, agribusiness, post-harvest losses/storage, transportation and infrastructure, and communication methods.

We encourage you to use the ARC community to solicit feedback on your proposals in order to refine and improve them.  The online community will be available after the contest has ended, but no proposals will be considered to win prizes in this contest after 12:00 PM EST on November 30, 2012.

You may submit as many ideas as you like and you are encouraged to work on them collaboratively in groups and teams. All ideas by virtue of being posted on the site are considered entered in the contest. ARC contest participants can comment on or endorse any posted idea at any time.  However, the final judged action plans are considered to be entered in the name of one person only who is regarded as the leader of that project, either because of having initiated the first idea, contributed the most useful piece to the plan or otherwise viewed by the team and the Project Moderator as the central coordinator of the work.  Each participant must complete all of the requested profile information on the Africa Rural Connect website for his/her ideas to be sent to the Panel of Judges. Only ideas posted on the ARC website are considered entered in the contest.

When you submit an idea or action plan, you grant the Sponsor the right to contact you regarding your entry, publicize your entry, or use your entry for any other purpose pertinent to NPCA’s activities and/or initiatives.  Submissions must be made in English.  All participants in the contest described in these Official Rules both imply and agree to participate in the contest on their own volition, and will follow the Rules provided herein by said participation in the contest.  All participants further agree to the terms of service and privacy statements, which apply to NPCA’s ARC website, and acknowledge NPCA’s proprietary interest and rights on the ARC website.

 

Process

You begin by going to the ARC Project website, completing your profile information and then browsing among the ideas already posted related to key word or phrases in your area of interest.  Once you are ready to post your own idea click on “Add Idea” and type in the space provided.  Include title and tags for the theme to which it best corresponds and the country from which the idea originates.  All posted ideas, suggestions and action plans will be viewable by all ARC community members and available for comment, contribution and review.  

Once submitted, each post can be commented upon by all the members of the ARC community who view the post.  Everyone who has created a profile on the ARC network can comment on a post by clicking “Comment on this Idea.” 

The contest will run from 12:00 PM EST September 15, 2012 to 12:00 PM EST November 30, 2012.

Notwithstanding anything in these Official Rules to the contrary, each participant agrees that NPCA has the right at anytime to terminate this contest at its sole discretion.

 

Badges

Special “badges” will be added to your idea according to the following criteria:

“Power Creator” – You have posted more than 10 ideas

“Power Collaborator” – Your post has been remixed more than 10 times or you have remixed more than 10 posts

“Round Winner” – Your post is on the Leaderboard at the end of the Contest because it collected one of the top 10 highest numbers of endorsements during the contest.

“Prize Winner” – Your post has been awarded a prize at any time, as selected by the panel of judges.

 

Endorsing an Idea

If you like an idea, click the button that says, “Endorse It.” 

 

Pledge to an Idea

If you think an idea has such merit that you would be willing to offer something to help the plan become implemented, click the button that says, “Pledge.”  Select in what way you would invest in this project.  By doing so, you will create a pledge and allow the writer of the post to contact you via the website to discuss ways to follow through on the pledge.

The National Peace Corps Association is not responsible for any transactions related to the "Pledge" function on the Africa Rural Connect website. This feature is meant for communication purposes only and no money will be exchanged through the Africa Rural Connect website.

 

Remixing an Idea

If you think that you can improve an idea by adding details or by adapting the idea to another scenario, population, or location, then you should “remix” the idea by clicking the button that says, “Remix it.” By doing so, you can edit the idea post and add or remove as much information as you think best.  You must include a brief synopsis of the changes you make under version notes.  If you add your insights to more than 10 ideas by remixing them, we will award you with a “Power Collaborator” badge under your username on all of your ideas.

 

Selection Criteria

Through the Second Chance Ideas Contest, the African diaspora and volunteers alike are invited to share their ideas and remixes on new ways to engage sub-Saharan Africans through educational projects, community-building initiatives, and social programs, all centered around agriculture and farming.

The top 10 remixes from endorsements will go to the “Leaderboard” and will be sent to a panel of judges who will evaluate the top ideas identifying those they feel are the most original, creative, practical, scalable and likely to be successfully implemented.

To spark discussion, any remix, suggestion or comment can and should be posted on the Website, no matter how uncertain, incomplete or detailed.  We encourage participants to post new material, add to one’s own plan or contribute to any element of someone else’s project.  Ideally, a complete action plan will contain the following elements which serve as a basis for judging criteria.  Type each description in the section on the “Add Idea” page that best fits under the description.  Include as many of the elements as you can: 

• Summary – Outline the problem or challenge being solved.  Give the objective of the plan, the methods of achieving it, and the anticipated results.  Include how this approach is new/unique and will be more successful than other approaches.
• Needs Assessment – Present an analysis of the conditions faced in the targeted area.  Explain why such conditions deserve greatest attention, are of greatest concern, and why these specific challenges have hindered development in the locale.
• Required Resources – Clearly state the financial and other resources needed for the initiative.  Indicate how the resources will be used.  Will the initiative be self-sustaining, or will it require further injections of resources and management?
• Business Case – To the extent that a proposed action plan involves private sector initiatives or considerations, present a strategic marketing plan, best thoughts on operating issues, a financial model forecasting P&L, funding requirements and similar business supporting material.
• Plan and Execution – Describe the initiative, the target audience, and the method of achieving results, including how political support can be raised and operational issues resolved. Include a schedule of activities, and the people and/or organizations that will be used in project execution, and how Africa Rural Connect Prize money would be spent.
• Real World Impact – Indicate the results of the initiative being implemented. Include scope of impact, how many people will be affected and where, and anticipated time to achieve results.

 

Original Work

Each participant represents and warrants that any submission he/she posts is original, non-published, and does not violate or otherwise infringe any rights of any third party and that such submission will not violate any enforceable agreements or understandings the participant has with any third party or otherwise.  In the event that the NPCA’s use of the submission is challenged by any third party, the participant agrees, at its expense, to provide information and cooperate including, without limitation, participating in any legal or administrative action with the NPCA in considering, addressing, and/or answering including and/or defending any such challenge.

Each participant acknowledges and agrees that each submission is not received by the NPCA in confidence, nor does it or the participant’s participation in the Contest create any NPCA confidential or other relationship with or impose any obligation on the participant or project partners except as expressly stated in these Official Rules and not otherwise.

 

Ownership

ARC and the Second Chance Ideas Contest are programs of the National Peace Corps Association administered through its proprietary online service, Peace Corps Connect (http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org).  The Terms of Service (http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/terms-service) and the Privacy Policy (http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/privacy-policy) of that site apply to all participants in the ARC Project and the content which they submit.  Accordingly, all participants are urged to familiarize themselves with these statements and understand that participation in the Project and the contest constitutes agreement with them.  If there is any question regarding these conditions please contact the Sponsor.

 

Panel of Judges

The following judges for the Africa Rural Connect Contest are drawn from academia, the international development community and business sector:   

Prizes and Payments

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• Best Remix - 1st prize, will recieve a cash prize of: $2,000

• Best Remix's original idea will recieve a cash prize of: $500
• 2nd Best Remix will recieve a cash prize of: $1,000
• 2nd Best Remix's original idea will recieve a cash prize of: $250

All award funds will be distributed to the Grand Prize and Round Winner prize recipients through a certified non-profit, U.S.-recognized 501(c)3 organization.  If the winners are not affiliated with a non-profit organization or do not achieve a partnership relationship through collaboration on Africa Rural Connect, NPCA will set up a partnership with a non-profit organization to distribute the funds to help implement the winning project plan.  Up to two recipients may receive recognition for each award and the money will be distributed to one project plan. 

All winners will be required to submit an Affidavit of Eligibility, in which they affirm that they meet the eligibility requirements for the contest. In addition to the Affidavit of Eligibility, winners may also be required to submit an Affidavit of Compliance, a Release, and such other forms as the Sponsor may require.  Once award money is delivered to the winning participant of the business plan, it is up to that individual to disseminate award money among contributors to the plan at his or her own discretion.  Distributing award money to other individuals who edit or rate the post is not the responsibility of the National Peace Corps Association or Africa Rural Connect.

Any valuation of the prize(s) stated above is based on available information provided to NPCA and the value of any prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law.  Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s) and paying any expenses associated with any prize which is not specifically provided for in these Official rules.  Each winner, if requested by the NPCA must provide NPCA with valid government issued identification and/or a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number before any prize will be awarded.   Each winner will receive an IRS form 1099 at the end of the calendar year and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS. 

If a prize includes travel, lodging, entertainment, or a special event, the winner is responsible for all taxes, expenses, and gratuities not expressly included in and as part of the prize. Winner agrees to accept all blackout dates, space availability requirements, etc. established by NPCA‘s prize partner(s), such as hotels, airlines, trains, ships, etc. Winner agrees that acceptance of any trip taken as a prize from NPCA does so entirely upon their own initiative, risk, and responsibility. If the trip requires traveling from outside of the United States, the winner, upon winning the prize, must have a valid passport and US visa, as necessary. If the winner does not have a valid passport and/or US visa, as necessary, upon winning the prize, the trip will be forfeited.

 

Number of Recipients and Ties

The Panel of Judges will select the best proposals and action plans according to the criteria set forth above. If there is a relevant tie between two or more plan versions in voting, there will be a run-off vote between the plans with the same number of votes. Run-offs will continue until the tie is broken. There can be no ties.  The decisions of the judges are final and indisputable.

The winning plan version will have a linear list of contributors.  The NPCA will determine the contributor profiles that best represent the essence or critical contributions to the winning plans. The names of all contributors will be listed in the acknowledgements of the Project plan. 

If it is not clear to NPCA who contributed the critical pieces of the plan, each contributor will be asked to write one paragraph about why they should be chosen or how their contribution was the most critical for the success of the plan.

In the event that two or more identical or substantially similar ideas are submitted, the Panel of Judges will then consider the date of first submission, the completeness of the proposal, the level of collaboration evident in the proposal in addition to the criteria above.

 

Notification, Provision of Phone Number, Address

Winners will be notified via email within approximately three (3) business days after a determination that they are eligible to receive a prize. They will be asked to provide a phone number and mailing address so that the relevant Affidavit(s) and forms may be sent to them.  Recipients who do not provide a phone number and an email address will forfeit the payment. If the recipient cannot be reached by email within seven (7) business days of the first attempt to notify them, the payment will be forfeited and the next successful participant will receive this payment.

 

Dates

The Ideas Contest will begin 12:00 PM EST on September 15, 2012. All posts made on the Website will be considered for the contest.  Plans will be considered for the contest until 12:00 PM EST on November 30, 2012. The plan chosen by the Panel of Judges for the Grand Prize will be announced by December 31, 2012.

 

Delivery of Payments

All winners must execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release, a Model Release and such other forms as the Sponsor may require, and return these documents via the provided overnight shipping supplies within five (5) business days of receipt. If these documents are returned as undeliverable or are not completed and returned by such deadline or if a potential winner does not meet the eligibility or other requirements of the contest, the payment will be forfeited and the next highest vote-getter may be chosen.  The Sponsor will award payment via a certified 501 (c)3 organization to the entrants who won the contest by February 28, 2013. In the event that a winner is not affiliated with a 501 (c)3 organization, the Sponsor will arrange for payments to be made through one of its partners.  The Sponsor shall not be responsible for misdelivery of any documents and/or payments provided that the Sponsor addresses the documents and/or payments to the address provided by the winner.  The Sponsor shall not be responsible for acquiring or approving visas for contest participants or winners.  If any prize winner does not show proof of United States citizenship or a U.S. visa by the time that the awards are announced, the winner will have a meeting organized with the donor organization representatives via conference call instead of in-person.

The National Peace Corps Association is not responsible for any transactions related to the "Pledge" function on the Africa Rural Connect website. This feature is meant for communication purposes only and no money will be exchanged through the Africa Rural Connect website.

Announcement of Recipients

The Sponsor will announce the winners and post their names and addresses on the Website following the completion of the contest and the execution by each winner and receipt by the Sponsor of an Affidavit of Eligibility, Compliance and Release, and such other forms as Sponsor may require.

 

Use of Winners’ Names and Likeness

Each winner who accepts any payment hereby grants to the Sponsor the continuing right, at any time and from time to time, to disclose to third parties, print, publish, broadcast and use, worldwide and in any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to, the Internet and world wide web, the name, portrait, picture, photograph, voice, likeness and biographical information of each such  winner as news or information and for advertising and promotional purposes without additional consideration, except where prohibited by law. 

 

Disqualification

The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant that it determines, in its sole discretion, is ineligible to participate in the contest. Failure to comply with these rules may result in a participant’s disqualification. 

 

Cost

There is no cost to participate in the contest. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY.  Odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.  Each participant is responsible for his or her own costs to participate in the contest.

 

Eligibility

The contest is open to people who are at least 18 years of age or older at the time the contest commences and who have access to the Internet and World Wide Web; all paper submissions are ineligible for review under the terms of these Official Rules. Employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives and independent contractors (and their immediate family members and members of the same households, whether related or not) of the National Peace Corps Association (and their immediate family members and members of the same household, whether related or not) are not eligible to participate. Judges and members of the Review Panel and Project Moderators (and their immediate family members and members of the same households, whether related or not) are not eligible to participate.   The Sponsor reserves the right to refuse to award a prize to or on behalf of any minor.

Participants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this contest.

By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor personnel.  Persons who violate any rule, gain unfair advantage in participating in the contest, or obtain winner status using fraudulent means will be disqualified.  Unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing or threatening behavior is prohibited.  The Sponsor will interpret these rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules or the contest and the Sponsor’s decisions concerning such disputes shall be final.  If the conduct or outcome of the contest is affected by human error, any mechanical malfunctions or failures of any kind, intentional interference or any event beyond the control of the Sponsor, the Sponsor reserves the right to terminate this contest, or make such other decisions regarding the outcome as the Sponsor deems appropriate.  All decisions will be made by the Sponsor and are final.  The Sponsor may waive any of these Rules in its sole discretion.  ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY CIRCUMVENT, DISRUPT OR DAMAGE ORDINARY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST, TELEPHONE SYSTEMS OR WEBSITES, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PARTICIPANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED. Winners must use their true, legal name (as it appears on their government issued ID and/or Social Security Card) when playing contests or claiming prizes and may not win any contest under an assumed name. Winner will be disqualified and prize(s) forfeited if they are found playing under an assumed name or alias.

 

Compliance with Law

The conduct of the contest is governed by the applicable laws of the United States of America, which take precedence over any rule to the contrary herein.  This contest is void and not offered by NPCA in any jurisdiction where prohibited or restricted by applicable law, e.g., by failing to comply with the applicable laws for conducting contests, including notice to the state attorney general or consumer affairs office, posting of a prize bond, furnishing lists of winners, running specific on-air disclaimers, providing specific written information about the contest, etc. as required by local and state law.  This contest and each of its Rules and their provisions are subject to all applicable laws and regulations whether foreign, federal, state and/or local and void where prohibited. 

 

Limitation of Liability

If for any reason the contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the contest, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. The Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail to be received by the Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this contest.  The Sponsor is not responsible for any failure to receive any Submission which is the sole responsibility of the participant.

Winners agree to indemnify and hold forever harmless NPCA, Sponsor, promotion agencies their agents, officers, employees, affiliates and assigns for any injuries, accidents, misfortunes, or causes of action arising from or in connection with participation in any contest and/or acceptance of a prize.

By participating in the contest, each participant and winner waives any and all claims of liability against NPCA, its employees and agents, the Sponsor and their respective employees and agents, for any personal injury or loss which may occur from the conduct of, or participation in, the contest, or from the use of any prize. In order to receive a prize, participants must sign an official waiver form provided by NPCA.

 

Limitation of Remedies

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL THE SPONSOR OR AFFIATED ENTITIES OR ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS,  HARM TO BUSINESS OR REPUTATION OR OTHER ECONOMIC LOSS, ARISING OUT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, POSTING ON OR ACCESS TO AND/OR DOWNLOAD OF ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION FROM ANY WEB SITE OWNED, OPERATED OR CONTROLLED BY THE SPONSOR OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR ACCEPTANCE OR USAGE OF A PAYMENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DAMAGES FOR BODILY OR PERSONAL INJURY, EVEN IF THE SPONSOR OR ANY AFFILIATED ENTITIES, THEIR SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSS. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF SPONSOR ARISING OUT OF ANY KIND OF CLAIM (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL NOT EXCEED $1.00. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO THE PARTICIPANT. 

EACH PARTICIPANT EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS CONTAINED IN THESE RULES REPRESENT THE PARTICIPANT’S AND THE SPONSOR’S AGREEMENT AS TO THE ALLOCATION OF RISK BETWEEN THEM IN CONNECTION WITH SPONSOR’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THESE OFFICIAL RULES.  THE PAYMENTS MADE BY SPONSOR, IF ANY, REFLECT THIS ALLOCATION OF RISK AND THE EXCLUSION OF SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR PUNITIVE, OR OTHER DAMAGE IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES NOTWITHSTANDING THAT ANY EXCLUSIVE REMEDY SHALL FAIL OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE BE UNAVAILABLE.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND EXCEPT AS MAY OTHERWISE BE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED UNDER THESE OFFICIAL RULES, SPONSOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THIS CONTEST AND THE PRIZES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  PARTICIPANT AGREES TO ACCEPT THE PRIZES “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

 

Amendments

We reserve the unilateral right to suspend, cancel, terminate or modify the contest without advance notice, and thereafter to re-commence such contest, if at all, only at such time(s) and upon such terms and conditions as we shall deem reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Severability

In the event that any term of these Official Rules conflicts with the law under which these Official Rules is to be construed, or if any term is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such term shall be deemed to be restated to reflect, as nearly as possible, the original intention of the Sponsor and participant in accordance with applicable law, and the remainder of these Official Rules shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event that such invalid provision relates to matters which constitute the essence of these Official Rules including, without limitation, matters relating to the confidentiality and to the ownership and/or license of rights transferred and/or granted, and such invalid provision cannot be restated to reflect the original intention of both the Sponsor and participant, the contest shall be deemed null and void, in which case, no licenses or other authorizations hereunder shall be deemed effective. 

 

Recipients List

A list of winners will be posted on the Website at the conclusion of the contest.  For a copy of the rules, or where required by law, a list of winners, visit the business office of the Sponsor during normal business hours or mail a written request with a stamped, self-addressed return stamped envelope to: Africa Rural Connect Contest, NPCA, Suite 610, 1900 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. For a copy of these official rules send a self-addressed stamped envelope to above address marked Africa Rural Connect Contest, Attn: Rules.  The Sponsor disclaims any responsibility to notify participants of any aspect related to the conduct of the contest.

 

Jurisdiction; Venue; Applicable Law

Any dispute that may arise hereunder other than the judges’ decision of the winners of the contest, if not settled by the parties directly or through alternate dispute resolution, shall be brought solely in the appropriate local or federal court sitting in Washington, D.C., under the law of the District of Columbia without regard to its conflict of law provisions, and participants consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue thereof.

 

Complete Official Rules

These Official Rules are the only and the complete rules that govern this contest.

 

Survival

Notwithstanding any expiration or other termination of this contest and except in the event this contest shall be void in its entirety, the provisions of these Official Rules which by their nature survive expiration or termination of the Contest including, without limitation, the provisions entitled “Grant of Rights in Ideas Submitted; Originality of Idea,” “Use of Winners’ Names and Likeness,” “Limitation of Liability,” “Limitation of Remedies,” “Jurisdiction; Venue,” “Complete Official Rules,” and “Survival,” shall remain in full force and effect until each such provision expires in accordance with its respective term.