Cannes Lions, Gates Foundation launch contest to stress importance of aid

Through 15 May, the contest invites any person, team, agency or company to submit a communications idea based on a brief that, at five words, truly lives up to the name: "Aid works. Tell the world."

Submissions must be limited to two sheets of paper. Up to 10 entrants will win US$100,000 to develop their idea. Cannes Lions will bring these finalists to Seattle to attend a special ‘university’ with the Cannes Chimera, an all-star 'super agency' of senior creatives.

After working with the Chimera to hone their ideas, the finalists will get the chance to apply for a grant of up to US$1 million for implementation. In June 2013, the winners will be invited back to Cannes Lions to show how they changed the world's understanding of the importance of aid.

“Aid, which is less than 1 per cent of the budget in most countries, has a significant impact on people’s lives," Bill Gates wrote in an annual Gates Foundation letter that helped inspire the idea. "The relatively small amount of money invested in development has changed the future prospects of billions of people – and it can do the same for billions more."