Developers, technologists and peacebuilders around the world are invited to submit digital games & gamified apps facilitating dialogue, preventing violence.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilisations, the United Nations Development Programme and Build Up have launched PEACEapp, a global competition to promote digital games and gamified apps as venues for cultural dialogue and conflict management.
PEACEapp is intended to give developers, technologists and peacebuilders the chance to showcase their work – new, existing or in progress – and engage with questions that are central to building peace. How can we create new spaces for dialogue and shared action aimed at preventing violence? Can providing opportunities for contact among individuals and sharing stories also encourage mutual respect for cultural and religious values? Or is it about offering people tools to question and reframe their identities? Of all the technological tools increasingly available to peacebuilders, digital games and gamified apps present opportunities that are particularly relevant to fostering dialogue that prevents violence. Learn more or check our Frequently Asked Questions.
“The very nature of social media and much of the new technology that continues to emerge around phones, tablets and other devices promote human togetherness, tolerance and inclusiveness. Potential for so many areas of our lives is increased, including to help prevent conflict and promote peace. I hope that web, app and game developers around the world take up this challenge. UNDP is excited to be working with PEACEapp to promote conflict management and dialogue.”
Jordan Ryan, Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery
How it works
The competition is open to three kinds of entries at all stages of development – from prototypes to fully developed:
(i) digital games & gamified apps developed purposefully for this competition;
(ii) already existing digital games, and
(iii) creative re-purposing of existing digital games to meet the aim of PEACEapp.
PEACEapp’s international jury will select five winning entries: three that are fully functioning and two that are in development. The three fully functioning games or apps will receive an award of USD$5,000 each. The two in development will receive mentorship from expert partners. In addition, one member of each award-winning team (completed or in development) will be invited to the Build Peace conference in April 2015 in Cyprus to share their product with conference participants. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2014. Winners will be announce by November 30, 2014.
Digital games and gamified apps submitted to PEACEapp will be reviewed by an international jury according to whether they: (1) afford users a novel experiences to engage with knowledge of other groups and issues of identity; (2) creatively engage the end user in a playful manner; (3) enable connections to key social media globally, in terms of functionality, language and reach. See here for more details.
“Further developing UNAOC’s support for innovative peace building initiatives, PEACEapp will provide a platform for digital games that truly engage audiences in an effort to creatively transform potentially polarizing events into peace building awareness and frameworks where respect for others can flourish”
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser UN High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
To submit a digital game or gamified app, entrants must complete the entry form on our website in English and submit a video walkthrough or presentation of a working game / app, game / app alpha, beta prototype or implementation plan for using an existing game / app by October 15, 2014. Participants must be 13 years or older. Make sure to check the eligibility criteria, rules and regulations.
Submit your entry to PEACEapp now.