Prize Information
Gwatkin Equity Catalyst Award
The Davidson Gwatkin Equity Measurement Prize recognizes the application of the EquityTool and its data to assess and improve services that reach the poor or to gain insight into wealth equity in low- and middle-income countries. The Gwatkin Equity Catalyst Award was developed to support future application of the EquityTool in research or project implementation, and is open to individuals or teams.
Applicants must be attending the 2024 Health Systems Research Conference in Nagasaki, Japan (November 18-22) to be eligible to apply. To be considered for the prize, applicants may submit a brief proposal explaining how they plan to use the EquityTool in future research or project work. Up to 10 applicants will be selected to give a 4-minute lightning talk at Metrics for Management’s session on November 19 at 1:30 pm. The audience will vote on three winners. First place will be awarded $2500, second place will be awarded $1250, and third place will be awarded $500.
About Davidson Gwatkin
Davidson (Dave) Gwatkin is a leading global voice on how to apply pro-poor policies and programs to make health systems more equitable and advance progressive universalism.
As an advisor to the World Bank, the African Development Bank, WHO, UNICEF, the Rockefeller Foundation, and other agencies, he has worked to assure that the poor are the focus of development efforts and that they remain at the center of measuring development success.
In doing so, he has inspired two generations of experts in health, agriculture, education, and economics, guiding them to understand that development success should be measured by the effects on individuals and families, not on national statistics.
In addition, Dave champions measurement as central for all development work and believes that the measurement of wealth can play an important role in all equity-focused efforts. He has advised the development of the EquityTool since 2010, and has served as a Global Advisor to Metrics for Management since 2015. With Dave’s help, the EquityTool has grown into an efficient and valid tool, easy and fast enough to serve the needs of a national government, international donor, or local school, NGO, or clinic.
Application Steps
- Applications will be open October 1, 2024 through 11:59 pm ET on November 3, 2024. Complete applications must be submitted through the application portal by the deadline.
- Only one submission per project is permitted. Multiple applications may result in disqualification for all applicants.
Applicant Eligibility
- Investigator or leader of a study or implementation project that will use EquityTool questions.
- Applicant must have a demonstrated organizational affiliation – Either:
- Full-time staff at a public or private organization such as a government agency, non-governmental agency, or technical firm. Independent contractors are not eligible unless the contractor can demonstrate a dedicated and prolonged relationship with the organization through a contract of, or series of contracts totaling, at least one year of continuous engagement.
- A student, postdoctoral scholar, or faculty affiliated with a university or similar research organization.
- The individual applying has not received, or been part of a team that has received, a Davidson Gwatkin Equity Measurement Prize in the previous submission cycle.
- Applicants representing collective work must certify that all team members or co-investigators support the submission at the time of application.
- Applicant, or a representative from their team, will be in Nagasaki, Japan during the Health Systems Research conference (November 18-22,2024) to present a 4-minute lightning talk in-person at a conference side session on November 19, 2024. Presentations will follow the template provided by Metrics for Management, and must be delivered in English.
- Commitment to participate in promotional activities related to your submission, as requested by Metrics for Management. Examples may include social media posts, interview, or written case study.
- Winners are responsible for prize receipt and management, as well any applicable taxes.
Nominated Work
- Planned primary data collection and/or application of the EquityTool questions between December 1, 2024-November 30, 2026.
- Provide a clear implementation link for why wealth measurement is important, and why the EquityTool is the best solution.
- Work is, or can be made, publicly available.
- Proposal must be submitted in English.
Selection Process
A panel of judges will select 10 finalists. Finalists will prepare and deliver a 4 minute presentation during the November 19 side session, where audience members will vote for the best future use of the EquityTool.
Selection Announcement
Finalists who will be invited for a lightning talk will be notified by November 4, 2024, and must confirm the details of the person attending the HSR conference and Metrics for Management’s session.
