USAID, Demi & Ashton Foundation, and NetHope Announce the Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2011 -

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in
partnership with the Demi and Ashton Foundation (DNA) and NetHope
Inc. announced the launch of the Stop Human Trafficking App
Challenge, a contest to develop the most effective mobile
technology application to combat trafficking in persons in Russia.
 Leveraging the culture of innovation thriving in Russia and
broadly across the region, the contest aims to raise awareness of
trafficking in Russia and help civil society organizations provide
services to survivors.

(Logo: href="photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091022/USAIDLOGO">photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091022/USAIDLOGO)

The technology application that wins the Grand Prize will be
implemented in Russia through a pilot project with an
anti-trafficking organization.  Through DNA, the Grand Prize
winner will also receive $15,000 and travel expenses to the 2011
Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York,
New York.  The Second Prize winner will receive $10,000 and
travel expenses to CGI.  

Contestants from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Commonwealth of
Independent States, including Diaspora communities, can submit
entries through August 8,2011.  Once the contest closes,
stakeholders -– including Russian anti-trafficking organizations,
international non-governmental organizations, technology companies
and the public -– will be invited to judge submissions based on
their usefulness in preventing trafficking, raising awareness, or
providing services to survivors; innovativeness; ease of use; and
potential for large-scale application.  The ultimate goal of
this program is to find an effective application that can be scaled
up and replicated across Eastern Europe and other geographic
regions in the future.

To enter the contest or for further details, please go to: href="www.nethope.org/appchallenge">www.nethope.org/appchallenge.

For more information about USAID, visit href="www.usaid.gov/">www.usaid.gov.

For more information about DNA, visit: href="www.demiandashton.org/">www.demiandashton.org.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency
for International Development, have provided economic and
humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

Public Information: +1-202-712-4810

USAID Press Office, +1-202-712-4320