From Analysis to Action: Crafting Innovative Solutions for the Entente Cordiale Day Challenge

Understanding a problem is only the beginning. During the Entente Cordiale Day Challenge, teams are called upon not just to analyse, but to act. Proposing a sustainable, original, and feasible solution is a key part of what sets this competition apart.

Solving Problems, Not Just Studying Them

The heart of the Challenge lies in turning rigorous analysis into real-world impact. Every participating team must go beyond diagnosis and offer a well-reasoned, actionable response to a clearly defined problem. Written reports should engage deeply with the competition’s overarching theme, addressing all of its core dimensions and showing an understanding of how these elements interconnect.

Think Globally

While the Entente Cordiale Day Challenge is proudly rooted in Franco-British cooperation, your solution need not be limited to these two nations. We encourage a global perspective. Whether teams are addressing issues in West Africa, Southeast Asia, the Arctic Circle, or anywhere else, what matters most is the strength of the team's reasoning and the relevance of their approach to the chosen context.

The best entries are those that are grounded, culturally aware, and strategically sound, regardless of where they’re applied.

What Makes a Solution Feasible?

Feasibility doesn’t mean playing it safe. In fact, we welcome bold, transformative ideas as long as they are supported by a serious plan for implementation. Regardless of whether a team's proposal is local or global, technical or theoretical, teams should demonstrate that it could be carried out under real-world conditions.

Proving a solution's feasibility is all about showing:

• A clear development plan or model showing how the idea would be executed

• Consideration of key constraints—financial, logistical, political, cultural, or technical

• Identification of relevant stakeholders and how they might be involved or impacted

• Awareness of potential risks or challenges, with proposed strategies to address them

  
  

Original Thinking Matters

Innovation is at the core of the Entente Cordiale Day spirit. Proposals should offer something new, bold, and insightful. Whether it's a fresh solution, a repurposing of an old model, or a reimagining of a long-standing assumption, originality can take many forms:

• Introducing a concept or method that has never been tried before

• Conducting firsthand interviews or fieldwork to gain fresh insight

• Applying established ideas in unexpected ways or under new conditions

• Offering a theoretical or philosophical perspective that changes how we think about an issue

Remember: originality doesn’t have to be flashy. Sometimes, a simple idea, applied thoughtfully, can be revolutionary.

Challenge the Theme—If You Can Defend It

While teams are expected to engage seriously with the competition theme, questioning or critiquing the theme itself is encouraged as long as it’s done with intellectual rigour. If your team identifies an assumption worth challenging, do so with evidence, clarity, and a compelling argument. The goal is not to follow a script but to engage critically and constructively with the issues at hand.

Next Steps

The Entente Cordiale Day Challenge is not just about what’s wrong with the world—it’s about what we can do to make it better. The most successful teams will bring together deep analysis, fresh thinking, and practical insight to propose solutions that can spark conversation and, potentially, real-world change.

As you embark on your research, ask yourself:

• Is our solution actionable?

• Is it original?

• Does it reflect a thoughtful, global perspective?

• Are we willing to challenge assumptions—our own and others’?

Because this Challenge isn’t just about winning a competition. It’s about shaping the future.