The ICN-WBG Competition Advocacy Contest 2026

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Call for Application: 2026 Competition Advocacy Contest by International Competition Network (ICN) and the World Bank Group !!! Apply Now !!!

The International Competition Network (ICN) and the World Bank Group announced the launch of the 2026 Competition Advocacy Contest. The contest aims to highlight the key role competition agencies, sector regulators, and other governmental bodies or non-governmental organizations play in promoting competition by showcasing their advocacy success stories.

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As defined by the ICN, competition advocacy refers to activities that promote a competitive environment through non-enforcement mechanisms, such as building relationships with government entities, increasing public awareness of competition’s benefits and identifying and removing anticompetitive policies and regulations.

Submissions will undergo a rigorous assessment of the following criteria:

• Relevance of the competition issue tackled by the initiative;
• Success of the advocacy activity – results achieved;
• Impact and effects on markets, spillover effects and lessons learned;
• Advocacy strategy – creativity and originality, cooperation mechanisms deployed.

An independent panel will review the submissions and select the top stories. Winning applicants will be invited to present their stories at a joint ICN-World Bank Group event. Winners and honorable mentions will be announced in advance of the 2026 ICN Annual Conference.

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They are looking for success stories from competition agencies, other public bodies or civil society that demonstrate the tangible results of competition advocacy under four themes:

Theme 1 – Advancing competition advocacy in times of global change. Governments increasingly use industrial policies, subsidies, and state support to strengthen strategic sectors. While these measures can build resilience, they risk distorting markets if not designed with competition in mind. Evidence shows subsidies often expand market share without boosting productivity, underscoring the need for advocacy that ensures interventions promote efficiency and investment rather than entrench incumbents.

Theme 2 – Promoting compliance through innovation and digital tools A culture of compliance is vital for effective competition policy. Authorities are leveraging innovation—AI-powered market screening, online training, interactive programs, and even public outreach through media—to detect and prevent anticompetitive behavior. Digital platforms broaden engagement, allowing agencies to reach diverse audiences and measure campaign impact more precisely, fostering responsible business practices.

Theme 3 – Embedding competition in green and digital transitions The green and digital transitions are reshaping economies, offering opportunities but also risks of concentration. Authorities act through sector reviews, regulations on interoperability and data portability, and safeguards for fair access to inputs. In sustainability, guidelines tie subsidies to proportionality and clarify when cooperation is permissible. Advocacy also addresses barriers like grid access, ensuring emerging sectors remain open and contestable.

Theme 4 – Global convergence vs. country specificity Competition law rests on shared principles but must adapt to local realities. Jurisdictions tailor global best practices to contexts shaped by informality, inequality, and structural constraints, while maintaining consumer welfare and efficiency as core goals. By contextualizing advocacy and policy design, agencies enhance legitimacy and effectiveness without diluting fundamental competition principles.