Two Ugandan organisations are among the four finalists for the US$100, 000 One Africa Award to be given out today in Accra, Ghana, as part of the events to mark the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Annual Governance Weekend.
Community Link and Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN), will be joined in the pursuit of the prestigious prize by Africa!Ignite of South Africa and The Global Shea Alliance of Ghana, ONE Campaign announced in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The 2015 ONE Africa Award winner will be announced at the Accra International Conference Center later this evening.
For the last seven years, the ONE Campaign has recognized and promoted the innovative work of Africa-driven and Africa led advocacy efforts of those civil society organizations making on the ground progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the ONE Africa Award.
The $100,000 USD annual prize awards and recognizes innovative African efforts to fight poverty and will incentivise many more of such efforts towards the attainment of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).applauded the work of the finalist organisations, and congratulated all of the 254 aspirants this year.
“As we exit the MDGs and prepare to implement the new SDG, this year’s finalists standout as examples of the effective work African organisations working tirelessly sometimes with limited resources across the continent to help their communities make progress in the fight against poverty and diseases. Be it halving extreme poverty, empowering women, or ensuring environmental sustainability. The response rate was overwhelming. Our finalists represent some of the most innovative and results oriented development advocates in Africa, whose incredible work will no doubt contribute to the attainment of SDGs in Africa by 2030,” she said.
“At ONE Campaign we advocate for progressive policy solutions to African governments that promote economic opportunity and development, which are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. None of that would be possible without the indispensable role of indigenous African civil society organisations in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We are therefore proud to support and partner with local civil society organizations, and it is for this reason that we initiated the ONE Africa Award collectively creates a better future for all Africans. Today, I am honored to recognize and announce this year’s finalists,” Nkombo
For the last seven years, the ONE Campaign has recognized and promoted the innovative work of Africa-driven and Africa led advocacy efforts of those civil society organizations making on the ground progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the ONE Africa Award.
The $100,000 USD annual prize awards and recognizes innovative African efforts to fight poverty and will incentivise many more of such efforts towards the attainment of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nachilala Nkombo, Acting Africa Director at ONE applauded the work of the finalist organisations, and congratulated all of the 254 aspirants this year.
“As we exit the MDGs and prepare to implement the new SDG, this year’s finalists standout as examples of the effective work African organisations working tirelessly sometimes with limited resources across the continent to help their communities make progress in the fight against poverty and diseases. Be it halving extreme poverty, empowering women, or ensuring environmental sustainability. The response rate was overwhelming. Our finalists represent some of the most innovative and results oriented development advocates in Africa, whose incredible work will no doubt contribute to the attainment of SDGs in Africa by 2030,” she said.
“At ONE Campaign we advocate for progressive policy solutions to African governments that promote economic opportunity and development, which are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. None of that would be possible without the indispensable role of indigenous African civil society organisations in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We are therefore proud to support and partner with local civil society organizations, and it is for this reason that we initiated the ONE Africa Award collectively create a better future for all Africans. Today, I am honored to recognize and announce this year’s finalists,” Nkombo added.
Previous winners of this prestigious award include Friends Africa of Kenya in 2014; Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF) of Tanzania in 2013; Positive-Generation (PG) of Cameroon in 2012; Groupe de Réflexion et d’action, Femme Démocratie et Dévelopement (GF2D) of Togo in 2011; SEND-Ghana of Ghana in 2010; Slums Information Development and Resources Centres (SIDAREC) of Kenya in 2009; and Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS) of Nigeria in 2008.
About the 2015 ONE Africa Award Finalists
Community Link – Uganda
Community Link works toward sustainable, self-reliance livelihoods of refugees in Nakivale settlement, known as one of the oldest settlements in Uganda. One such initiative is the creation of an electricity plant that uses a maize milling machine to provide electrical power to 100 surrounding tents/homes in the settlement.
Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment – Uganda
Founded in 1992 by a group of women from the forest-dependent community in Rwoho Natural Tropical Forest, SWAGEN’s advocacy activities and negotiations resulted in the Collaborative Forest Management agreement with the Ugandan government.
Africa!Ignite – South Africa
Africa!Ignite has created a market for the work of artisans from 60 different craft groups with just over 1,000 crafters where 90% are women, to be sold to major fashion and homewares companies across the globe. Africa! Ignite has paid more than R16 million to rural entrepreneurs since 2008, and in the past two years paid R2 million to rural women crafters.
Global Shea Alliance – Ghana
The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) engages all partin 2008. By honouring the commitment and progress on the ground, we hope that new efforts can be inspired and we can
s of the shea value chain — women’s groups, small businesses, suppliers, international food and cosmetic brands, retailers, non-profit organizations, governments and consumers.
ABOUT THE ONE CAMPAIGN
ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 3.5 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Co-founded by Bono and strictly non-partisan, we raise public awareness and work with political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs. We achieve change through advocacy. Our teams in Washington, D.C., London, Johannesburg, Brussels, Berlin, and Paris educate and lobby governments to shape policy solutions that save and improve millions of lives.
