ONE Africa 2013 Award Launched
Applications for Innovative Africa-Led, Africa-Driven Advocacy Projects being accepted until August 19th, 2013
Award to recognize initiatives and programs that accelerate the attainment of the MDGs in the last 1000 days before they expire in 2013
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The ONE Campaign is announcing the opening of nominations and applications for the 2013 ONE Africa Award, which honors outstanding contributions by Africans who are leading the fight against poverty and preventable disease on the continent. Nominations and applications for the award, whose recipient will receive up to $100,000 USD in prize money, will close on the 19th August 2013.
Now in its sixth year, The ONE Africa Award highlights the dynamism and achievements of African individuals and organizations that are building a better future for their communities, countries and continent. It celebrates and bolsters innovative, Africa-led and Africa-driven advocacy efforts that help advance one or more of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the world’s blueprint for fighting extreme poverty and disease.
Announcing the call for applications, Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, ONE’s Africa Director said:
“Every year, the ONE Africa Award comes across hundreds of African civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to make a positive difference in their communities and countries. It’s never easy deciding a winner, as there are so many performing amazing work against incredible odds. Our goal is to recognize those organizations and groups involved in providing direct services that seek to achieve the MDGs. Equally, the winner may also be an advocacy group or think tank that engages in activities to hold their governments accountable. Ultimately, the winner must tie their direct services or research activities to innovative advocacy programs that raise awareness of the MDGs and/or promote the attainment of MDGs in their country or region.”
This year’s award will be particularly timely, as it will recognize initiatives and programs of African organizations that accelerate the attainment of the MDGs in these last 1000 days before they expire.
Previous winners include Positive-Generation (PG) of Cameroon (2012); GF2D from Togo (2011); SEND Ghana (2010); SIDAREC of Kenya (2009); and Devcoms of Nigeria (2008).
Fogué Foguito, the Executive Director of last year’s ONE Africa Award winner, said:
“The challenges we face in the field tell us how important advocacy is. Advocacy enables people to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives. It is therefore an obligation to the advocate not to function in isolation. The ONE Award is a symbol of recognition, encouragement and challenge for us. It recognizes more than ten years of work with the youth, and encourages us at PG in the pursuit of our vision of a society where there is equal access to healthcare for all without stigmatization or discrimination. We hope the ONE Africa Award will encourage and motivate more advocates for improving our societies.”
More details on ONE Africa Award and full scoring criteria for applicants can be found at www.one.org/africaaward.
Notes to Editors:
1 Who can Apply – Individuals and organizations, based in Africa, that demonstrate innovative approaches and measurable results in helping to meet one or more of the Millennium Development Goals through advocacy are invited to apply.
2. How to Apply – Applications for the ONE Africa Award will be accepted until August 19th. Applications can be sent to The ONE Award, ONE Africa Offices at the following address:
ONE Africa
Silver Stream Office Park
1st Floor, Main Building
10 Muswell Road South
Bryanston, Johannesburg
South Africa
Or sent in by email to [email protected]
3. Announcement of the Winner – The award recipient will be announced in November 2013.
4. Winner Profiles – 2012 winner Positive-Generation uses a variety of advocacy tools and methods in its efforts to ensure quality lives for those living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon.
2011 winner GF2D empowers Togolese women to exercise their right to participate in the decision-making processes of their country by deploying paralegals into communities to share legal knowledge and by training women to run as candidates in local and national elections, amongst other activities.
2010 winner SEND Ghana won for its work to educate and empower citizens to take part in the political process and access the services available to them.
2009 winner SIDAREC, a community-based organization founded by young people in Nairobi’s slums, engages and empowers disadvantaged youth in the urban slums of Kenya’s capital—specifically to prevent violence.
2008 winner Devcoms works with the media in Nigeria to train and education journalists and editors on public health issues, especially on those concerning women and children.
5. About ONE – Co-founded by Bono, ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 3 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease…because the facts show extreme poverty has already been cut in half and can be virtually eradicated by 2030. Learn more at www.ONE.org.