ONE Africa Award Pictures!

As promised, here are some pictures taken at this year’s ONE Africa Award ceremony! As you may know, the award created to honour outstanding contributions by Africans towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Development Communications (DEVCOMS) Network, won this year for their excellent work with the media in Nigeria, training and sensitizing journalists and editors to public health care issues, especially for women and children. Directly below is a picture of Mr. Akin Jimoh (left) accepting the award from Mr. K.Y. Amoako on behalf of DEVCOMS.

Read more about the ONE Africa Award here!

More pictures below…

ONE Africa Award Announced!

The winner of the ONE Africa Award 2008 was announced in Accra yesterday. It was a very special occasion for ONE and we were delighted that ONE’s Policy Advisory Board member, Mr. K.Y. Amoako from Ghana agreed to make the presentation. In a surprising move, ONE decided to give the award to an organization that engages the media in efforts to stop disease and save lives.

The winner, Development Communications (DEVCOMS) Network, is a Nigerian media training and mentoring group that works with the media to improve public health. Based in the sprawling metropolis of Lagos, DEVCOMS trains and mentors journalists in public health issues and science journalism. While media may not seem an obvious player in achieving the MDGs, Akin Jimoh, DEVCOMS’ Programme Director, says information is critical for people to make well-informed decisions, especially about their health. His organization is also actively involved in advocacy efforts for free health care in Nigeria and has helped to improve both the quality and quantity of health journalism across the country.

DEVCOMS’ success is based on its long term approach to media relationships and development. Rather than running one-off training sessions, it collaborates closely with NGOs working on health issues to provide ongoing mentoring and immersion training for reporters through internships.

“We believe the silent sighs of our women and children have to stop” he said, dedicating the ONE Africa Award to the 140 women who die in Nigeria every day “giving life” and to the more than 300 children under the age of five who die every day from diarrhea, malaria and other preventable, treatable diseases. He also urged civil society organizations to help any journalist who knocks on their door. “We are all one in this” he said “ and this award reminds us of the work we have to do.”

ONE created this award to recognize the role of African individuals and organizations in achieving the MDGs. ONE plans to announce this award annually in honor of those who inspire and lead the fight against the injustice of extreme poverty.

“Information is power” said Mr Amoako when he announced DEVCOMS as the winner, “for citizens, for civil society and for governments. We will all do a better job of fighting poverty with better information and debate. DEVCOMS makes that critical link between the practical daily work of improving public health services, with citizens, through the media.”

Check back later for photos and video from the ceremony.

-Katy Cronin

Read more about the ONE Award here!

Last Call: Applicants for the ONE Africa Award

This Friday, August 15th is the final day to submit applications for the ONE Africa Award, a new award designed by ONE to showcase African efforts in the fight against poverty. The $100,000 award is chance for ONE to celebrate some of the innovative work being done by Africans to achieve the MDGs and promote accountability in sub-Saharan Africa.

You can learn more about the award and download the application here.

-Nora Coghlan

Announcing the ONE Africa Award!

I am delighted to let you know that we have just launched the ONE Africa Award, an exciting new $100,000 grant for African individuals and organizations, based in Africa, leading the fight against poverty. ONE aims to showcase civil society working on bringing about change amongst the poorest people in Africa. This award for best practice will consider accountable organizations that can demonstrate their commitment and success in assisting Africans to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

African civil society has an extremely important role to play in advancing the development agenda, either through their own action, or as a monitoring body of government implemented programs, ensuring that money goes where it is most needed. We launched the call for applications on July 15th and will continue to receive applications until August 15th. This is our first award, and through this effort, we hope that we can best showcase the individuals and organizations that are doing amazing work, everyday, for African people.

I would be delighted if you could pass on this information on to individuals and organizations that you think would qualify. More information is available here.

-Edith Jibunoh, ONE’s Africa Outreach Manager, Abuja, Nigeria