Throughout Africa, there is amazing progress by civil society focused on ending extreme poverty and preventable disease. These new ideas and exciting approaches are designed and implemented by Africans who understand the complexities of bringing about change and transforming lives in their communities.
The ONE Africa Award celebrates these innovations and progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the world's blueprint to a better future, ranging from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education.
2011 Winner:
Groupe de Réflexion et d'action, Femme Démocratie et Développement (GF2D) / Action Think Tank for Women in Democracy and Development, Togo
GF2D's mission is to help women exercise their right to participate in decision-making processes of Togo. GF2D conducts advocacy in order to influence legislative changes that will positively impact women and children. Its strategy for doing this involves the training of 600 paralegals that teach communities about their legal rights and provide legal services. GF2D has also trained women to be active participants in their communities and run for political office. GF2D's sensitisation work in lead up to elections in 2007 and 2010 have created the space for women, and even the general population, to be more involved in the electoral process.