International
ONE Africa Award
Congratulations, SEND-Ghana, for winning the 2010 ONE Africa Award!
We are very honored to announce the winner of this year’s ONE Africa Award: SEND-Ghana. They’ve done an outstanding job of advancing the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Ghana, and we’re proud and excited to recognize them for their good work.
SEND-Ghana is a policy research and advocacy-based NGO that works to promote good governance and equality for men and women in Ghana. Their main goal is to build society’s ability to organize, influence policy, improve transparency and access social services. And they play an important role in coordinating Ghana’s MDGs and monitoring improvements on them.
The ONE Africa Award seeks to highlight the dynamism and achievements of African individuals and civil society organizations who are building a better future for their communities, countries and continent. Past winners include Slums Information Development and Resources Centres and Development Communications Network. Each winner receives up to $100,000 to help continue the fight against poverty in Africa.
Congratulations, SEND-Ghana, and we thank you for all the work you do. You are living proof that new ideas and approaches are transforming lives in Africa one day at a time. Learn more about SEND-Ghana on their website.
And don’t forget to read about the runners up and honorable mentions on the ONE Africa Award page.
ONE Africa Award Application Deadline Fast Approaching
There is only one week to go before the deadline for the receipt of applications to the 2010 ONE Africa Award and before we begin our selection process, I would like to encourage organizations that are out there to put in their applications and take advantage of a great opportunity to showcase their programs to the world, and win an award of up to $100,000.
The ONE award is one of my favourite projects at ONE because it gets to the heart of what we are about in this organization – to see Africa lift itself out of poverty. When we discover yet another organization involved in the implementation of the most creative programs to tackle their development issues, we gain further insight into just what it will take to ensure African citizens access opportunities to improve their lives. Each time we have awarded a winner, we have amplified the voices of people who understand that the solution starts with them. Our work continues to focus along these lines, and as we advocate for changes in policy in the international community, we recall what our previous ONE award winners are teaching us, Africa’s citizens always come first.
So please help us tell the world about these inspiring African success stories. The more the world knows about these stories, the more people will be inspired to come up with their own innovative solutions to tackle poverty in Africa. If you are eligible, or you know a group that is, send in an application or nomination before the September 24th deadline.
You can find more information as well as instructions for how to apply at www.one.org/africaaward.
The search for the next ONE Award Africa winner
As many of you may be aware, last month we kicked off the search for the next ONE Award Africa winner. I’m pleased to say that, we have already begun to receive applications from African individuals and organizations, based in Africa, who are leading the fight against endemic poverty. This financial award of up to $100,000 aims to showcase civil society working on the ground to bring about change amongst the poorest people in Africa, one day at a time. And in awarding the prize, each year we seek to raise the bar. This year we are looking for organizations involved in new and exciting advocacy strategies that are transforming lives by demanding action on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose 2015 deadline is imminent.
Since joining ONE as Africa Director just a few months ago, I have come to identify the ONE Africa Award as particularly unique among the many remarkable projects undertaken by the ONE team. In spotlighting the work that is being undertaken by Africans, we get to the heart of our mission to see Africa lift itself out of poverty. And by rewarding solutions that are home grown and home driven, we hope that we can encourage African citizens to pursue their creative ideas that seek to promote the sustainable development of their communities and ultimately help their countries along the path to achieving the MDGs.
I am therefore asking you to help us to tell the world the success stories of Africans who are doing so much, working tirelessly to build a better future, and contributing to help realise the promise of Africa truly claiming the 21st century. We at ONE are always proud to showcase and reward these frontline stories of creative excellence on the continent because they not only advance knowledge, but in many ways can also help to shape policies and above all, serve to inspire others to get up and follow their dream of coming up with innovative solutions. Such innovative approaches play a major role in economic development as they are often a source of job creation, social awareness, capacity building and poverty reduction in Africa.
Help us to find these outstanding best practice models Africa-wide, bring them to light and celebrate them! If you are eligible, or you know a group that is, I wish to encourage you to send in an application or nomination before the September 24th deadline. You can find more information as well as instructions for how to apply at www.one.org/africaaward.
ONE Africa Award 2010
It is that time of year where I get to announce that the ONE Africa Award is once again open to receive applications from African individuals and organizations, based in Africa, who are leading the fight against extreme poverty. The award of up to $100,000 aims to showcase civil society working on the ground to bring about change amongst the poorest people in Africa. This year, we are looking for organizations involved in new and exciting advocacy strategies that are transforming lives by demanding action on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Since becoming the first ONE Africa award recipient in 2008, Development Communications has continued their boot-camp style training for journalists on maternal and child health issues. They have forged partnerships with other organizations working to ensure that maternal and child health issues remain at the top of the Nigerian development agenda.
Our 2009 ONE award recipient, SIDAREC, was founded by a group of young people from the slums who have worked hard to uplift the standard of living of the youth living in Kenya’s slum communities by tapping into their skills and talents. The ONE Award has allowed SIDAREC to support some of their most underfunded programs including their radio station, Ghetto FM, and their Early Childhood Development (ECD) and HIV/AIDS support programs. ONE Award funds have helped SIDAREC enroll more children at the ECD centers and has been instrumental in helping SIDAREC equip their Kibera Resource Centers.
Since the Award, SIDAREC has received numerous visitors all interested to know about their programs. Many colleges and universities are sending students to SIDAREC for internships. The award has enhanced SIDAREC’s credibility as an important resource in local and international youth projects and SIDAREC is considered an organization worth partnering with to support youth projects and reach the community members with messages of hope.
So spread the word! The ONE Africa award is a great opportunity to spotlight some of the exceptional work happening on the African continent. If you are eligible, or you know an organization that is, I encourage you to apply before the September 24th deadline.
New video: 2009 ONE Africa Award Winner
Recently, we awarded the second annual ONE Africa Award. A lot of ONE members were interested in more information on this year’s recipients, Slums Information Development and Resource Centers (SIDAREC) based out of Kenya.
This great video, compiled by Kimberly Cadena, I think does a great job of explaining the background of the ONE Africa Award, as well as SIDAREC and some of this year’s runners up. We’ll have more on this soon!
2009 ONE Africa Award Winner: Slums Information Development and Resource Centers of Kenya
Right now, I’m at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Forum in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania about to announce the 2009 ONE Africa Award winner: “Slums Information Development and Resource Centers” (SIDAREC) of Kenya.
Founded by a group of young people from the slums, SIDAREC focuses on lifting the standard of living of the youth living in Kenya’s slum communities by tapping into their skills and talents. The slums that SIDAREC operates in were spared the violence after the 2007 elections in large part because residents had an outlet for getting their voices heard through SIDAREC. Innovative approaches include the use of drama,
art, and Ghetto 99.9 FM radio to reach residents with development-oriented information.
You can learn more about SIDAREC and other outstanding ONE Award applicants here.
This is our second annual ONE Award-a onetime prize worth US$100,000 designed to recognize innovative African efforts to tackle the Millennium Development Goals. We received 170 applications in total and narrowed the field to eight final candidates, including the winner, all of whom are featured on our website.
-Edith Jibunoh
The 2009 ONE Africa Award
I am really pleased to announce that the ONE Africa Award is once again open to receive applications from African individuals and organizations, based in Africa, leading the fight against poverty. The award of up to $100,000 aims to showcase civil society working on the ground to bring about change amongst the poorest people in Africa. We’re looking for new ideas and exciting approaches to transforming lives, initiated by accountable organizations that can demonstrate success at a community, national or regional level.
Since becoming the first ONE Africa award recipient, Development Communications has continued their boot-camp style training for journalists on maternal and child health issues. They have also added a video suite to their resource centre where journalists can record their shows on maternal and child health for dissemination to the Nigerian audience. This type of innovation has an important role to play in saving lives and advancing African development. If you are, or know of others involved in innovative efforts to achieve the MDGs, we encourage these applications between now and the deadline of August 21st. By honoring the commitment and progress on the ground, we hope that new efforts can be inspired leading to a transformation of countries in Africa.
Please help us spread the word. More information is available here.
-Edith Jibunoh
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
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
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About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
TAGS: Africa, ONE, ONE Africa Award