Become a ONE Champion

ONE Champions – part of ONE’s Global Activists program – are a young and motivated team of volunteers who support ONE Africa’s advocacy work. The Champions lobby decision makers, support with recruiting and managing members in their clusters, support media advocacy efforts, and mobilize public support for ONE issues. 

The 2-year ONE Africa Champions program provides young activists across Africa with the skills to advocate for more economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa, by engaging decision-makers at national, African and global levels. 

As a Champion, you will be crucial to advancing ONE’s mission by being our best advocates and bringing attention to the topics we fight for. You will: 

• Build your knowledge of international development financing, global health, and what African citizens are fighting for in those areas. 
• Develop skills in public speaking, presenting, writing, networking, and advocacy through your interaction with decision-makers, the public and (local) media. 
• Take part in impactful events where you’ll meet African and/or national policymakers and help shape real change. 
• Be part of a network of young, passionate advocates from across Africa, forming friendships while making a global impact. 

What’s in it for you?

Nardos Berehe, Ethiopia 

As a ONE Champion I get to be part of the change I want to see in the world. It bears the responsibility of turning awareness into action and standing up for justice, equity, and dignity for all. 

Chigatta Ouattara, Côte d’Ivoire

Being a Champion at ONE means embodying change, raising the voices of those who are unheard, and committing passionately to building a better future for our continent. 

Seydina Niang, Senegal

For me, being a ONE Champion means driving action and mobilizing resources so that no one is left behind. Together, we can turn voices into change and make essential services a reality for all. 

Fareed Ibrahim, Nigeria 

Being a ONE Champion means standing at the forefront of advocacy, equity, and meaningful action. It provides a powerful platform to amplify the voices of underserved communities, especially women and young people, by advancing policies that address long-standing inequalities in education, health, and economic opportunity. Through ONE, changemakers across Africa are empowered to turn challenges into solutions and transform local passion into global impact. 

Sally Ndwiga, Kenya

I became a ONE Champion to help amplify African voices in the fight against inequality and push for policy change that uplifts communities like mine. I am part of a powerful movement that turns advocacy into action, bridging grassroots realities with global decision-making. 

Joseph Tsongo, DRC

For me, being a ONE Champion means understanding local and global realities, acting with others, carrying forgotten voices, and transforming challenges into rightful actions with lucidity, courage, and responsibility. 

Key Wins 

Over the past few years, ONE and its network of ONE Champions have mobilized public pressure, influenced policy, and amplified African voices for justice and equity. To name a few: 

• ONE Champions in Nigeria successfully advocated for increased budgetary allocations to health through the Make Naija Stronger Campaign. In 2021, their mobilization efforts helped influence the Nigerian government’s renewed commitments to allocate more resources to primary health care. 
• In Senegal, ONE Champions contributed to a landmark gender justice victory by supporting national advocacy that led to the 2020 criminalization of rape through a historic sexual assault law. 
• At the 2023 Africa Climate Summit and COP 28, ONE Champions actively participated in shaping youth and civil society contributions, calling for fair climate finance and elevating African voices in global climate justice conversations. 
• ONE Champions have represented youth and civil society at the African Union Summits, AU-EU ministerial meetings, and other global convenings. Their participation led to youth perspectives being incorporated into civil society declarations, such as the Youth Statement at the AU-EU Youth Summit (2022). 
• Through digital campaigns and grassroots outreach, Champions helped amplify calls for vaccine equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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