SWAGEN wins 2015 ONE Africa Award

Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN) recently beat out three other finalists for the 2015 ONE Africa Award, winning the $100,000 grand prize. 

The ONE Africa Awards honor African civil society organizations and efforts that are in keeping with the continent's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are meant to stem poverty.

Other finalists were the Global Shea Alliance of Ghana; Africa! Ignite of South Africa; and Community Link of Uganda.

Award organizers said choosing the nominees and a winner was difficult, as "there are countless African-led organizations and grassroots groups doing incredible, life-changing work across the continent."

This is the seventh year for the awards; 254 applications were received for consideration.

“As we exit the MDGs and prepare to implement the new sustainable development goals, this year’s finalists stand out as examples of the effective work African organizations working tirelessly sometimes with limited resources across the continent to help their communities make progress in the fight against poverty and diseases, be it halving extreme poverty, empowering women, or ensuring environmental sustainability," Nachilala Nkombo, acting Africa Director at ONE, said. "The response rate was overwhelming. Our finalists represent some of the most innovative and results-oriented development advocates in Africa, whose incredible work will no doubt contribute to the attainment of SDGs in Africa by 2030.”

Nkombo added that ONE backs "progressive policy solutions to African governments that promote economic opportunity and development, which are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa."

"By honoring the commitment and progress on the ground, we hope that new efforts can be inspired and we can collectively create a better future for all Africans," she said.

More information on ONE Africa is available online at www.ONE.org.