Zambia Open Community Schools among finalists for ONE Africa $100,000 USD Prize

The ONE Campaign today announced the six finalists of its 2013 ONE Africa Award. With a $100,000 USD annual prize, the ONE Africa Award celebrates the innovations and progress made by African civil society organisations towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

This year’s finalists include Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) of Zambia; Doper l’Entrepreneuriat par la Finance Innovante et Solidaire (DEFIS) of Mali; Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) of Ethiopia;  Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF) of Tanzania; Friends of the Global Fund Africa of Nigeria; and Réseau Accès aux Médicaments Essentiels (RAME) of Burkina Faso.

Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, Africa Director at ONE applauded the work of these organisations, calling on others to emulate their spirit and innovation.

“These finalists represent some of the most innovative development advocates and change agents in Africa. They are creating a better future for their fellow Africans through the incredible work they do, often with no more than sheer determination and will. These finalists have proven to be effective in helping their communities make progress to specific MDG targets, whether it be halving extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, or providing universal primary education,” she said.

“We at ONE advocate for progressive policy solutions to African governments that promote economic opportunity and development, which are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. What I must acknowledge is that none of what we do would be effective without the indispensable role of indigenous African civil society organisations in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We are therefore proud to support local civil society on our continent, and it is for this reason that we initiated the ONE Africa Award in 2008. Today, I am honored to recognize and announce this year’s finalists, ” Dr. Moyo added.

The ONE Africa Award winner will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 8 November 2013 as part of the African Media Leaders Forum.

Previous winners of this prestigious award include Positive-Generation (PG) of Cameroon in 2012; Groupe de Réflexion et d’action, Femme Démocratie et Développement  (GF2D) of Togo in 2011; SEND-Ghana of Ghana in 2010; Slums Information Development and Resources Centres (SIDAREC) of Kenya in 2009; and Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS) of Nigeria in 2008.

Source: African Press Organization