Call for 2008 Africa Prize
Nominations
We invite
you to submit nominations for the 2008 Africa Prize for Leadership for the
Sustainable End of Hunger. The 2008 Africa Prize focuses on Civil
Society Leadership for the Empowerment of Women.
The 2008 laureate
will join the ranks of previous laureates which include Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, Nelson Mandela, Wangari Maathai, Graça Machel and Joachim Chissano.
Women
are the key to ending hunger in Africa. At a time of
growing focus on the world food crisis, Africa's most important
food producers go unsupported. Women grow 80 percent of Africa's
food, yet they own only one percent of the land, receive only 10 percent of
small-scale credit and only seven percent of farm extension services.
Achieving food security in Africa requires transforming age-old
discrimination against women.
Africa's
civil society is at the forefront of this transformation. Civil society
organizations are transforming policies and building the capacities of women
to demand the resources, information and voice in decision-making that are
rightfully theirs.
Nominations
for the 2008 Africa Prize may be submitted in English, French or Portuguese
by completing a secure online form found at www.africaprize.org. Any
individual may nominate. Criteria and details about the Prize and The Hunger
Project can also be found at www.africaprize.org.
The deadline for nominations is August 1, 2008.
The
Africa Prize was first awarded in 1987. It recognizes African leaders - from
heads of state to grassroots organizations - who have demonstrated committed
and effective leadership for the well-being of Africa's people.
The
Africa Prize includes a cash award of US$100,000 to further the laureate's
work for the empowerment of women and the well-being of Africa's
people. The Prize is awarded by The Hunger Project, which works in 13
countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America to
end hunger and abject poverty. The Hunger Project's programs focus on three
essential elements for sustainable development: mobilizing people at the
grassroots level for self-reliant action; empowering women as key change
agents; and strengthening local government.
The 2008
Africa Prize will be presented at a gala award ceremony on Saturday, October
18 at the New York Hilton Hotel.
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