A new Africa beckons, one that fosters high visibility, maximum impact and borderless bonds. This is evident in the take-off of the Africa Continental Free Trade- a phenomenon that will not only unify Africa but also offers more opportunities for everyone
As a leading organization that seeks to connect people in the media space to opportunities, AWIM is positioned on the cutting edge of this awakening. To this end, the AWIM19 conference partnered with African Union-the visionary of the AGENDA 2063 to create awareness, showcase and equip women in media for global impact.
The conference witnessed the launch of the AWIM Awards- an event which marked the commencement of some programs tied to the AGENDA 2063 of the African Union. The AWIM Awards was originally set up to celebrate high fliers in media; it also doubled as a platform to showcase media stories that beamed the spotlight on the dawn of the new Africa. Consequently, the award categories got their names from the different touchpoints and programs of AGENDA 2063.
The SDGs and AFRICA UNION’s AGENDA 2063
For many years, SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) have remained a major foundation upon which many visions locally and internationally are founded. The AGENDA 2063 from the African Union is an extension of the SDGs focused on showcasing Africa to the world as the destination for global power and investment opportunities. This strategic plan from seed to full implementation has about 13 fast track programmes and projects- each one addressing key areas of concern in the African and global space. This blueprint was set up by the African Union to facilitate growth and development through individual work and collaboration between the public, private sectors and the civil society while opening up investment opportunities for the discerning.
THE AWARD CATEGORIES
All five categories under which media stories were pitched at the conference echoed the African Union’s AGENDA 2063. The initiatives from which the award categories received their names include:
- Women and Free Trade: In the last few years, multilateral/bilateral agreements have affected women negatively. Considering that men earn more than women, neoliberal policies mean higher import duties and more which many women are unable to pay. In line with the Agenda 2063 which seeks to erase gender inequality across platforms, this category welcomed pitches that shone the light on how women can benefit from free trade while highlighting the economic effects of policies that propagate gender equalities. In summary, trade rights are women rights. Vicensia Fuko won the award in this category.
- Free Trade Sustainability: This initiative was set up by the African Union to boost economic opportunities across borders and facilitate consistent growth. Some of the plans in motion include the enabling environment and rules to drive an African setting where a self-powering global value chain is available to every African. This also means that raw materials will be readily available to players in different sectors on the continent which will eliminate importation levies, improve per capita earnings per country and create more job opportunities for everyone. A grant of 2000 dollars and a plaque was awarded to Zahara Tunda as winner of this category.
- Free Trade Migration: This project addresses free trade in a unique way. One of the supporting plans for this is the launch of a high-speed train network across the continent. To make training across borders easy and sustainable, the train network will be set up to enhance the free flow of people and products. The choice of trains is based on a cost-effective approach that will also reduce the possibilities of congestion in a few years and in others to come. The winner of the category is Christabel Ligami and she received a fund of 2000 dollars courtesy of German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ).
- Silencing The Guns by 2020: A program focused on peacekeeping activities, one of the foreseen impacts of this project under the AGENDA 2063 is the alleviation of security issues through the strategic erasure of gender-based violence, genocide and other activities that pose a threat to human lives, properties and global image. The establishment of the African Human Security Index is a pointer to how this program intends to measure impact and progress over the next few years. This category was sponsored by GIZ, a German organization that focuses on rural development, Governance & Democracy, Reconstruction, Security & Peace among other goals. The awardee in person of Mary Mwendwa received a grant of 2000 dollars to produce her very relevant story which draws the attention of the world to the unspoken effects of gender-based violence.
- African Passport and Free Movement of People in Africa: This project under the AGENDA 2063 is focused on making Africa borderless through the removal of international restrictions and usage of different passports in the bid to promote All African job creation and availability. This will also foster continental relationships while making it easy for any African to work in other African nations without issues. The award in this category with a grant of 2000 dollars courtesy of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an intergovernmental organization that provides migration services for workers, displaced person and more went to Culton Scovia to aid proper research and production of the winning story.
Here is the video of the award ceremony
At the Award ceremony, Ms Ouriatou Danfakha, Senior Policy Officer at Chairperson’s Office, Commission of the African Union shared the criteria for picking the winners.
“The story we picked stands out from the others because it presents two perspectives when it comes to the role of Women in Conflict in Africa. The positive and negative roles. It is well established that women are victims and can play a crucial role and must be included in all peace resolution processes, as called for in UN resolution 1325, but what is not well known is the fact that more and more women are actors and perpetrators of conflicts in Africa.”
“These stories must be told (why and how to resolve) if we want to tackle the issue and come up with a sustainable solution”
“Because the realization of the “Africa We Want” and efforts towards peace and security cannot be attained without the meaningful participation and leadership of women”
As the award winners put the grant to good use to create these stories, their experiences are testaments to the opportunities the new Africa presents for everyone-showcasing how the Agenda 2063 is not only the blueprint for development, gender equality and newness but also an affirmation of how women in media can find their place and play their part to the hilt through strategic partnerships and laser-sharp focus.
