TheCable

ONE Africa, a global organisation campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, has called for applications from organisations committed to developing Africa.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the award is focused on supporting young Africans to recover from the impact of the COVID pandemic by providing opportunities that will reshape the continent’s economy.

The sum of $100,000 will be awarded to a successful organisation that supports young Africans with skills, jobs and educational opportunities across Africa.

“The ONE Africa award honours African organisations dedicated to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and providing the world with a blueprint for building a better future,” the statement reads.

“The award recognizes, incentivises and provides a platform to showcase the exceptional work of organisations founded by Africans and based in Africa.

“Before the pandemic, the lack of decent jobs and opportunities was already a pressing issue in Africa but the socio-economic ramifications of COVID-19 are hitting young people in the continent rapidly and the consequences are harsh.

“Young Africans are confronted with various aftershocks, including disruptions to education, lack of access to training and income losses due to economic pressures and are presented with even greater difficulties in finding good quality jobs.

“Inspired by our #JobsNowAfrica campaign which advocates for the creation of 15 million decent jobs annually in Africa by 2025, this year the award will be conferred to an organisation which provides opportunities for young Africans to gain the skills and experience needed, through excellent job and educational opportunities that raise their aspirations and professional networks.”

Speaking on the award, Serah Makka, interim Africa executive director of the ONE Campaign, said young Africans, including the poor and vulnerable, will benefit from the opportunities offered by the award.

“Africa is demographically the world’s youngest continent. By 2030, one fifth of the global labour force – and nearly one third of the global youth labor force – will be from this region. While 10 to 12 million youths enter the workforce each year, only 3 million formal jobs are created,” she said.

“The pandemic has exerted extraordinary social, economic and health challenges on African countries and has exacerbated the social inequalities impacting the most vulnerable. The $100,000 will focus on African ingenuity.

“The award will be given to a visionary organisation committed to rebuilding a resilient Africa by generating opportunities that will assist in reshaping the continent’s economy and prepare its youth to thrive in an evolving world.”

Interested persons can apply here.