By Abibat Aliu
The 12th edition of the ONE Africa Award honours African organisations for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and providing the world with a blueprint for building a better future.
The award recognises, incentivises and provides a platform to showcase the exceptional work of organisations founded by Africans and based in Africa.
The award which calls for applications will run from September 2022 and close on 30 September 2022. Africa-led and Africa-driven organisations have the opportunity to submit their applications for consideration.”
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 yearly 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.
According to Interim Africa Executive Director, One Campaign, Serah Makka,
“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 labour force – will be from this region.
“While 10 to 12 million youth enter the workforce each year, only 3 million formal jobs are created. 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.
