Donors for Africa Foundation, a grant management organisation working with governments, non-governmental organisations, funding institutions, philanthropic organisations, private sector and social impact leaders to break cycles of poverty in the continent, has announced the names of 100 African women who are setting new pace of change in development in Africa.
Prominent among the names include: Amina J. Mohammed, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sahle-Work Zwede, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Ini Abimbola, Osayi Alile, Ndidi Nwuneli, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, among others.
The grant organisation, which has raised over $349,000 in funds for local non-profit organisations in Africa, explained that 100 impactful women working actively in development across the continent of Africa were selected and celebrated to commemorate the International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day Celebration in 2020.
These women, according to Donors for Africa Foundation, represented a truly pan-African diversity from different African countries.
The foundation said the list highlighted 100 stars that are actively leading change, impacting their local communities through their work in international organisations, private and public sector companies, non-profit organisations, media and politics.
The foundation described the recognition as unique, saying there’s a need for increased focus and investment in the women who are leading development conversations in unconventional roles in Africa.
Nominations were received publicly to identify women in varying roles in development across African countries, and 50 young women were selected to join the list of Africans leading change.
An additional 50 women called ‘The Pacesetters’ are made up of a carefully, researched and well curated list of women leading change in government, policy, and advocacy.
Speaking on the list, the Founder, Donors for Africa Foundation, Chidi Koldsweat, said: “These women were nominated, selected and celebrated based on their impact and commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Every woman on that list can be identified and tangible result seen in their local communities as making a difference.
“We were also careful to identify women in the formal development sector who may not be founders but are equally using their skills and competence to create life changing results.
“We believe it is very important to shine the light on the role these women play as they work tirelessly to accelerate the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal and the 2063 African Union Agenda.
“Some of the selected women are: Amina J. Mohammed, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, H.E Sahle-Work Zwede, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Ini Abimbola, Osayi Alile, Ndidi Nwuneli, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Kiki Mordi, Sarah Lagot, Onyeka Akpaida, Hauwa Ojiefor, Jokate Mwegelo, Chisom Obi-Jeff and several others.
“We celebrate them for their consistency and commitments towards making the world a better place and we are set to make this an annual announcement so that more women from indigenous committees across Africa, can be identified, honored and celebrated.”
Donors for Africa Foundation has connected funding and development agencies to competent organisations implementing change in Africa.
It has also trained over 400 non-profit organisations, provided direct technical support to over 42 organisations, and reached over 15,000 unique accounts weekly.
Our vision, Donors for Africa Foundation said, is to provide long-lasting solutions to development challenges on the African continent by strengthening the capacity of impact-driven organidations to achieve a continent-wide change.
Idowu Sowunmi
