KENYA/BURUNDI—The United Nations (U.N.) Selection Committee has announced the laureates of the 2023 United Nations Population Award, with both awards going to African-led ventures.
The 2023 award held in New York went to H.E. Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, the First Lady of Burundi, in the individual category, and the Kenyan-based not-for-profit organization African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) in the institutional category.
Annually, the Selection Committee for the United Nations Population Award honors an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions.
This year U.N. Population Award recognition reflects tireless dedication and commitment to advancing evidence-informed solutions to population, sexual, and reproductive health challenges across Africa.
The committee for the award in 2023 is chaired by Rawa Zogbhi, Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations, and is composed of representatives of nine other UN Member States.
The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983.
It is now in its fortieth year and consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary prize.
The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is comprised of 10 UN Member States.
Furthermore, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs represents the UN Secretary-General in the committee, and UNFPA serves as its secretariat.
Ndayishimiye fight for the rights of girls and women in Burundi
UNFPA acknowledged that H.E. Ndayishimiye is a tireless philanthropist and advocate for the rights of women and girls in Burundi.
Subsequently, she has founded organizations including the Good Action Foundation “Umugiraneza”.
The foundation works to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, and the association “Femmes Intwari”, brings together women ex-combatants and the wives of ex-combatants for peace and democracy.
Among the many causes she supports, she is deeply committed to championing education for the country’s youth, addressing the causes and consequences of gender-based violence, and supporting people facing stigmatized and under-serviced health conditions, such as obstetric fistula.
She has developed countless concrete solutions to these challenges, including establishing a psychiatry center to support survivors of violence and numerous projects that provide information about sexual and reproductive health to marginalized communities across the Republic of Burundi.
In May 2023, she was elected as the President of the Africa First Ladies’ Peace Mission (AFLPM).
Upon receiving the award, she said, “I praise the Lord for the honor, grace, and joy He has bestowed upon me today, as I received the United Nations Population Award 2023. This award encourages me to redouble my efforts to serve my people tirelessly.”
The President of Burundi, H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye acknowledged the recognition, “I warmly congratulate H.E. Angeline Ndayishimiye for being awarded the United Nations Population Award in New York, in recognition of her tireless dedication to improving the living conditions of the population. Murakaramba!”
The AFIDEP shaping the future of Africa’s population
The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is an African-led, regional non-profit policy think tank established in 2010 to help bridge the gaps between research, policy, and practice in African development efforts.
They analyze, synthesize, and translate evidence (i.e., data and analysis) and use it to generate or strengthen political commitment, inform resource allocation, program design, and implementation.
The African Institute for Development Policy plays a vital role in shaping policies and programs that promote sustainable population growth on the continent.
Their evidence-based approach and collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, and international partners have resulted in impactful programming.
Moreover, their outputs have led to positive outcomes in areas such as family planning, maternal health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and population dynamics across Africa.
AFIDEP’s work has contributed to improving the lives of individuals and communities and fostered sustainable development, empowering African nations to achieve their demographic and health goals.
Dr. Eliya Zulu, Founder and Executive Director, AFIDEP said, “It is with great honor and immense gratitude that I accept the 2023 U.N. Population Award on behalf of AFIDEP. This accolade validates the significance of our work and serves as a catalyst for further growth and progress in our mission towards a better and more prosperous future for all Africans.”
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