In a landmark achievement for the nation, Her Initiative is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious 2023-2024 King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) Africa Prize. This accolade recognizes our pioneering work in advancing women’s rights, tackling youth unemployment, and driving sustainable development across East Africa.
The King Baudouin Foundation, based in Belgium, announced the news on Thursday, highlighting the significant strides Her Initiative has made in unlocking the economic potential of women and addressing the youth unemployment crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. This recognition comes with a grant of 200,000 euros (over 560 million Tanzanian shillings), which will support our efforts to reach 100,000 more women over the next five years.
Empowering Women through Technology and Innovation
Since our inception in 2019, Her Initiative has reached over 15,000 young women and girls through innovative programs. We focus on providing education, skills, and resources to help women enter the job market or start their own businesses. One of our flagship projects, the Panda Digital platform, uses SMS technology to deliver learning courses in Swahili to women with limited internet access. Additionally, the Digimali project assists young entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses online.
Lydia Charles Moyo, our Founder and Executive Director, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of our mission. "Gender-based violence, underage marriage, and HIV are just a few examples of the problems that are stopping women from going to school, getting a job, and breaking the cycle of poverty," she said. "My friends and I experienced these barriers when we were in high school and so started to look for solutions to the challenges we were coming up against. And that’s how Her Initiative started."
Moyo added, "We already support young women to build their financial resilience in six Tanzania regions, but with the KBF Africa Prize, we will be able to scale our work to help so many more women to achieve their dreams in Tanzania and beyond."
A Testament to Tanzanian Progress
Her Initiative’s recognition is also proof of Tanzania's progress in women's empowerment. Despite significant advances, 60% of women in the country still live in poverty, and many lack access to essential resources for shaping their futures and contributing to economic development. We aim to bridge this gap by leveraging technology to enhance digital inclusion among young women and girls.
Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Chair of the KBF Africa Prize Selection Committee, praised our holistic approach. "The selection committee was highly impressed with Her Initiative’s combined approach to advancing women’s rights and financial independence. Coupled with its innovative use of modern technologies and strategic local partnerships, Her Initiative is a highly deserving recipient of this year’s KBF Africa Prize. We look forward to seeing what the team achieves in the years to come."
Looking Ahead
With the support of the KBF Africa Prize, Her Initiative plans to expand our programs in Tanzania and across East Africa. We aim to create a network of youth organizations to facilitate knowledge sharing and resource exchange, harnessing the power of African youth to drive inclusive economic growth.
As the prize was officially presented yesterday at a ceremony at the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels, Belgium, it marks a significant milestone for Her Initiative and the broader movement for women’s empowerment in Tanzania and beyond.
Anna Kulaya, Executive Director at Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) and a Board Member for Her Initiative, accompanied our team to Belgium. She emphasized the profound significance of this recognition, not just for Her Initiative, but for dreamers, girls, and young women in Tanzania and across Africa. "This award is for the dreamers, the visionaries, and the girl child in Tanzania. I want to tell them that their aspirations are achievable, and this prize is proof that their efforts will not go unnoticed. Her Initiative now has the potential to grow and reach even more people," she said.
This is the second international prize for Her Initiative’s work this year. In April, Ms. Moyo received the Global Citizen Prize 2024 for her dedication to dismantling the shackles of poverty and fostering economic empowerment for girls and young women.
Since our inception in 2019, Her Initiative has transformed the lives of over 15,000 young women and girls through innovative programs that provide education, skills, and resources necessary to enter the job market or start their own businesses.