Every year during the annual African Women in Media (AWiM) conference, female journalists are given the opportunity to pitch story ideas to the African Union, where they showcase their motivation and creativity shape the African narrative. The selected finalists are awarded cash grants to produce indepth and evidence based stories that reflect the progress and impact of the implementation of Agenda 2063 on the continent. The stories are produced in at least two languages of the African Union.

The Agenda 2063 Pitch zone Awards are aligned to the goals of the African Union to promote stakeholder and citizens’ engagement and understanding of Africa’s development Agenda 2063. The African Union Commission Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), engages media associations as partners in raising awareness about Agenda 2063 and its Flagship projects. As part of the media engagement strategy, the ICD in collaboration with the African Women in Media (AWiM) has hosted the Annual African Women in Media Conferences in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The conference brings together media practitioners and owners, academia, as well as government and public sector communications officials, to discuss issues affecting the media industry, development of journalists, and specifically the participation of women in media sector.

The Agenda 2063 Pitch zone Awards is unique in its setting in that it provides journalists a setting where they can showcase their creativity and ultimately be awarded the funding that will support their ambitions to see their stories come to life and give a voice to the communities represented in their final work.

In 2022, the Agenda 2063 Pitch zone Awards focused on 5 thematic areas around reshaping the African narrative; women’s empowerment; children’s rights; digital transformation; and nutrition. Female journalists pitched their stories and the selected finalists were announced on the 9^th December 2022 at the African Women in Media (AWiM) conference 2022 held in Fes, Morocco.

Meet the Winners- Agenda 2063 Pitch zone Awards 2022.

1. Ms. Marie-Therese Nanlong (Nigeria) was selected the winner in the category on the AU Theme of the Year 2022 – The Year of Nutrition “Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent: Strengthening agro-food systems, health and social protection systems for the acceleration of human, social and economic capital development.” Ms. Marie’s series of stories will delve into how to scale actions that address the challenges of food scarcity, malnutrition and how regional and continental trade offers exponential potential for the continent to meet the food demands of every African citizen.
2. Ms. Elizabeth Angira (Kenya) won in the category on Promoting efforts towards the Economic and Financial Inclusion of African Women (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6, AU Gender Equality and women’s Empowerment Strategy (GEWE); the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), and the AU Constitutive Act. Ms. Angira’s series of stories will advocate for the rights of women, and breaking the culture of harmful practices that continues to hamper the full realization of those rights. She will also interrogate the implementation of policies and laws that safeguard those rights.
3. Ms. Melody Chikono (Zimbabwe) was selected the winner in the category on Promoting the Rights of Children in Africa (Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children). Ms. Chikono’s series of stories will amplify the voices of children in advocating for their rights. The series will also show the significance of promoting the rights of children for the continent to prepare its future, from which it can harness the demographic dividend.
4. Ms. Raziah Mwawanga (Tanzania) was selected the winner in the category on Re-branding Africa – Changing Narratives and perceptions (related to Agenda 2063, Aspiration 7). Her podcast series will showcase trailblazers in research, technology and innovation with a particular focus on sustainable solutions in agriculture, mobile money and digital solutions for Small and Medium Enterprises.
5. Ms. Patricia Namutebi  (Uganda) was selected the winner in the category on Africa’s Digital transformation Strategy – Positioning Africa for the 4th Industrial Revolution (related to Agenda 2063 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa). Her film series will focus on a climate smart Africa; the application of the 4^th Industrial Revolution; and modernizing agriculture and agribusiness.

The African Union through the Information and Communication Directorate has been supporting the media in various initiatives such as promulgating policies that protect access to information, safety and welfare of journalists; and with capacity building initiatives to ensure the African narrative and stories are told correctly by the continent’s own people, and in their own words. This is line with the AU’s vision of African development that is driven by African people.

It has long been proven that information is key to development. It allows citizens to make informed decisions, share experiences and learn lessons from each other. Journalists, being the intermediary that provides information both ways between institutions and their publics, are therefore key stakeholders in the development process. Ms. Leslie Richer, AU Director of Information and Communication observes that the awards are designed as a commitment of the African Union that is driven by the desire to ensure the media engage with Africa’s development from a position of knowledge about the different key issues. “With the funding received, each winner will have sufficient means to produce relevant, evidence based and timely content in their chosen format, content that digs deep into the issues to answer the famous five W’s and one H of journalism.”

The African Union through the Information and Communication Directorate has been supporting the media in various initiatives such as promulgating policies that protect access to information, safety and welfare of journalists; and with capacity building initiatives to ensure the African narrative and stories are told correctly by the continent’s own people, and in their own words. This is line with the AU’s vision of African development that is driven by African people.

For more details about the Agenda 2063 Pitch zone Awards, visit https://au.int/en/awim

For further information, please contact:

Doreen Apollos | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ApollosD@africa-union.orgl | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Directorate of Information and Communication I African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org

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