The Elevating the Voices of Women in Agriculture (EVWA) Campaign aims to raise awareness of the lived realities of women farmers in Africa. With the EVWA Changemakers Campaign and the EVWA Council, the BKMC is on a mission to highlight and galvanize action for the empowerment of women farmers in Africa. Women account for nearly half of the world’s smallholder farmers. In Africa, they produce 70% of the continent’s food. Yet, they are the most vulnerable members of the farming community, facing obstacles in accessing land, finances, education, and more, because of gender inequalities and our changing climate.
Applications Now Open for EVWA Changemakers 2024!
Nominate yourself as a EVWA Changemaker, and gain the exclusive opportunity to be selected as one of the 30 under 30 exceptional young Africans, who lead projects that contribute to the empowerment of women farmers. Gain global visibility, expand your network, and get the chance to win the prestigious $5,000 EVWA Champion Award! As this year’s EVWA Champion, you will also be featured in a professional documentary showcasing you and your initiative. Don’t miss this opportunity—nominate yourself by Sunday, June 30th!
Framework
EVWA Changemakers Campaign
EVWA Changemakers is an annual campaign, which recognizes and gives a platform to exceptional Africans below the age of 30, who lead projects that contribute to the empowerment of women farmers.
Through a call for nominations, inspiring young leaders in the field of women farmers’ empowerment will be selected as EVWA Changemakers and spotlighted on the EVWA webpage. Nominate yourself now to become one of our EVWA Changemakers 2024!
Timeline
Nominations
Call for Applications: Are you empowering women farmers? If YES, it’s time to nominate yourself and/or someone you know whose mission is to elevate the voices of women in agriculture in Africa.
Nominations: 10 – 30 June 2024
Notifications: 18 – 26 July 2024
Promotion
Campaign Launch: It’s your time to shine! In August 2024, we will launch a campaign for our EVWA Changemakers to recognize their efforts and initiatives that empower women farmers.
Promotion: August 2024
EVWA Champion
Documentary Filming: Seize the opportunity to become the EVWA Champion! Our selected Champion will be chosen by a panel of experts and will have their remarkable journey and project in Africa featured in a documentary film.
EVWA Champion: September 2024
COP29
Shine and Scale! It’s time to announce the EVWA Champion! The tailored documentary production will feature at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan and the Champion will receive $5,000 in seed funding to scale their project.
COP29: November 2024
EVWA Champion
The EVWA Changemaker, leading the most innovative and inspiring project, is announced and recognized as the EVWA Champion. With the title of EVWA Champion comes a $5,000 seed-funding award to scale the impact of this project. The EVWA Champion will also receive the unique opportunity to be part of an exciting multimedia documentary production and social media campaign. We will publish this documentary through our channels as well as at key events such as COPs and more to spotlight the EVWA Champion as a best practice example.
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EVWA Champion 2023 – Njieforti Princewill Gana
The EVWA Champion of 2023 is Njieforti, Founder and CEO of SustainAfric. He empowers widowed women farmers in Tiko, Subdivision in Cameroon with training on climate-smart agricultural practices, specifically snail farming. We wish him the best of luck with the next steps of their initiative.
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EVWA Champion 2022 – Lilian Nakigozi
The EVWA Champion of 2022 is Lilian Nakigozi, Founder and CEO of Women Smiles Uganda. She was chosen out of hundreds of nominations recognized for their inspiring initiative, empowering women farmers on the African continent. We wish her the best of luck with the next steps of her initiative.
EVWA Council
The EVWA Council fosters dialogue between women farmers from Africa, young changemakers, and institutional players in the fields of gender, agriculture, and climate change.
Composed of 11 experts from academia, international organizations, NGOs, and governmental representatives, the EVWA Council will work with women smallholder farmers and young changemakers to include their perspectives in policy recommendations to tackle the main challenges women smallholder farmers face. Meet our EVWA Council Members below!
