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In 2019, Abdul Gafaru founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. By the time he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. As of 2025, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative. The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just…
Big Impact starts with Real Support: Abdul’s Story from Ghana
In 2019, Abdul Gafaru founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. By the time he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. As of 2025, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative. The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just provide momentary support, it helped build the skills, networks, and credibility that continue opening doors,” Abdul explains. Since joining the programme, Abdul has: A grant helped Abdul start, and continued support helped him further develop his initiative and position himself to lead on a global stage. Want to…
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In Kenya’s Kwale County, budget decisions are often made without the voices of the women most affected by them. With support from the WYDE Accountability Hub seed grant and mentorship, Mbodze Mealii Swazuri launched Young Women At The Table, a grassroots initiative empowering young women to shape public budgets that reflect their…
From Knowledge to Influence: Mealli’s Mission to Put Young Women at the Table in Kenya
In Kenya’s Kwale County, budget decisions are often made without the voices of the women most affected by them. With support from the WYDE Accountability Hub seed grant and mentorship, Mbodze Mealii Swazuri launched Young Women At The Table, a grassroots initiative empowering young women to shape public budgets that reflect their realities. “When young women have a seat at the table, policy changes. Communities change.” Mealli’s project trained ten young women to become budget advocates in gender-responsive budgeting, budget analysis, and public participation. These advocates helped mobilise others in the community to take part in county public consultations, resulting…
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On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Kofi Annan addresses the audience in Cernobbio on the present challenges and future opportunities of the African Continent. As we are meeting in Italy, we should perhaps recall the words of the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder who observed that “There’s always something new…
Africa: Too Big To Fail
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Kofi Annan addresses the audience in Cernobbio on the present challenges and future opportunities of the African Continent. As we are meeting in Italy, we should perhaps recall the words of the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder who observed that “There’s always something new coming out of Africa”. And I am not referring to the tragic refugee situation, although let me praise those European leaders, like Chancellor Angela Merkel or Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, who have been brave enough to put principles above politics. Germany and Sweden alone are taking in the bulk…
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Kofi Annan urges the private sector to build partnerships with governments and work towards a sustainable economic future. Distinguished guests, laureates, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to be with you today for this important event. Let me thank the Midas Touch Asia Institute for inviting…
Midas Touch Asia Forum 2015
Kofi Annan urges the private sector to build partnerships with governments and work towards a sustainable economic future. Distinguished guests, laureates, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to be with you today for this important event. Let me thank the Midas Touch Asia Institute for inviting me to join you. It is always a pleasure to visit this extraordinary country, especially as Singapore celebrates 50years of independence. This anniversary is an opportunity to assess what has been achieved and to reflect on the challenges ahead. You have every reason to be proud of your accomplishments. Today,…
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Radio Sweden http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/114169?programid=3071 Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan discusses his memoirs with Tomas Ramberg of Radio Sveriges. Annan describes the wars and crises of his long career in the UN. In an interview with Tomas Ramberg of Radio Sverige, Mr. Annan discusses his memoirs, and his long career at the United…
Kofi Annan, the UN, the U.S. and the wars
Radio Sweden http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/114169?programid=3071 Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan discusses his memoirs with Tomas Ramberg of Radio Sveriges. Annan describes the wars and crises of his long career in the UN. In an interview with Tomas Ramberg of Radio Sverige, Mr. Annan discusses his memoirs, and his long career at the United Nations. A full recording of the interview is available at: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/114169?programid=3071
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Financial Times http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/9806e84a-f655-11e0-86dc-00144feab49a.html#axzz1hpRZhMHM Africans sow seeds of green revolution Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy… Arnold Mushongi is a man in a hurry. With his neat executive glasses, clipped diction and appreciation of the private sector, he looks like one of the bright young men and women who are liberalising finance…
Africans sow seeds of green revolution
Financial Times http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/9806e84a-f655-11e0-86dc-00144feab49a.html#axzz1hpRZhMHM Africans sow seeds of green revolution Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy… Arnold Mushongi is a man in a hurry. With his neat executive glasses, clipped diction and appreciation of the private sector, he looks like one of the bright young men and women who are liberalising finance ministries across sub-Saharan Africa and inspiring investor interest in the continent. But his mission is very different, albeit as important. The 40-year-old Tanzanian is not an economist, nor a politician. He is a crop scientist. In a remote corner of his homeland, he is seeking to enthuse thousands…
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See Africa Differently http://www.seeafricadifferently.com/blog/kofi-annan-speaks-exclusively-to-us There are many wonderful success stories to be found across the continent… Kofi Annan: Nobel Peace Prize-winner; former UN Secretary-General and now See Africa Differently interviewee! He speaks to Gary Nunn about the fibre optic cables that will transform Africa, the agricultural revolution that has already transformed Africa –…
Kofi Annan speaks to See Africa Differently
See Africa Differently http://www.seeafricadifferently.com/blog/kofi-annan-speaks-exclusively-to-us There are many wonderful success stories to be found across the continent… Kofi Annan: Nobel Peace Prize-winner; former UN Secretary-General and now See Africa Differently interviewee! He speaks to Gary Nunn about the fibre optic cables that will transform Africa, the agricultural revolution that has already transformed Africa – and how we can transform perceptions of the continent Gary Nunn (GN): See Africa Differently is a campaign to showcase the under-reported progress from Africa. As Chair of the Africa Progress Panel, what do you predict will be the largest area of progress for Africa in the next…
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We are witnessing a historic change to the development paradigm. Drastic spending cuts in the United States, uncertainty around Europe’s common currency and the consequences of the earthquake in Japan are reordering international priorities and put further pressure on aid budgets. At the same time, development needs in Africa are multiplying as…
The Power of Partnerships in Africa
We are witnessing a historic change to the development paradigm. Drastic spending cuts in the United States, uncertainty around Europe’s common currency and the consequences of the earthquake in Japan are reordering international priorities and put further pressure on aid budgets. At the same time, development needs in Africa are multiplying as climate change and rapid population growth add new financing demands, and populations empowered by advancements in information and communication technology are asking more of their leaders. While aid remains vitally important to build capacity, leverage other flows and achieve specific results, it is clear that African leaders and…
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I am delighted to be here today and for this chance to meet and speak to students, staff and friends of Exeter College. Let me begin by thanking Andrew Hamilton, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, and, Frances Cairncross, Rector of Exeter college, for the warm welcome I have received. It is, of…
The Future of Africa
I am delighted to be here today and for this chance to meet and speak to students, staff and friends of Exeter College. Let me begin by thanking Andrew Hamilton, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, and, Frances Cairncross, Rector of Exeter college, for the warm welcome I have received. It is, of course, a pleasure to be back at Oxford – a university which has produced such important scholarship on the United Nations and on Africa. I also want to say how honoured I am to have been asked to launch the 700th anniversary celebrations of Exeter College. I notice…
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The Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-g20/africa/how-africa-will-change-the-world/article1560125/ Africa is key to a safe and secure planet… Kofi Annan Africa’s resources, both human and natural, will become increasingly important as the century progresses. At the moment, attention is focused on its oil, gas and mineral resources. But as the damage created by current models of…
How Africa will change the world
The Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-g20/africa/how-africa-will-change-the-world/article1560125/ Africa is key to a safe and secure planet… Kofi Annan Africa’s resources, both human and natural, will become increasingly important as the century progresses. At the moment, attention is focused on its oil, gas and mineral resources. But as the damage created by current models of economic growth, consumption and waste disposal and their unsustainability become more obvious in richer countries, Africa will be seen as an integral part of efforts to save the world from itself, as the globe’s largest provider of low-carbon energy, including solar, hydro and thermal. The big question is…
