Remarks by Dr. Peter G. Bourne

On the occasion of the announcement of the winners of the 12th annual Africa Prize, July 11, 1998 in Blantyre, Malawi.

Your Excellency Dr. Bakili Muluzi, the State President and the First Lady, Mrs. Muluzi;

Right Hon. Mr. Malewezi the Vice President;

Hon. Minister Mr. Aleke Banda;

The 1997 Africa Prize laureate Mrs. Joyce Banda;

Cabinet members, members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of the Global Board of Directors of The Hunger Project, and all of the women and men of our global movement, may I say what a pleasure it is to be back in the beautiful country of Malawi for this auspicious occasion.

We are particularly honored that His Excellency President Muluzi, has agreed to preside over the 1998 Africa Prize announcement ceremony.

Thank you, Mr. President, for the generous co-operation of you and your government in arranging today to be such a tremendous celebration for the future of Africa.

I also bring warm greetings from the entire Hunger Project family to our distinguished 1997 Africa Prize laureate, Joyce Banda. (applause)

Mrs. Banda is a living demonstration of the fact that when the leadership and creativity of Africa's women are truly unleashed, there will be no stopping Africa in its quest to build a better future.

Overview of the purpose of the Africa Prize

Mr. President, dear friends,

When President Clinton came to Africa this year, he put an international spotlight on some of the truths about Africa that many of us have been working to make known for many years:

Only with committed leadership, can the creativity and productivity of Africa's people be unleashed.

From heads of state, to the heads of farmer's associations and women's groups, from government officers to researchers and entrepreneurs, more committed leadership is absolutely essential.

It is for this reason that The Hunger Project annually awards the Africa Prize for Leadership. Through the Africa Prize, we intend to inspire more women and men to assert their leadership for Africa's future. In addition, we intend to draw the attention of the international community to the fact that Africa does have leadership worthy of greater partnership.

For twelve years now, the Africa Prize has been virtually unique in putting a spotlight on the positive breakthroughs being achieved on the continent, while focusing world attention on critical issues facing Africa and her partners.

When we launched this initiative in 1987, Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote that "through this prize, The Hunger Project is lighting a beacon of hope." We in The Hunger Project took this statement not as praise, but as a mandate.

To us, the Africa Prize - and the leadership we honor - are beacons of hope that point towards a new future for Africa - an Africa free from hunger, poverty and preventable disease - an Africa where all people of Africa have the chance to lead healthy and productive lives.

The Jury

Each year, the winners of the Africa Prize are chosen by a distinguished international jury, chaired by the former secretary-general of the United Nations, Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. Other members of the jury include:

Affirming the commitment of The Hunger Project.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Our organization, The Hunger Project, is committed to the sustainable end of hunger everywhere in the world. Given this commitment, and given the enormity of the challenge on this continent, Africa is The Hunger Project's highest priority.

Working in partnership with laureates of the Africa Prize, The Hunger Project has embarked on a program of action on the ground in some of Africa's poorest rural areas.

Already, thousands of families are growing more food, earning more money, and achieving better health, nutrition and education. Rural women have learned to read, have gained access to credit, have established enterprises, and have gained power and voice in decisions affecting their lives.

In establishing our programs on the ground in Africa, we listen carefully to Africa and are determined to work in ways that truly empower Africa's own leadership and Africa's own self-reliance.

The Hunger Project, for example, never imposes solutions from outside, but rather facilitates the formulation of Africa's own programs of development based on its own priorities and strategies.

The Hunger Project never brings in expensive foreign experts, but rather mobilizes and utilizes Africa's own expertise and particularly the local expertise and wisdom in each village and district, building greater capacity based on the local knowledge.

The Hunger Project never raises its money on images of poverty, but rather as an expression of true partnership with Africa's own greatness and of our own global citizenry.

The Hunger Project never settles for a few good projects, but rather seeks to make strategic and catalytic contributions to the entire national process of human development.

And finally - The Hunger Project places special emphasis on women, who against all odds and centuries of crushing subjugation, must find it within themselves to provide leadership for a world without hunger

Conclusion

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentleman.

During the last eleven years of The Africa Prize, many things have changed in Africa, and many for the better.

Apartheid has ended. Democracy has spread. Civil society has blossomed. Women increasingly are expressing their leadership and standing as full partners for a better future.

Issues such as agriculture, population, environment and capacity building, which were once largely ignored, are now becoming high priorities.

Not only Africa's governments, but also agencies such as the World Bank are committed to re-inventing themselves with a view to truly empowering the participation of Africa's people.

As we enter the new millennium, this progress must be solidified and must lead to far more vigorous action both by Africa and by the world community.

On our part in The Hunger Project, we promise to stay the course. We promise to keep Africa as our highest priority until the future we all stand for – a future where all people have the opportunity to lead lives of dignity and self-reliance – is finally achieved.

Thank you.