This recognition is part of the BKMC’s campaign “Elevating the Voices of Women in Agriculture” which spotlights African change-makers, empowering women farmers.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA, December 6, 2023 – The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKMC) is proud to announce Njieforti Princewill Gana and his organization “SustainAfric” as the EVWA Champion 2023 at their COP28 Children & Youth Pavilion side event in Dubai, UAE on December 4th, 2023.

This prestigious recognition is part of the annual campaign “Elevating the Voices of Women in Agriculture” (EVWA) by the BKMC which spotlights young African change-makers, empowering women farmers in their communities. Each year, the EVWA Champion receives global visibility through the BKMC at landmark events like the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP), and a seed-funding award of USD 5.000 to scale their project. In addition, the Champion is the focus of a multi-media documentary showcasing their impactful work.

“Climate change further intensifies existing gender injustices in the farming community, such as access to land, finance, and education, increasing women farmers’ vulnerability.”8th Secretary-General of the United Nations & Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens Ban Ki-moon

“That is why, every year, the Ban Ki-moon Centre nominates one champion who creates tailored local solutions to such challenges and elevates the voices of women in agriculture. This year, we are proud to announce Njieforti Princewill Gana and his organization “Sustain Afric” as the 2023 EVWA Champion. He empowers widowed farmers in Cameroon, providing trainings on climate-resilient agriculture and capacity-building for snail farming.”Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens CEO Monika Froehler

Gana and his team at SustainAfric realized that women, especially widows, are the most vulnerable in their communities. Many widows struggled to provide food and education for their children and families, as properties and land were confiscated by in-laws. SustainAfric provides trainings for widowed women farmers on snail farming, specifically Giant African Snails. The widows learn how to use the shell, the feces, the slime, and the flesh to create delicacies, food for animals, cosmetics, and manure for crops. Snail farming is practiced like in a circular economy. They have trained 350 women in the Subdivision of Tiko, Cameroon on sustainable snail farming.

To find out more about Gana’s story and SustainAfric, you can watch the documentary below.

Access the recording of the COP28 Children & Youth side event on December 4th, 2023: https://www.youtube.com/live/AaxbUkC4Z7o?feature=shared&t=17702