The laureates of the 2023 United Nations Population Award are H.E. Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, the First Lady of Burundi, in the individual category and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) in the institutional category.
A tireless philanthropist and advocate for the rights of women and girls in Burundi, H.E. Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye has founded organizations including the Good Action Foundation "Umugiraneza", which works to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, and the association "Femmes Intwari", which brings together women ex-combatants and the wives of ex-combatants for peace and democracy. Among the many causes she supports, she is deeply committed to championing education for the country's youth, addressing the causes and consequences of gender-based violence and supporting people facing stigmatized and under-serviced health conditions, such as obstetric fistula. She has developed countless concrete solutions to these challenges, including establishing a psychiatry centre to support survivors of violence and numerous projects that provide information about sexual and reproductive health to marginalized communities across the Republic of Burundi. In May 2023, she was elected as the President of the Africa First Ladies' Peace Mission (AFLPM).
The African Institute for Development Policy plays a vital role in shaping policies and programmes that promote sustainable population growth on the continent. Their evidence-based approach and collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, and international partners has resulted in impactful programming and positive outcomes in areas such as family planning, maternal health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and population dynamics across Africa. AFIDEP's work has contributed to improving the lives of individuals and communities and fostered sustainable development, empowering African nations to achieve their demographic and health goals.
The committee for the award in 2023 is chaired by Rawa Zogbhi, Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations and is composed of representatives of nine other UN Member States. The United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs represents the UN Secretary-General in the committee, and UNFPA serves as its secretariat.
