Austria's Commitment to the 2030 Agenda

ACTIVE ON
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
KOFI ANNAN AWARD
FOR INNOVATION IN
AFRICA:
PROMOTING SDGS
The “Kofi Annan Award for Innovation in Africa” aims to promote
innovative social entrepreneurs from all over the African
continent. Each year, the focus is placed on a different SDG.
The idea of the “Kofi Annan Award for Innovation
in Africa” (KAAIA) already occurred
in the context of the Austrian EU Presidency
in 2018. The project materialised
after the “High-Level Africa-Europe Forum”
under the motto “Taking cooperation into
the digital age”. The declared objective of
KAAIA is a partnership between Africa and
Europe, beyond theaway from classical
development cooperation. In memory of
the former UN Secretary General, the
programme aims toshould make a contribution
contribute to an inclusive and more
equitable just world.
Support for social entrepreneurs
By founding the Global Compact in the
year 2000, former UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan already highlighted the importance
of the private sector for the fight
against poverty. The Global Compact is a
global pact between the UN and companies
to make economic growth and globalisation
more sustainable. On the power of business,
the former Secretary General said at
the time: “But governments cannot do it
alone. Civil society groups have a critical
role, as partners, advocates and watchdogs.
So do commercial enterprises. Without the
private sector, sustainable development
will remain only a distant dream.”
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