Speech by former president Benjamin Mkapa on the occasion of the Drivers of Change and Investing in the Future Awards
Speech by former president Benjamin Mkapa on the occasion of the Drivers of Change and Investing in the Future Awards: Summer Place, Hyde Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 October 2009

A man of the people
Archbishop Njongo Ndungane’s faith has urged him to spread more than the gospel. For many years he has lobbied for affordable Aids medication in South Africa and highlighted the shortcomings in debt-relief strategies that inherently disadvantage Africa. “He is an undisputed champion for social justice and equality. His service to Southern Africa is an inspiration to many,” noted the Drivers of Change judges.

Tourism's fair game
The tourism industry accounts for about 10% of global GDP and, with air travel becoming more affordable, it is growing every year. Yet it remains a sector in which exploitation is rife. "There are very poor working conditions in the sector globally, very poor wages, long hours, overtime," says Jennifer Seif, executive director of Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA). Although child labour is not a big problem in South Africa, it is a major concern in other destinations, she says. Through its work, FTTSA is bringing the benefits of the global growth in demand for fair trade products to the tourism industry in Southern Africa. This is charting a new growth path in the fair trade market.

Beefing up the meat markets
Two-thirds of the three million cattle in the Eastern Cape are owned by black communal farmers, yet the commercial farmers who own the remaining portion earn far more from their livestock. Apartheid-era policies left black farmers unable to access markets or develop skills and infrastructure for starting small businesses. Dr Xolile Ngethu, a veterinarian by training, decided to change the situation.

President Mutharika Among the 2009 Southern Africa Drivers of Change Award Winners
The 2009 Southern Africa Drivers of Change award winners were announced on 29 October 2009 at Summer Place, Hyde Park in South Africa. Among the 2009 southern Africa Drivers of Change that were honoured was Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi.

Namibian Minister to launch the 2009 Drivers of Change Awards
The Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Namibia, Joel Kaapanda is expected to launch the 2009 Drivers of Change Awards on 1 April 2009 at Kalahari Sands Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia. The prestigious non-monetary awards recognise outstanding new ways of working to overcome poverty in southern Africa.

Innovative ways to beat poverty
This year's Drivers of Change Awards reward those who transform communities for the better. By identifying fresh approaches that work to decrease poverty, the awards promote changes in attitudes, policies and practices among the different social sectors so that efforts to overcome poverty are more effective. The awards recognise individuals and organisations from business, governments and civil society across Southern Africa.

Returns on the CSI Rand
Corporate social investment (CSI) has, in a relatively short period of time, become a formal contributor to social change in South Africa. Its execution now legislated, CSI is beginning to grow in stature as a strategic imperative for corporates. In the past year alone, CSI funding showed a healthy 29% growth. This is a time of unprecedented opportunity for CSI, provided emerging leaders embrace the development agenda.

Eradicating poverty in Mauritius

The role played by the Mauritius Council of Social Service in getting civil society ready for participation in the SADC International Conference on Poverty and Development won them a joint special award with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Mauritius.

Driver of Change in the Business category: Apparel Lesotho Alliance to fight AIDS

Read the feature on the campaign by the Apparel Lesotho Alliance to fight AIDS to provide HIV and AIDS support for workers in Lesotho’s apparel industry, enabling them to remain gainfully employed while at the same time managing their health.

Keynote address by former President of Mauritius

His Excellency Cassam Uteem, at the Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change Awards held in Johannesburg on 23 October 2008.

2008 Drivers of Change in Southern Africa Announced

The prestigious non-monetary awards recognise outstanding new ways of working to overcome poverty. They recognise individuals and organisations from the business, government, and civil society sectors. This year, 60 nominations were received from 11 southern African countries.

Making a real difference

In Southern Africa more than 100-million people live in abso-lute poverty and eradicating it remains the greatest challenge. With only seven years remaining to meet the millennium develop-ment goal of halving extreme poverty and hunger, the region continues to face many developmental challenges. It is the epicentre of HIV/Aids, coupled with food insecurity and extreme inequality.