ZIMBABWE’S GIRLS SPEAK OUT PROJECT WINS GLOBAL DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT AWARD AT WSIS+20

Zimbabwe among four African countries honoured for innovation at global digital summit in Geneva

Award Africa Zimbabwe Honour Youth-led project Wsis+20 summit Innovation Digital literacy Girls speak out initiative.
Zimbabwe among four other African countries honoured at the WSIS+20 Summit
Zimbabwe among four other African countries honoured at the WSIS+20 Summit


Zimbabwe was among four African countries honoured at the WSIS+20 Summit in Geneva, after the Girls Speak Out initiative by Usawa Institute Trust won a top prize in the Media category of the 2025 WSIS Prizes.

The award recognises the youth-led project’s efforts to equip girls in underserved communities with digital literacy, coding skills, and leadership training, enabling them to participate in the digital economy actively. The initiative, founded by Anoziva Marindire, is designed to close the gender digital divide by giving young women access to tools and opportunities in technology.

The recognition was celebrated by a Zimbabwean delegation led by the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, the Director General of POTRAZ, Dr. Gift Machengete, and Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Eva Mlilo.

“This award is a powerful acknowledgment of what grassroots innovation can achieve,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The winning projects are not only inclusive but also provide practical solutions that help close the digital divide.”

The WSIS Prizes are awarded annually as part of the World Summit on the Information Society forum, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with other UN agencies. The 2025 edition marks 20 years since the summit began, with this year’s focus on evaluating digital inclusion efforts ahead of the UN General Assembly review in December.

Alongside Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania also won awards in various categories. Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Programme, implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), won in the Access to Information and  Knowledge category. According to NCC Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, the award affirms Nigeria’s commitment to equipping youth with 21st-century digital skills.

South Africa was awarded in the Enabling Environment category for its Digitech Platform, an initiative by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies that promotes visibility for local tech solutions and provides a launchpad for African developers.

Tanzania received recognition in the E-Health category for its New Era in Zanzibar’s Healthcare project. Led by PharmAccess, the initiative uses digital identification systems to improve health service delivery and enhance equity in access.

The WSIS+20 Summit brought together representatives from over 150 countries to discuss global progress and future priorities in digital cooperation. For Zimbabwe, the recognition of Girls Speak Out marks a significant milestone in promoting youth-led innovation and digital inclusion on the continent.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.