The global “SDGs and Her Competition” has announced its 2018 winner, selected out of over 1,200 entries.
The winners were chosen based on their impact on the SDGs, vision and purpose, and clarity of the entries.
The SDG’s and Her contest showcases women micro-entrepreneurs helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their business operations. The winning entry was Tanzania-based Lucy Odiwa with WomenChoice Industries, whose micro-enterprise empowers women and girls in Tanzania by promoting safer menstrual health hygiene management (MHM), sharing information, products, and related services.
WomenChoice Industries produces reusable sanitary pads, post-partum maternity pads, child and adult diapers, and promotes MHM in schools to promote quality education for all, helping Tanzania to achieve SDG target 3.7 – Women’s health, as well as SDG target 4.1 – Girls’ access to education. “The lack of MHM products often affects the ability of low-income women and girls to attend school and to work,” said Odiwa.
In second place was was Kenya’s Charlot Magayi’s Mukuru Clean Stoves, which recycles waste metal to produce improved, reliable, and affordable cookstoves to reduce indoor air pollution, which is a major health challenge in the developing world. Her business addresses SDG1 – Ending Poverty, SDG3 – Good Health and SDG8 – Decent Work.
The two winners will attend the UN General Assembly in New York this September to discuss their work. In addition, they may also receive leadership training and mentoring from partner organizations.
Over 1,200 entries from 88 countries were submitted, with most of the entries coming from Sub-Saharan Africa.
