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World Food Day: African Development Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation flagship wins top international award for digital campaign
The African Development Bank marks this year’s World Food Day amid global recognition of its flagship Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program that continues to help millions of African farmers produce more food through high-impact technologies.
TAAT aligns with the World Food Day 2021 theme: “Our actions are our future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.” In just a few years, TAAT has provided 11 million farmers across 29 African countries with proven climate-adapted agricultural technologies, including heat-tolerant wheat, drought-tolerant maize and low-carbon emission protein production of aquaculture, resulting in increased production, boosted nutrition and improved farmer incomes for a better life.
The scheme will receive the prestigious “Gold Stevie” from the International Business Awards later this year.
The Bank’s video series chronicling TAAT’s impact, was streamed during the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Feeding Africa. It won the best “video – documentary” in the competition. The 2021 International Business Awards, the world's only all-encompassing business awards competition, drew more than 3,700 nominations from 65 nations.
“Through the experiences of women and men participating in the TAAT program, these videos tell the story of how Bank-funded agricultural technologies are helping 11 million farmers across 29 African countries produce more food and adapt to climate change,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “This Gold Stevie award speaks to the collaborative work of our staff, implementation partners, and program beneficiaries to share these stories,” she added.
The videos, beamed to more than a dozen Heads of State, global leaders and thousands of high-level online participants, showcased the experiences of farmers.
“The 17 Heads of State and others who watched would have been impressed with the quality of the film and, more importantly, the program itself. Excellent initiative,” wrote one judge who recognized the challenges of documentary film production during Covid-19 lockdowns.
“These programs are just so necessary to bring positive change and this documentary shows it excellently,” said another awards panel member.
“I emotionally connected with each video provided…the documentary captured wonderful, intimate and sensitive interviews with people. It became personal and heartfelt,” another judge remarked.
This 18th annual International Business Awards recognize outstanding organizations and highlight their positive contributions globally. Last year, the Bank earned a Gold Stevie for its 2019 Annual Report in the publication category and bronze for the Report’s companion video.
This year’s other award winners include Google, IBM, Yapi Kredi, DHL Express Worldwide, Dubai Municipality and Tata Consultancy Services. The winners will receive their prizes during a virtual ceremony slated for 8 December 2021.
