Award: HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Nominee: ALMAS JIWANI
Position: PRESIDENT
Organization: UNITED NATIONS FUND FOR WOMEN
Country: CANADA

Profile (Justification for Recognition)

A highly accomplished, dynamic and self-made business woman, who is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a passionate and gifted humanitarian. Currently, Almas is the President of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Part of UN Women Canada. She has also served several distinguished boards and portfolios of His Highness

The Prince Aga Khan Council for Canada and The Aga Khan University. With a mission of empowering and strengthening global women’s economic capacity as entrepreneurs and producers, Ms. Jiwani has been committed to achieving this goal through consistent serving several executive boards and portfolios and also through her many speaking engagements, which serve to enrich lives and uplift the status of women at all levels of development globally.

As a result, Ms. Jiwani has become a highly sought-after speaker at international conferences on women’s economic empowerment including gender equality and women’s human rights. She has also become a voice for many underprivileged women and girls who cannot speak, and continues to play a key role in building networks among charitable institutions and socially responsible businesses to encourage an enabling environment.

Most recently, the Greek Postal Authorities and the Government of Greece released a commemorative Hellas stamp and bestowed her with the Goddess Artemis Award 2010 and inducted her into Women’s Hall of Fame in Athens, for her extensive efforts in bridging nations, cultures and elevating the status of women in the developing world;

Ms. Jiwani is the first United Nations member and the second Canadian to be honoured with these prestigious recognitions. In addition, she has been recognized with several prestigious awards and certificates.

Canadian dignitaries and Federal Government have all recognized Ms. Jiwani’s unparallel commitment to her mission in life and her success in realizing her goals. The media has widely recognized her International achievements over the last few years. Most recently, she was featured “Woman of the Week” in Women’s Post Magazine; Rogers TV, First Local also recognized her achievements in a recent News segment. Ms. Jiwani’s impact and influence have created a lasting legacy for various Canadian communities and in other parts of the world.  Stories about her leadership and achievements have earned her enormous respect among from peers, making her first among equals.

Award: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Nominee: PIERRE DECLERCK
Position: COUNTRY MANAGER
Organization: BRUSSELS AIRLINES
Country: BELGIUM

Profile (Justification for Recognition)

In Uganda 95% of the population essentially relies on wood and charcoal to cook their daily meals and deforestation has become a serious issue. This project supported by CO2logic amongst others seeks to help save trees, reduce deforestation and ensure better living conditions for the local population by reducing harmful airborne pollutants in their household.

The project facilitates the widespread access to improved woodstoves technologies throughout the country by setting up small ventures with local manufacturers, supporting the development of sustainable distribution channels and subsidizing stove prices for end users. Each stove helps reduce wood and charcoal consumption by up 40% compared to other cooking methods and can save US $75 per year per family. 

Each woodstove contributes to reducing 1.4 tonnes of CO2 per year the equivalent of a return journey for one person from Brussels to Washington D.C. The woodstoves also create a reduction in the emission of harmful pollutants that frequently cause respiratory illnesses such as Pneumonia for children and women in Africa.

UNICEF estimates that 2 million children are killed by pneumonia every year. Pneumonia is the single largest cause of child death and reducing indoor air pollution is one of the key prevention measures. This carbon abatement project would not exist without the financial support coming from carbon offsetting.  The project and its CO2 reductions are independently registered and verified under the internationally recognized Gold Standard label.

Award: INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY IN UNIVERSITIES’ AWARD
Nominee: ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA (IUIU)
Position: UNIVERSITY
Country: UGANDA

Profile (Justification for Recognition)

Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) is an international university based in the Eastern Uganda. The University runs a variety of academic programs ranging from humanities to sciences. In a bid to address environmental and community health issues, the university established the departments of environment, food, health and biological sciences. The programs have been carefully designed to ensure sustainable development of the community as well as stimulating environmental citizenry.

IUIU applied for this award basing on the following achievements among others which are beneficial to the local communities and the nation at large. In order to improve on the health status of communities, the department of food science and nutrition has the following innovations: Avocado seed beverage which is rich in iron, essential fatty acids and anti oxidants. It is vital in prevention of cancer, anemia, hypertension and an immune booster etc. These are neglected diseases affecting most rural communities’ especially pregnant women. This beverage is caffeine and tannin free as compared to coffee and tea respectively.

It can be consumed easily as substitute for tea and coffee; Malewa (Bamboo shoots) powder which is a local delicacy of the Bagisu tribe has been improved. Besides improving and adding value to this food, the department is actively advocating for and preserving indigenous food products. This is in line with the objectives of adaptation to climate change by local communities in ensuring food security. The Malewa delicacy is rich in fiber, proteins, and minerals such as zinc, potassium and calcium. These minerals are important as anti oxidants and for bone and teeth formation.

Profile (Justification for Recognition)

STEEL & TUBE industries started with Manufacturing of steel products in November 2005 in Uganda. In a short span of 5 years of operations, it has grown into the leading steel manufacturer in Uganda & in the East African region. During this period, the Company has managed to grow at the Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 50% increasing its asset base by more than seven times. The Company is still undergoing an expansion project. We are a leader in the manufacturing of Steel products in East Africa, as shown by our exports, for example, the export to East African countries constitute 30%-35% of the Company's turnover.

The Company provides direct employment to over 250 people and indirect employments to more than 500 people. In its quest to provide affordable housing materials to the population at large, the Company has started opening up direct sales outlets in the Communities for easy accessibility. On the sustainability front, STEEL & TUBE industries have an environmental clearance certificate from National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).

Besides this, the Company does not produce any hazardous waste/scrap to the environment, and this is because of its investment in Wrought Iron Machine line used for re-use of 80% of the scrap generated by its manufacturing process. The balance 20% scrap is being sold to the manufacturers having Hot Rolling facility for their melting & reusing.

Profile (Justification for Recognition)

The Uganda domestic biogas program (UDBP) is a public private partnership with Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development as line ministry, HIVOS, SNV and Heifer International in Uganda as a country level national implementing agency. The UDBP targets small-scale cattle and piggery owners in areas where wood fuel is a serious challenge to poor households. 

It is a valuable technology that apart from providing clean cooking fuel provides gas for lighting, eliminates smoke from the kitchen and thus reduces related health problems such as respiratory ailments and eye infections, particularly affecting women. Biogas digesters also produce superior organic fertilizer (slurry) used in agriculture. The slurry improves soil fertility and thus increases agricultural productivity. UDBP plans to construct 12,000 household digesters by end of 2013. Scientists’ findings suggest that due to increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (GHGs) emissions, "warming of the climate system is unequivocal.

The trees are being cut down for firewood, and statistics suggest that tree cover in Uganda has reduced by 80%. A single biogas unit conserves 3 tonnes of fuel wood annually through fuel switching resulting in substitution of unsustainably harvested biomass and maintenance of forest habitat, with associated biodiversity and community benefits. This translates into prevention of release of 5.5tons of co2 into the atmosphere annually from one bio digester, resulting into environmental benefits from reduced contribution to global warming and climate change.

Energy conservation and efficiency are seen as the most immediate and cost-effective ways for energy users, including the private sector and individual consumers, to reduce their carbon emissions impacts. Biogas contains combustible methane, hence preventing the release of the GHG-Methane into the atmosphere.