Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as the country's first Black president from 1994 to 1999. He was a key figure in the struggle against apartheid, a system of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa. Nelson Mandela inspired a nation to imagine a future beyond the oppression of Apartheid and fight for freedom collectively, despite the suffocating injustice of their daily lives.
Graça Machel is a renowned Mozambican politician, humanitarian, and advocate for women's and children's rights. She served as the Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique after the country gained independence in 1975. She is an outspoken critic of colonialism and remains a global beacon of integrity and wisdom, championing education and children’s rights.
Support Innovation and Amplify Impact
The Awards support the innovation of individuals or groups of participants by granting funding, which is accompanied by a range of communication, networking and mentoring opportunities available through the CIVICUS alliance. This helps the awardees to increase their reach and effectiveness.
Celebrate Achievements and Promote Visibility
The Innovation Awards honour individuals and organisations who are using creative and committed approaches to achieving justice and human rights, often in environments where resources and support are scarce. Celebrating their achievements helps to increase their visibility and recognition on a global scale.
Over 20 years, the awards have celebrated 42 change-makers from over 24 countries, recognising their contributions to citizen rights and justice movements.
2024/25 Innovation Awards
The 20th anniversary edition of the Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards are here!
Meet the Jury
The Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards jury is composed of five distinguished individuals from across the globe, each bringing deep expertise in social impact, grassroots organising, and systems change. Together, they represent a powerful blend of lived experience, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Rajae Boujnah
Civic Space and Non-Profit Strategy Specialist, Morocco Rajae Boujnah is a civic space and non-profit strategy specialist with over a decade of experience driving locally-led initiatives across the global south. A passionate advocate for civic innovation and resource justice, Rajae has supported civil society groups across the MENA region through policy advocacy, ecosystem mapping, and inclusive co-creation processes. She played a key role in advancing the Innovation for Change MENA Hub and has led capacity-strengthening initiatives that empower communities to advocate for their rights. Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, Rajae bridges human-centered design, systems thinking, and civic space advocacy to foster collaboration and transformative change.
Hamzat Lawal
Founder, Follow The Money & CEO, Connected Development (CODE), Nigeria Hamzat Lawal is a global citizen, community organiser, and award-winning advocate with over 15 years of experience leading grassroots campaigns across 40 African countries. As the founder of Follow The Money, a Pan-African data-driven initiative, and CEO of Connected Development (CODE), Hamzat champions transparency, climate justice, and political inclusion. His work has earned global recognition, including the UN SDG Mobilizer Award and the Council of Europe Democracy Innovation Award. A Malala Fund Education Champion, Hamzat continues to lead campaigns to reduce out-of-school children in Nigeria and amplify the voices of marginalized communities through technology and advocacy.
Rhaea Russell-Cartwright
Racial Justice Lead, Oxfam GB, United Kingdom Rhaea Russell-Cartwright is a racial justice strategist with a decade of experience in international development. As the Racial Justice Lead at Oxfam GB, she guides internal policy reform and supports the delivery of decolonisation and equity initiatives across the organisation. Rhaea holds an LLM in Human Rights from the University of Nottingham and serves as a trustee of Mandala, an arts education charity. Her work focuses on embedding racial justice into programme standards and organisational culture, driving systemic change through strategic leadership and advocacy.
John Grace
Consortium Coordinator, Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium (UMSC), Uganda
John Grace (they/them) is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and the National Coordinator of the Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium (UMSC), a network of over 26 shelters supporting LGBTQ+ victims of violence and homelessness. As a non-binary transgender leader, John Grace brings lived experience and strategic insight to their work, which began with the founding of Let’s Walk Uganda. They oversee programmes that provide safe, dignified, and empowering support services, and collaborate with civil society, funders, and media to advance LGBTQ+ rights across Uganda and the region. Their unwavering commitment to inclusion and justice makes them a powerful force for change.
Anonymous Juror
Innovator and Changemaker, India
Our fifth jury member is a courageous social innovator from India whose work has significantly impacted marginalized communities. Due to security concerns, they have chosen to remain anonymous. Their contributions reflect the spirit of the awards - inclusive, and deeply rooted in justice.
2024/25 CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awardees
We’re proud to celebrate five extraordinary changemakers whose work is expanding civic space and challenging injustice in bold, creative ways.
Brave Philanthropy Award
ACT Ubumbano – South Africa
ACT Ubumbano is redefining solidarity in the development aid sector. Emerging from a deep reflection on power and justice, this network prioritises local voice and agency over donor interests.
Their work includes:
- Small, flexible grants for grassroots social justice action across 8 Southern African countries
- Solidarity Hubs for activists to reflect, learn, and build meaningful connections
- Platforms that amplify voices resisting dehumanisation
Rooted in the Zulu word for “solidarity,” Ubumbano is part of the global ACT Alliance and continues to challenge dominant narratives - not just in theory, but through transformative practice.
Community Award
Digital Woman Uganda – Uganda
Digital Woman Uganda’s Mobimocc platform is revolutionising support for Gender-Based Violence survivors in rural communities.
Using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, Mobimocc offers:
- Anonymous, accessible consultations via simple keypress navigation
- Real-time support from trained counsellors
- A safe digital space for women in underserved areas
This innovative solution bridges the gap between technology and community care, empowering victims and enhancing wellbeing.
Individual Award
Guershom Gobouang – Republic of Congo
Artivist and Mobilser for Civic Space
Guershom Gobouang is the driving force behind “Slam pour les droits humains” (Slam for Human Rights), a bold campaign launched by the Centre d’Actions pour le Développement in Brazzaville.
In a context where outdated laws restrict peaceful assembly and youth activism is waning, Guershom uses slam poetry as a powerful tool for civic education and mobilisation. His work transforms art into a platform for:
- Relearning the power of collective action
- Popular education on human rights
- Creating an “associative village” where NGOs and citizens connect
Through this cultural space, Guershom and his team are reigniting civic engagement and defending the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Organisation Award
DASTAK Foundation – Pakistan
For the FIERCE Initiative
DASTAK Foundation’s FIERCE Initiative (Feminist Initiative for Environmental Resilience, Collective Care, and Well-being of Eco Justice Defenders) is reshaping how climate and gender justice are understood.
FIERCE pioneers a feminist participatory action research (FPAR) model that:
- Centres frontline defenders as co-creators of knowledge
- Uses visual and narrative tools to document emotional and political realities
- Reframes grief, fear, and joy as political expressions of resistance
By challenging colonial research models and knowledge hierarchies, FIERCE expands civic space through storytelling, care, and radical empathy.
Youth Award
Joseph Christopher Doroja – Philippines Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Philippines For the HARAP Program
Joseph Christopher Doroja leads the HARAP: Human Rights Archipelago Program, the most comprehensive youth-led human rights initiative in the Philippines.
In partnership with the Commission on Human Rights, HARAP includes:
- · The Human Rights Youth Champions Incubator, training 1,200+ youth leaders
- #Amplify, building a nationwide youth human rights network across 14 regions
- Harmony for Humanity, youth festivals that raise funds for grassroots groups
With over 2,500 youth leaders from 638 districts, including indigenous youth, LGBTQ+ advocates, student leaders, and young ex-rebels, HARAP is a vibrant force for civic empowerment and human rights.
This effort was co-supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
