Former Miss Universe and UN Goodwill Ambassador Aims

to Empower the Next Generation of African Female Leaders

“Research confirms that women reinvest majority of their incomes in their children and families, and that

putting assets and incomes in women’s hands leads to higher investment in health, nutrition, education

and human development. Empowering women is the best way to ensure inclusive and sustainable

development in Africa,” Mpule cited as the need behind initiatives such as the NEW Africa Leadership

Program. “My firm conviction in the power of investing in women stems from personal experience,” she

added.

In 1999, at the age of 19, Mpule Kwelagobe made history as the first delegate to represent Botswana at

the Miss Universe pageant, and she won! She became the first black African woman to win an

international pageant. With the support of two accomplished women in her country—Linah Mohohlo, the

Governor of the Bank of Botswana and Joy Phumaphi, then Minister of Health for Botswana—she

established her own health foundation to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Botswana. Nelson Mandela was

the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the launching of the MPULE Foundation.

In 2000, Mpule was appointed as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and HIV/AIDS by

the UN’s Population Fund, UNFPA. She addressed members of the United States Congress, participated

in policy forums in Washington DC, lobbied European donor governments on behalf of the UN, and

spoke on panels at global development forums including at the World Summit on Sustainable

Development. In 2003, the World Economic Forum selected Mpule as a Global Leader for Tomorrow.

Recognizing her potential to be a change agent, the Government of Botswana awarded her a scholarship

NEW YORK, September. 25, 2012—Former Miss

Universe and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador,

Mpule Kwelagobe, today announced a new initiative to

mobilize the next generation of African female leaders

aged 35 and under. She unveiled the commitment called

“In Women’s Hands: Empowering the Next Generation

of African Female Leaders” during the Clinton Global

Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City.

Mpule, now CEO of the MPULE Institute for

Endogenous Development, a New York-based

advocacy and public policy think tank, will spearhead

the launch of the Network of Women Investing in

Africa (NEW Africa) Leadership Program to engage

and empower female change agents recognized for their

commitment to championing social issues and creating

innovative solutions to address pressing development

challenges facing Africa that span agriculture, water,

health, education, energy, technology and

infrastructure.

to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. She graduated from the Ivy League institution in

2006 with a degree in International Political Economy.

Mpule readily admits she’s fortunate to have benefitted from investment and capacity building from

diverse stakeholders who, she says, believed in her potential to effect positive change. She maintains that

there are many other equally capable and dynamic young African women, with demonstrated potential to

transform their communities and countries, who can benefit from multi-stakeholder capacity-building

provided by the NEW Africa Leadership Program. It is a bold undertaking, but one also desperately

needed considering that poverty remains gendered in Africa. Despite their contributions, African women

earn 10% of incomes and own just 1% of assets across the continent.

With 3 years remaining on the Millennium Development Goals, the NEW Africa Leadership Program

will serve as an advocacy and public policy campaign to hold African governments, donors, multilateral

institutions and other stakeholders accountable to promises made to advance gender equality and

women’s empowerment in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The key focus of the

campaign will be Millennium Development Goal 3 (MDG3) on gender equality, which has been proven

to have multiplier effects that lead to achievement of the other MDGs.

“It is time to deliver on partnerships and programs that promote a rights-based approach to women’s

empowerment,” Mpule stresses. “Promoting gender equality, and ending violence and discrimination

against women is essential to poverty eradication, economic growth and human development in Africa.

The NEW Africa Leadership Program seeks to strengthen young women’s voices to increase their

participation in the development of their countries. We call upon all stakeholders to partner with us in

unlocking the tremendous potential for economic growth and development that lies in African women’s

hands.”

About the MPULE Institute for Endogenous Development The MPULE Institute for Endogenous Development is a New York City-based advocacy and public

policy think tank that champions agriculture-led development, pro-poor inclusive green growth, gender

equality and women’s empowerment, and sustainable development pathways in Africa. The MPULE

Institute builds upon 12 years of experience convening and partnering with multi-stakeholders to

empower women and youth to design multisectoral approaches and innovative solutions to critical social

issues.

Follow the MPULE Institute

www.mpule.com/NEWAfricaLeadership

www.facebook.com/MPULEinstitute

www.twitter.com/MPULEinstitute

About the MPULE Foundation Since 1999, the Botswana-based MPULE Foundation has partnered with nearly 20 multi-stakeholders

including the Government of Botswana, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Harvard AIDS

Institute, African Youth Alliance (AYA), Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC), Bristol Myers

Squibb’s Secure the Future AIDS Foundation, Botswana Council of Churches (BCC), Botswana Family

Welfare Association (BOFWA), Botswana Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (BONEPWA),

Coping Center of People Living with HIV/AIDS (COCEPWA), Youth Health Organization (YOHO) and

the Botswana Council of Women (BCW) to launch health and empowerment programs in two dozen

urban and rural areas across Botswana. In 2001 the Mpule Kwelagobe and the MPULE Foundation

received the Jonathan Mann Human Health Rights Award from the International Association of

Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC). Today the MPULE Foundation serves as patron for the Mpule

Kwelagobe Children’s Center established by Debswana Diamond Company and the Government of

Botswana.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders

to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual

Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of

leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To

date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of

nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these

commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in

the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate

students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information,

visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at

facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.