Project Management Institute (PMI) has announced three African Projects listed as 2024 most influential projects and has honoured 20 projects across industries and regions with the aim of advancing the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
PMI is the leading authority in project management, dedicated to guiding the way to project success and empowers current and aspiring project professionals as well as organisations, with knowledge and resources to lead effectively and create an impact in the communities they serve with global community, gold-standard professional certifications and career-long learning opportunities.
The three projects include Africa’s Largest Kitchen by Food4Education, Life-changing Cash Transfers, a project by Give Directly and the Energy Subscription Program under the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa which have achieved significant milestones in alignment with the United Nations (UN) SDGs, all addressing clear outcomes that drive project success beyond budget, scope, and schedule.
SDGs were introduced in the year 2015 to address the world’s most urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges bringing together millions of people, nonprofits, collectives, and companies to generate robust, creative ideas about improving the world and creating progress.
Speaking at the event, PMI Managing Director (MD), Sub-Saharan Africa, George Asamani expressed that PMI is proud to recognise and celebrate the efforts, as they embody the spirit of what project management can achieve for a better future.
“Through innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to sustainable development, we are seeing real progress in addressing some of Africa’s most pressing challenges,” highlighted Asamani.
He at the same time observed that through empathy, teamwork, innovation and outstanding project management, this year’s honorees represent transformative initiatives that advance the United Nations SDGs and recognize the implementation of solutions and comprehensive approaches that rethink the world as it is known rather than putting a bandage on problems.
“This year’s most influential projects demonstrate the tremendous potential of project management to not only meet strategic goals but also to drive meaningful social change,” stated the MD.
Additionally, Asamani disclosed that the projects are critically assessing their performance to develop replicable best practices that can create exponential positive change as he implored their progress on innovative projects in education, climate action, architecture, technology, healthcare among others.
“According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2024, the progress has been slow, with only 17percent of the SDG targets on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress,” he noted.
Meanwhile, PMI research has just revealed that some of the projects having degree of social benefits are more likely to be rated a success including three standout projects honoured from the Sub-Saharan Africa region such as Africa’s Largest Kitchen by Food4Education which addresses food insecurity by providing nutritious meals to school children across Kenya by directly contributing to the UN SDG of zero hunger.
Secondly, Life-changing Cash Transfers, a project by Give Directly, empowers vulnerable communities through direct cash transfers, enabling recipients to meet essential needs while the third project, Energy Subscription Program under the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa is expanding access to affordable, renewable energy across underserved communities, advancing SDG goals related to clean energy and economic growth.
PMI researched hundreds of most influential projects of 2024 and gathered nominations from experts, members, and stakeholders worldwide, where the honorees were rigorously evaluated through quantitative and qualitative data to ensure each project achieved a notable milestone in the last year while also confirming their alignment with the UN SDGs and the values of the global project management community.
Some of the top 20 most influential projects globally according to the research include one Billion Tree Project, Government of Mongolia in collaboration with private enterprise (Region: Asia Pacific), Wolbachia Mosquitoes Release Program, World Mosquito Program, Blue Natural Capital, OCN.AI, Digital Security Training, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Irrigation Monitoring Sensors, Virtual Irrigation Academy, The Pad Project Partnership Program among others.
Additionally, the standout projects from Sub-Saharan Africa and other innovative initiatives from the region received honourable mentions for their exceptional contributions to alleviating global challenges including The Samburu Project, which is improving access to clean water in Kenya’s arid regions, directly supporting the UN SDG for clean water and sanitation.
Others includes The Square Kilometer Array Radio Telescope, an ambitious international collaboration that advances scientific understanding of the universe while fostering local development and capacity-building in South Africa and The Vision Impact Project, which is transforming eye care accessibility by providing vision screening and affordable eyewear to underserved communities, addressing health and well-being goals.
By Sharon Atieno
