1. Former Miss Universe and UN Goodwill Ambassador Aims
to Empower the Next Generation of African Female Leaders
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.
“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

2. 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

3. 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.