Awarded in 2024
Based in Lenju Pacaka Village, Paranvor Groupment, Anghal Chiefdom - Democratic Republic of Congo
Apoli is a community environmental advocate from Lenju Village in Paranvor Groupment in Anghal Chiefdom. She has become a respected grassroots leader whose work strengthens conservation, women’s empowerment and community resilience in rural landscapes surrounding Lake Albert. She received the Kilimo Environmental Prize jointly with her colleague Vicky, who is based in Gotrau Parish in Dei Sub County in Pakwach District. Together, they represent the growing movement of women shaping environmental action at the local level. Apoli mobilises families, women’s groups and youth to participate in environmental protection activities such as community clean ups, recycling initiatives and restoration of degraded land. Her work addresses immediate local challenges that include plastic pollution, poor waste management, soil erosion and contamination of water sources that feed directly into Lake Albert. Through persistent engagement, she encourages communities to maintain clean homesteads, reduce burning of waste and protect the natural ecosystems that support their livelihoods.
A significant part of Apoli’s leadership involves strengthening the role of women in environmental decision making. She supports women who face obstacles linked to land access, household responsibilities and exclusion from community leadership spaces. Through dialogue circles and practical demonstrations, she helps women develop the confidence to influence local planning, organise cooperative actions and advocate for healthy and sustainable communities. Her work reflects the broader recognition that when women lead, community transformation becomes possible. Apoli’s joint award with Vicky reflects their shared contribution to environmental health, community mobilisation and education. While each works in a different location, their activism reinforces one another. They mobilise neighbours to reduce waste, safeguard water sources and protect forests and riverbanks. Their partnership has helped build local networks that inspire families to take responsibility for their surroundings and adopt practices that protect the environment.
Apoli received the Kilimo Environmental Prize in recognition of her leadership, her commitment to community wellbeing and her efforts to empower women as agents of environmental change. Her example demonstrates how rural women are shaping the future of conservation and contributing to a cleaner, healthier and more resilient environment across the Albertine region.
