Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Annual Report and No 2010 Prize Winner

Has it really been 4 years since I first reported on the formation of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation? Yes, back on Nov. 6, 2006, I wrote African Leaders $5 Million Contest - Will it End African Aid? What has happened since then?

This year, for the second time since its inception, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has declined to name a winner. Director, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (also Managing Director of the World Bank Group from 2000-2004) conveyed the sentiment that while Mo Ibrahim Foundation would rather be able to award a prize every year: "It is for exceptional leadership. We are not going to say because someone did a reasonable job we are going to award. The prize committee decided none of them displayed exceptional leadership."

The criteria for the prize precludes any current African heads of states. Those eligible must be a "democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government who has served their term in office within the limits set by the country's constitution and has left office in the last three years."

In 2007, Nelson Mandela of South Africa was named honorary laureate and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique was the winner. In 2008, Festus Mogae of Botswana won. The $5 million prize is paid over 10 years, plus $200,000 annually for life after that. The Foundation says it also considers granting an addiitonal $200,000 for 10 years, to be applied towards public interest activities and good causes chosen by the winner. No one has won since.

One might be thinking it's turning out to be the largest imaginary prize of the century, but it's not unusual, according to Mo Ibrahim, who said: "The standards set for the Prize winner are high, and the number of potential candidates each year is small. So it is likely that there will be years when no Prize is awarded ..."

He's not kidding. Many African presidents have been in office for decades, like José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola since 1979. Obviously, he couldn't be a candidate, but even if he could, Angola is ranking pretty low at No. 43 on the Foundation's annual report. The rank signifies a combined score based upon safety and rule of law; participation and human rights; sustainable economic opportunity and human development.

One would assume that the prior leader would have to at least be from the top 10 countries in terms of excellence. Mauritius ranks No. 1 on the current report. Its president, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, has been in office since 2003. Lesotho at No. 9 isn't ever going to qualify since it's a kingdom. Almost all of the other countries have leaders who have been in office since before the Mo Ibrahim Foundation was even formed.

Out of the top 10 countries, only Ghana's former President, John Kufuor, appears to have been qualified to me in 2010, but in spite of all the educational, humanitarian and economic growth he is credited with, apparently it didn't reach the level of excellence expected by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Mo Ibrahim also says: "Whether there is a winner or not, the purpose of the Foundation is to challenge those in Africa and across the world to debate what constitutes excellence in leadership."

I couldn't quite figure out the incentive part of the prize in 2006. Now 4 years later, seeing how it's a practically unattainable prize, I still can't see how it serves its stated purpose.

Sources: Embedded and
Africa Business.com: African leaders fail pitch for 2010 Mo Ibrahim award (6/14/10)
Times Live: No former African leader found to be worthy of award (10/4/10)