Four short-form documentaries focusing on public-private partnerships in West Africa earned one Platinum and three Gold awards in the prestigious 2024 Viddy Awards.
Produced by Creative Associates International on behalf of USAID’s West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, the videos are part of a package that explains the innovations, outcomes and transformative nature of the U.S. government-supported program in 17 countries.
“Creative continues to demonstrate its ability to implement high-quality programs and document these locally focused efforts with outstanding storytelling,” says Leland Kruvant, President and CEO of Creative.
The communications work, which includes videos, photos, articles and more, helps businesses, local partners, communities and the client better explain how programs like the Trade Hub are having a sustainable impact on businesses, their employees and the larger communities, says Kruvant.
The 17-country program catalyzed economic growth in the region by attracting private investment, strengthening business networks and boosting agricultural and trade sectors in Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and other West African countries. The five-year program ended in September after generating more than 60,000 new jobs and drawing a four-to-one ratio of private investment for each U.S. dollar.
The four short documentaries that earned awards this year are:
- Platinum for non-broadcast long-form videos (environmental issue) | Weathering extremes: Improving Nigeria’s farmland resilience
- Gold for non-broadcast long-form videos (public service/activism) | Nigeria: Rakiya Ali, agronomist, women’s advocate & farmer
- Gold for non-broadcast long-form videos (company overview) | Connecting Ghana’s rural women to the international market: The Nuts for Growth story
- Gold for non-broadcast long-form videos (company overview) | Nurturing livestock, building futures
Production team merits
Contributing to the production of the Platinum award for the video about weathering extremes and the Gold award for the video about the female agronomist include Michael J. Zamba (producer, scriptwriter and director) Jim Huylebroek (photographer and videographer), Michael Ijegwa-Adaji (field producer), Pariesa Brody (video editor of agronomist), Charlotte Bellis (video editor of weathering extremes) and Blessing Lass (field coordinator).
Contributing to the production of the Gold awards for the videos about Ghana’s rural women and nurturing livestock include Pariesa Brody (producer, scriptwriter and director) Jim Huylebroek (photographer and videographer), Charlotte Bellis (video editor) and Rhoda Tsivanyo, Blessing Lass and Bamba Fall (field coordinators).
Established in 1995 by a group of videographers, editors, producers, writers and directors, these founding members sought to honor excellence in all aspects of video production. Since then, the competition has attracted tens of thousands of entries from more than 100 countries. This year’s winners include entries from the United States, Canada, Spain and Argentina. The Viddy Awards competition is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
