The EfD Impact Award was presented for the second time at the EfD Annual Meeting in Ghana in October 2023. The winner was Wisdom Akpalu, EfD Ghana, for his work to achieve policy change for sustainable fisheries in Ghana. 

The motivation was: 

“Professor Wisdom Akpalu’s research and policy engagement has played an instrumental role in the development and implementation of policies to make fisheries practices in Ghana more sustainable.  Policy changes to which Akpalu has made important contributions include the use of video monitors on industrial trawlers, changes in mesh sizes, an alternative livelihood training support program, and the establishment of a Scientific and Technical Committee under the Fisheries Commission. His work on these politically sensitive topics, including harmful subsidies, is solidly built on facts and figures, and he has thereby gained the respect and trust of government officials as well as artisanal fisheries organizations.” 

An external committee selects the winner of the EfD Impact award. The members are: 

Chantal Line Carpentier, Head Trade, environment, climate change, and sustainable development, UNCTAD Division of International Trade and Commodities

Pushpam Kumar, Chief Environmental Economist and Senior Economic Advisor, UN Environment Programme

Precious Zikhali, Senior Economist, the World Bank

Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, Global Lead for Pollution Management and Circular Economy, World Bank

Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice-President, Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, African Development Bank Group