Omidyar Network Commits $5 Million to Government Accountability in Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria, July 19, 2011 -

- ‘My Voice, Our
Community’ campaign to support tools that empower citizens

Omidyar Network announced today a new two-year, US$5million
commitment to fund organizations that foster government
transparency and accountability in Africa.  The ‘My Voice,
Our Community‘ campaign will invest in innovative organizations
that use technology to give citizens a voice in their community by
connecting individuals to information and others who share their
interests, and by providing them the tools to influence issues that
impact their lives.  Impact investments and grants will be
made to for-profit and nonprofit organizations based in Africa or
that are dedicated to serving the needs of Africans.  Omidyar
Network Investment Partner Stephen King made the announcement in
Lagos while participating in the British Prime Minister’s business
delegation to Africa.

“When citizens engage in the issues that affect them, they can
help to ensure that power and public funds are used wisely and are
representative of their interests.  ’My Voice, Our Community’
recognizes that meaningful participation happens only when one has
access to information and the ability to share and connect with
others in the community,” said King.  ”The campaign is meant
to encourage and support entrepreneurs from all sectors who want to
play their part in helping bring about positive social change.”

Through its Government Transparency initiative, Omidyar Network
invests in innovative organizations that use technology and media
platforms to provide access to information and tools necessary for
citizens to participate in the governing process and hold
governments to account. Over the last two years, the firm has
invested over $30M to government transparency efforts across the
globe, including organizations in Africa such as: Ushahidi,
FrontlineSMS, Africa Media Initiative, Praekelt Foundation,
Infonet, Sahara Reporters, Enough is Enough Nigeria and the Africa
Transparency and Technology Initiative.

About Omidyar Network

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm dedicated to
harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to
improve their lives. Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre
Omidyar and his wife Pam, the organization invests in and helps
scale innovative organizations to catalyze economic and social
change. To date, Omidyar Network has committed more than $448
million to for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations that
foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation
across multiple investment areas, including microfinance,
entrepreneurship, property rights, government transparency,
consumer Internet and mobile.  To learn more about Omidyar
Network, please visit href="www.omidyar.com/">www.omidyar.com.

Greg Pershall of Omidyar Network, +1-360-607-8901