Zimbabwe company nominated for international awards

Judith Phiri, Business Reporter

Zimbabwean company, Zim Earthworm Farms P/L has been nominated among the top 30 finalists of the Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023, selected from a pool of exceptionally innovative and impactful projects dedicated to addressing water-related challenges worldwide.

Water Changemakers 2023 is a global challenge to recognise high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments and showcase the most promising climate-resilient innovations with the greatest potential for scale, replication, and further investment to support a water-secure world. Zim Earthworm Farms P/L’s innovation aims to provide off-grid decentralised sewer reticulation using shallow septic tanks and install permanent solutions to manhole blockages. The solution also provides a septic tank sludge disposal and carbon and nutrient recovery park in Harare.

In a statement, Water Changemaker Awards 2023 Secretariat, Mr Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga said: “The finalists will proceed to the next round of evaluations, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their initiatives in more detail and compete for a coveted spot among three winners. The top 30 finalists will attend a boot camp in November before winners are announced during COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in December.”

The Zimbabwean company was selected among other companies from India, South Korea, Uganda, Lebanon, Tunisia, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, United States of America (USA), Philippines, Norway, Botswana, Ghana, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, Australia, Sweden and Zambia.

Speaking on behalf the President of Botswana and Chair of the Awards, His Excellency (H.E) Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana’s Minister of Communication, Knowledge and Technology Honourable Thulagano Merafe Segokgo congratulated the finalists.

“I send my heartfelt congratulations to the top 30 finalists. Your work is a beacon of hope, a testament to what we can achieve when we work together once the common goal, I also pass my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the high-level panel and the partners or ventures to support this. Thank you all for your dedication and I look forward to celebrating your achievements the upcoming awards ceremony,” he said during the launch of the High-Level Panel Campaign -Mind the Gap, Invest in Water last week on Tuesday.

The Water Changemaker Awards are convened by the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme, K-water, the World Bank and the Global Water Partnership (GWP).

Speaking during an event to announce the top 30 finalists, GWP Chair, Pablo Bereciartua also congratulated the finalists and thanked the awards partners for supporting the initiative.

“I would like to congratulate the top 30 finalists for making it through to the next stage. We are looking forward to seeing the winners who will be announced at COP 28 in Dubai, UAE. The winners will be supported to upscale and mobilize partners to support them and make a significant impact in the world.

“GWP, the largest global networks-based organization in the water sector, has already partnered with 13 venture funds around the world that will support the winners to upscale. I would like to thank our partners and the evaluation team made up of experts in water, climate change, communications and innovation for the invaluable support for making it possible to narrow the list of entrants to the top 30 finalists,” he said.

The Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023 is made possible through the support of various partners and sponsors who share their commitment to addressing water-related challenges.

Some of these partners are African Rennaisance Partnership, Ambo Ventures, Saudi Water Partnership Company, Kaist Venture Investment Holdings, Deutsch Kasachische Universitat (German Kazakh University), HIMangel, K-Fund, KAIST Ventures, Mercy Corps Ventures, Yonsei University, WBCSD, Youth Water Network, South South North, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and WWF.