WAFA AWARDS 2025
About the WAFA Awards
The Water Air Food Awards (WAFA) are a global initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating innovative grassroots solutions that address critical challenges in water, air, and food sustainability. Established to shine a spotlight on unsung heroes, WAFA aims to inspire action by showcasing impactful initiatives that create positive change in communities worldwide. The awards are organized by a nonprofit entity focused on environmental and social sustainability. Past winners have made significant contributions, demonstrating real-world impact and promoting sustainable practices. The awards are held annually, with participants from diverse regions encouraged to apply.
The Water Air Food Awards aims to shed light on the low-tech high-impact solutions of ambitious and forward thinking individuals around the world. Initiatives are awarded in 4 different categories, Water, Air, Food and Youth. Through awarding sustainable initiatives, entrepreneurs will gain support needed to scale and replicate their brilliant solutions to benefit as many people as possible. WAFA aspires to become a global mainstream awards platform powered by resilient professionals and volunteers from all over the world to empower initiatives and create a healthier environment.
Background on the WAFA Awards
What are the WAFA Awards? The Water Air Food Awards (WAFA) celebrate and acknowledge grassroots initiatives that contribute significantly to solving global challenges in water, air, and food security. Their mission is to inspire solutions that benefit communities and support sustainable development.
Why do we need to act now?
Water, air, and food are often taken for granted, yet they are scarce resources for many people worldwide. Years of water mismanagement and unsustainable land use have placed significant strain on the hydrological cycle. Today, nearly 3 billion people live in regions where total water storage is expected to decline, and more than half of the world’s food production is at risk due to water shortages. Tragically, over 1,000 children under five die each day from diseases linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation. Additionally, 2 billion people lack consistent access to safe, nutritious, and adequate food. By 2030, over 600 million people are expected to face hunger, underscoring the urgent need to achieve the goal of zero hunger.
Sources:
WAFA aims to address the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Q&A about WAFA
WAFA awards innovative initiatives that show tangible, positive impacts on security of the provision of water, food, and air in a sustainable way.
WAFA was founded to recognize and elevate small-scale yet impactful solutions worldwide, about 2008, with the first award in 2010.
WAFA’s mission is to amplify grassroots voices that tackle critical environmental issues, motivating more actions toward sustainability.
WAFA is managed by an independent nonprofit organization committed to promoting environmental and social initiatives. Funding comes from various sponsors and partners dedicated to sustainability.
WAFA welcomes initiatives from around the world, encouraging participation from diverse backgrounds and regions.
Past winners have transformed their communities through initiatives that improved water quality, air purity, and food security, setting examples for broader applications.
The awards are an annual event that spotlights innovative initiatives each year.
Previous recipients have successfully implemented community-based programs that promote sustainable farming, clean water solutions, and eco-friendly practices, contributing to long-term regional development.
Q&A about the Award 2024 – 2025
Applications open at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025.
They end 10th February 2025.
Public voting will be in March.
The initiative needs to be 2 years old or more and have impacted the security of the basics as outlined above.
- Water
- Air
- Food
- Youth Award
10th February 2025.
The initiatives will be judged based on the following criteria. Sustainability ranks highest followed by innovation. Your initiative needs to fulfil sustainability and one of the other criteria:
- Innovation: The initiative introduces novel or enhanced technologies, models, or practices.
- Sustainability: The initiative demonstrates a positive and lasting social and environmental impact.
- Empowerment: The initiative creates new opportunities for affected communities, empowering their members.
- Scalability: The initiative is capable of scaling beyond the original community.
- Replicability: The initiative can be effectively replicated in other communities, adapting its success to different contexts.
- Impact: The initiative has shown measurable environmental, social, and economic results for at least two years, with significant potential for future impact.
Read more about the criteria here.
Our Committee of experts will select finalists, and these go out for public voting.
No. Application is free of charge.
We are interested in finding initiatives that have addressed some of the basic needs and done that in a sustainable way.
Award winners will enjoy widespread recognition and unique opportunities for global exposure, networking, and more:
At the Award Event:
- Recognition and visibility at the Awards Celebration through live-streaming, social media, news outlets, and broadcast coverage.
- A chance to present their initiative to a global audience.
- A press release to share with media outlets in their home countries.
- An opportunity to network with peers and connect with students, corporations, NGOs, impact investors, and philanthropists.
Other benefits:
- The recognition received helps in attracting government attention and possibly help, or help from other initiatives.
Yes, our team is ready to support you. There will be a help email address published in the newsletter and in the call for applications.
Yes.
Past winners have enjoyed extra publicity which has helped in attracting volunteers, funding, and partners.
Q&A about applications
Subscribe to our newsletter; everyone will get an email when the call opens.
The instructions will be posted when the call for applications opens. An application is a basic form to complete on our judging platform.
You read through the instructions in the call. Use the help pages here.
- Complete the application form.
- As soon as your application is approved (that is to say it fills our basic requirements), you will get an email.
- If you become a finalist, you will be notified by email. During this time, we will probably contact you for more information, more pictures, etc.
1st February.
We ask for pictures, contact details, and details of your initiative.