Be a water changemaker
The Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023 was launched at the International Asian Water Week in South Korea.These awards, a global initiative, aim to recognise commitment and leadership in climate-resilient water investments and showcase investment-ready innovations with potential for scale and replication. The awards are convened by the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme, K-water, the World Bank, and the Global Water Partnership. The Honorary Co-Chair of the awards is H.E Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana.
During the launch, Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, emphasised the visible effects of climate change on water, such as floods, droughts, and rising sea levels. He urged action on the implementation of over 700 commitments from the UN Water Conference 2023, aimed at transforming the world into a climate-resilient and water-secure place.
Ban also praised the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa's report, saying "Africa's Rising Investment Tide" which outlines pathways to secure an additional $30 billion for water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa by 2030. He encouraged replicating the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme in other water-insecure regions.
K-water, the host of the launch event, stressed the importance of global cooperation and collaboration in addressing climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. The World Bank Group, co-convenor of the awards, emphasized that the Water Changemaker Awards will stimulate competition and innovation to address pressing water sector issues, as many countries are off-track in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for water supply and sanitation.
The deadline for entries to the Water Changemaker Innovation Awards is 18 August 2023. Entities eligible to participate must have been operating for at least one year and seek to scale up a successful business model related to water that has contributed to climate change resilience.
The winners will be announced in November 2023, during COP 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
