The prestigious Ashden Awards, now in their 20th year, are making their final call for applications from low carbon innovators working in the area of energy access skills, and another for regenerative agriculture.
The Ashden Awards highlight outstanding climate innovations, boosting bright ideas that can be scaled up or replicated around the world. Ashden are seeking out the inspiring initiatives that can spark radical progress, deliver genuine climate justice and show us the way to a low-carbon future.
The Ashden Award for energy access skills will showcase outstanding initiatives widening access to green skills training, an essential step to a low-carbon planet and universal access to sustainable energy.
Projects might include innovative approaches to skills development, or programmes and policies supporting excluded groups such as women or indigenous people. Work should empower local communities, and be created and run with their input.
CEO Harriet Lamb said of the new Award for skills in energy access: "While too many young people face unemployment or underemployment, new opportunities are opening for jobs in building the low carbon economy of the future. We know that renewable energy generates more jobs than fossil fuels. But we don’t have people being trained up with those skills to power the future economy. That’s why this Ashden Award is looking for exciting initiatives training people in green skills around the world."
The other remaining Award with a deadline for application of 17 March is for regenerative agriculture – this will spotlight areas key to the growth of regenerative agriculture – training and information for farmers, access to finance and technology, support for land rights and fair compensation for prioritising soil health.
Businesses, charities and public sector bodies can enter. As well as a cash grant of up to £20,000, winning organisations receive development support, networking opportunities, and PR support (including a broadcast-quality film about their work).
Winners will be announced at the international climate summit COP26 being held in Glasgow, Scotland in November.
Inspiration from previous Asdhen Award winners and finalists:
KENYA – building energy access skills is vital for building the green economy
Photo: Inspiration from a previous energy access winner: BURN Manufacturing is helping improve the lives of women and girls in East Africa with its efficient Jikokoa stove as well as providing employment opportunities. It cuts down on smoke and soot by more than 60% compared to the widely used Kenya ceramic jiko, and significantly reduces the time spent cooking and collecting wood. Extra info and video on Burn.
Applicants for this year’s awards for energy access skills, energy accesss innovation and humanitarian energy go here: Enter 2021 Awards – Ashden
YEMEN – Becoming skilled microgrid engineers in a war-zone changed these women’s lives and the resilience of their community.
Photo: Inspiration from Ashden Award winners in 2020 – Women solar entrepreneurs in Yemen create and benefit from invaluable community-owned solar microgrids in their conflict-hit country and neighbours benefit from radically cheaper electricity. Credit: UNDP. Extra info and 1 min video.
TOGO – working towards universal energy access through training the workforce in energy access skills
Photo: Inspiration from a previous winner – the Togolese Rural Electrification Agency (AT2ER), winner of the Ashden Award for system innovation in energy access in 2020.
In Africa, pioneering governments are taking on the energy access challenge with bold national plans – including action on skills training. AT2ER aims to achieve universal energy access in the country by 2030 – an ambitious target, given that in 2017 access was just 8% in rural areas. The agency’s systemic approach takes in subsidies, clever integration with mobile banking, public-private partnerships – and a clear focus on building skills.
In recent years, 3,000 local technicians have been trained and certified to install, maintain and fix solar systems. Meanwhile, 3,000 people have been trained and certified as mobile banking agents – essential to the successful roll out of solar solutions. Extra info on AT2ER and video.
BRAZIL – Regenerative agriculture – the Ashden Awards want to hear from local and indigenous farming communities and projects.
Photo: Regenerative agriculture is a new theme in this year’s Ashden Awards. These methods protect and build soil carbon stocks. They also improve yields and make crops resilient to extreme weather and other challenges, bringing more security to farmers and their families. And they cut the need for expensive and environmentally damaging pesticides and fertilisers. Credit: Tui Anandi-ISA
Find our more or apply for an Ashden Award https://ashden.org/enter-2021-awards/