The Water Air Food Awards (WAFA), the global platform championing grassroots environmental innovation, has opened public voting for its 2026 edition.12 extraordinary community-led initiatives from across 10 countries and 5 continents have earned their place as finalists across the categories of Water, Air, Food, and Youth Climate Action. Each represents an innovation that has the potential to impact lives at large.
Voting lines are now open until April 30, 2026, 23:59 Central European Time (CET). The winners will be announced live at the Generation Green Forum, hosted at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt, Summer 2026.
VOTE NOW: www.wafaward.org/voting-page/
Meet the 2026 WAFA Finalists
This year’s finalists represent 10 countries across 5 continents, from India, Nepal, and Ethiopia to Ecuador and Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, bringing together a diverse range of innovations. Each has been selected based on proven, community-led impact and the scalability and replicability of their nature-based solutions.
WATER
Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal | Nepal
Project: Water Security for Deprived Communities generating 20,820 cubic meters of safe water annually
A community-led WASH initiative delivering integrated water treatment systems, improved sanitation facilities, and hygiene education across local communities and schools in Nepal.
Sand Dams Worldwide | United Kingdom
Project: Transforming Lives and Land with Sand Dams in over 10 countries
A power rainwater harvesting solution that captures and stores water within sand behind a low-cost wall built across seasonal riverbeds. A single sand dam provides year-round water security for over 1,000 people, delivering reliable access even through the driest months.
Solvatten | Sweden
Project: Safe Hot Water, Powered by the Sun for over 140,000 households worldwide
A portable, solar-powered water treatment system that uses sunlight’s UV rays and thermal heat to purify and heat water. It delivers safe drinking water at the household level without infrastructure, fuel, or chemicals.
AIR
The Flipflopi Project | Kenya
Project: Recovering 350,000 kilograms with Flipflopi Project on the Coast of Kenya
Recorded in local heritage and innovation, this project is Lamu County’s first plastic recovery and recycling facility, serving 70% of the archipelago and 28% of the county’s population to recover geographically remote shoreline areas.
Lathitha Biodiesel | South Africa
Project: Reinventing Future of Energy from Cooking Oil Waste to Biodiesel
A female-founded initiative that collects waste cooking oil from households and businesses and converts it into clean, sustainable biodiesel. Beyond production, it also organizes awareness campaigns on proper waste oil disposal, biodiesel production, and hands-on training programmes for youth.
Vishal Sharma | India
Project: Turning Waste into Carbon Credits and saving 823.6 metric tons of CO2 every year
An organic waste management initiative using an innovative two-stage aerobic windrow composting system. This initiative primarily targets educational institutions, urban campuses, and surrounding communities, serving as a model for Net Zero Energy and low-carbon buildings.
FOOD
FarmAbility | Malaysia
Project: Growing Food with Mini Greenhouse for chemical-free vegetables all over Malaysia
Led by a community of disabled people is a project that utilizes zero-chemical terrariums and aquaponics to ensure food security and transform marginalized groups into self-reliant climate stewards and food producers.
GreenBox | Congo-Brazzaville
Project: Solar-Powered Cold Storage for Zero Food Waste and saving 20,400 tons of food
A solar-powered cold storage solution that reduces post-harvest waste by 90% for small farmers and market vendors, while empowering women to lead a resilient, climate-smart, and inclusive local food system.
Laboscience | Ethiopia
Project: Turning 50,000 tons of fruit and vegetable waste into Natural Animal Feed
An initiative to transform harvest waste into organic livestock feed through women-led cooperatives to protect local ecosystems. This empowers female farmers with eco-processing skills to eliminate pollution and prevent overgrazing in national parks.
YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION
From Plastic to Breath | India
Project: Making climate action accessible from 10-year-old to the rest of the world
Led by bright 10-year-old Parth Singla, this initiative uses child-led storytelling and STEM projects to make climate action accessible for young audiences. Through DIY demonstrations and digital education, the project inspires children to engage in environmental science and creative planet-saving solutions.
Hijos de la Selva | Ecuador
Project: Youth protecting 2,000 square miles of the Amazon forest with indigenous knowledge through reforestation
Combining indigenous knowledge with youth leadership to protect the Amazon through reforestation and sustainable bio-enterprises, a youth-led initiative by Janeth Guanulema. The initiative leverages media advocacy and territorial defense to link climate action with cultural preservation and economic resilience.
Komb Green Solutions | Kenya
Project: Saving Nairobi River by waste removal of more than 120 tons of garbage
A youth-led initiative by Christopher Waithaka that rehabilitates the Nairobi River by transforming waste into green parks and high-capacity tree nurseries for restoration. The model integrates circular food systems and vocational training to empower the community through sustainable resource management.
“These are real people creating extraordinary impact from the ground up and the world needs to know these silent heroes and their nature-based initiatives.Every vote tells them that the world is watching and that their work matters.” Tina Lindgreen, CEO & Executive Chairperson, WAFA
Winners to be Announced at Generation Green Event Cairo 2026
This year’s award ceremony marks a milestone in WAFA’s evolution. Generation Green is WAFA’s bold new flagship event, moving beyond recognition to scaling impact. The event will be held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo, Egypt, in the summer of 2026.
