Africa 2019 Finalists

Adjany Costa

Community-based conservation

The Wildlife Protection through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Eastern Angola project aims to develop a model for communities in one of the last wildlife hubs in eastern Angola, as a tool to activate wildlife conservation and help protect one of the last wild places on earth. Unlike existing models, this is tailored to the needs, believes, culture and aspirations of the local Luchaze people, as they are part of the decision making and the structuring of the model.

Alhaji Siraji Bah

Combattre les déchets et la déforestation un sac et une briquette à la fois

In the Middle East and Africa, almost 1,000 tons of waste is produced every day, around 50 percent of which is predominantly plastic and biomass waste. We asked ourselves how to help reduce this waste, while also creating a viable businesses opportunity. My company Rugsal Trading tackles the waste crisis in Africa with two solutions. We make coconut husk briquettes as an alternative for burning coal, to combat deforestation in Sierra Leone. In addition, we make eco-friendly biodegradable paper bags from banana leaves to tackle plastic pollution. Today we have produced more than 250,000 eco-friendly bags and more than 120 tons of clean and smokeless briquettes from coconut, saving thousands of our mothers, wives and sisters from health risks by providing them with clean and affordable fuel, while saving more than 15,000 trees.

David Ekwueme

Recycling for social benefit

I have an unwavering passion about waste management and improving the circular economy. I founded the Let’s Recycle Network - an innovative social benefit initiative that rewards individuals, households, and institutions who we refer to as ‘subscribers’, for recyclable waste collected, which we re-process and sell. This initiative aims to give our subscribers a direct opportunity to generate value in the form of cash, food items, household items, for recyclable wastes collected. The waste includes: Empty water sachets, used polyethene bags, empty water bottles, empty aluminium cans and tins, used papers and paper packaging, metal scrap and metallic waste, damaged glass and bottles, and old tyres. Our vision is to become a sustainable solution to the dynamic challenges of wastes and pollution in the Nigerian environment.

Elizabeth Wathuti

Développer une génération verte

Growing up, I often thought to myself: Why not nurture and raise more young people to be conscious of the environment at a young age, so that their collective action will help address global environmental challenges? My Green Generation Initiative seeks to address challenges such as deforestation, climate change and environmental injustices, by nurturing young environmental enthusiasts to take action on climate action, zero hunger, quality education, and life on land. I achieve this through greening schools, environmental education, planting fruit trees for food security, and inculcating a tree growing culture among people for forest cover increment through an adopt a tree campaign, and through working on food forest establishments in schools.

Giffy Duminy

Art pour la conscience

In third world countries, people have other pressing priorities to worry about before thinking about conservation issues or their consumer impact on the environment. Painting positive murals in the public space gives good energy to the area. It creates a platform for all passers-by to appreciate and to connect with the surrounding nature on a personal level. I believe that appreciation is one of the most important building blocks for unity with the earth and inspiration for kindness we act on. Through pride comes unity. I plan to travel through Africa creating educational and inspiring conservation murals in public places in small towns and along main roads, which spark conversations about the importance of nature in our daily lives.