The Earthshot Prize is a prestigious global initiative launched in 2020 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation. It aims to identify and accelerate innovative solutions to environmental challenges. With a worldwide network of 430 nominators from 139 countries, the prize focuses on fostering groundbreaking solutions that can help restore and protect our planet.
As an Earthshot Prize Global Alliance member, MultiChoice partners with this initiative to promote environmental sustainability across Africa. Each year, the Earthshot Prize awards five winners with R20 million in grants to scale their projects to address urgent environmental issues. Winners and finalists benefit from various resources across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, legal expertise, and technology. This collaboration highlights the creativity and determination of African innovators on a global platform, driving meaningful change for our planet’s future.
Since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has recognised three African winners: Mukuru Clean Stoves from Kenya, GAYO from Ghana, and Keep IT Cool from Kenya. Seven finalists have showcased various impactful solutions addressing environmental challenges throughout the continent.
Nominations for the 2024 Earthshot Prize opened in September 2023, inviting individuals and organisations to submit entries in five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix our Climate. A record-breaking 400 entries were submitted across Africa for this year’s prize.
Earthshot Week 2024, spanning five days of landmark events, highlighted groundbreaking environmental solutions.
The main focus was The Earthshot Prize Awards, held in Cape Town on November 6. There, the extraordinary work of this year’s finalists was celebrated, and the winners, including GAYO and Keep IT Cool, were announced.
Hosted by Billy Porter and Bonang Matheba, the awards featured unforgettable performances and brought attention to climate innovators addressing pressing challenges across Africa.
GAYO empowers communities to enhance waste management practices, creating jobs through initiatives like composting and charcoal briquette production. Since its launch, it has facilitated the creation of over 70 green jobs and diverted significant waste from landfills.
Keep IT Cool provides sustainable refrigeration solutions for small farmers and fishers in Kenya, reducing food spoilage and improving incomes. By addressing the critical issue of food loss due to inadequate storage, KIC contributes to a more sustainable agricultural future for these communities.
Through initiatives like these, the Earthshot Prize and MultiChoice spearhead efforts to highlight and support Africa’s environmental innovators, shaping a better future for the continent and beyond.
