This year’s Energy Global World Award has been awarded to Water for a Generation, a project of the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) in Swaziland. This three year project, funded by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) and implemented by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc (NCMI), aims to develop 50 solar and hand pump water systems in schools and health clinics across the country to improve health and access to water.

Backed by a US$30 million commitment by The Coca-Cola Company, RAIN is a continent-wide initiative designed to provide more than two million Africans with access to clean water by 2015.

RAIN has supported or is developing 55 projects in 30 countries across Africa and will reach all countries across the continent by 2015. To date, RAIN has attracted more than US$23 Million in match funding from USAID and other donors.

In Swaziland, RAIN is positively impacting nearly 20% of the country by constructing 50 solar and hand pump water systems in clinics, schools, agriculture projects and orphan centers. This programme is transforming lives by employing innovative technologies and point of collection chlorine dispensers to provide clean and safe water and to contribute to progress toward eradication of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in Swaziland.

The programme is also training 300 community WASH trainers and educating 50,000 individuals in environmentally sound water practices, sanitation and hygiene.

Each site for the solar system establishes a maintenance fund and a water committee that will be responsible for operations and maintenance of the infrastructure and will pay for a new pump at the end of the life of the current one.

RAIN is also piloting an innovative Circuit Rider approach to ensure the lasting impact of the program. This allows each system to be self-sustaining for the life of the solar panels, which can exceed 25-30 years. The solar systems have a 10-year warranty.

“Through the Replenish Africa Initiative, we are focusing on making a sustainable difference in the lives of millions of people across Africa. Water for a Generation in Swaziland is an excellent example of a project that is improving access to water today, while providing for the long term, sustainable impact for decades to come,” says William Asiko, president of TCCAF.

The Energy Globe Awards have been awarded annually since 1999 to recognise projects that make careful and economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources.

The winners, in the categories of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth, are selected by a panel including members from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the World Bank, and the European Renewable Energy Council. The awards are an initiative by Austrian engineer and environmentalist Wolfgang Neumann.