The Ashden Awards 2021 Longlist

The outstanding climate solutions from around the world lowering emissions while creating better lives and fairer societies.

The annual Ashden Awards focus on cutting-edge initiatives that are both green and fair – that deliver climate justice, create good jobs, train people in green skills, and cut carbon.

From over 800 applications, we have selected 37 outstanding longlisted organisations across our nine awards – pioneers united around the globe in their ambition to take on the climate crisis and create happier lives and more equal societies.

In the year that governments, climate innovators and activists gather at the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow, these inspiring climate champions demonstrate the many solutions that can be replicated at scale and speed. 

The winners of the 2021 Ashden Awards will be announced on Thursday 4th November.   

The International Longlist

Ashden Award for humanitarian energy

Uncovering innovation bringing clean, affordable energy to refugees and displaced people around the world. 

Award prize: £20,000

Supported by: Linbury Trust and the Alan, Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund and a public appeal.

2

Energy Peace Partners and Nuru (joint application)

Democratic Republic of Congo.
A groundbreaking micro-grid project, made possible by a pioneering finance mechanism of renewable energy credits.
3

Kakuma Market Based Energy Access Project.

Kenya.
Innovative support for local clean energy entrepreneurs.
1

Solar Freeze

Kenya.
Pay-as-you-store refrigeration in humanitarian settings.
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Kube Energy

South Sudan/Somalia.
Helping humanitarian agencies integrate renewable energy into their operations through innovative finance.

Ashden Award for natural climate solutions

Highlighting initiatives in the Amazon, Congo Basin and South East Asian rainforest making forest communities more resilient, through improved livelihoods, inclusive business models or improved governance and land rights

Award prize: £20,000

5

Sapara Women’s Association

Ecuador.
A collective of Indigenous women opposing logging and drilling, and strengthening governance of their territory.
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Conexsus

Brazil.
Designing finance products for community businesses in the Amazon.
6

Mbou Mon Tour

Democratic Republic of Congo.
Helping villagers secure land rights and earn a better living.
8

Albertine Rift Conservation Society

Central and Eastern Africa.
Supporting sustainable forest-based cooperatives.

Ashden Award for energy access innovation

Seeking innovation at all levels of the energy access ecosystem that is helping innovators survive, thrive and build resilience in local communities.

Award prize: £20,000

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South Asian Forum for the Environment

India.
Community-owned solar systems give mangrove villages clean water for drinking and farming.
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KOKO Networks

Kenya.
700 ‘ethanol ATMs’ supply cleaner cooking fuel made from sugar industry waste.
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The Cooling as a Service Initiative

Global.
Open-source tools and business models help SMEs around the world run sustainable ‘cooling as a service’ businesses.
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New Energy Nexus Uganda

Uganda.
Inclusive support for community-based sustainable energy businesses.

Ashden Award for cooling in informal settlements

Spotlighting the best initiatives alleviating heat stress, and help make solutions accessible and affordable to those in greatest need.

Award prize: £20,000

Supported by: Clean Cooling Collaborative (formerly K-CEP)/ClimateWorks Foundation

13

Worofila

Senegal.
Architectural collective specialising in ‘raw earth’ building design.
15

Mahila Housing Trust

India.
Empowering women to take on the heat crisis in their own communities.
16

Modulus Tech

Pakistan.
Creators of affordable, sustainable housing that brings lower temperatures than concrete structures.
14

GeoAirCon

Pakistan.
Technology that draws cool air from below ground: a green alternative to air conditioning.

Ashden Award for energy access skills

Showcasing outstanding initiatives widening access to green skills training, an essential step to a low-carbon planet and universal access to sustainable energy.

Award prize: £20,000

Supported by: The Ashden Trust

20

Strathmore Energy Research Centr

Kenya.
A technical university leading the way in inclusive solar industry curricula.
17

Sendea Academy

Uganda.
A collective of locally-owned SMEs driving up standards in the off–grid renewables sector.
19

African Management Institute

Across Africa.
As part of the Off-Grid Talent Initiative, AMI is providing a tailored programme for companies and middle-managers in the off-grid energy space with funding from UK Aid.
18

Bharatiya Vikas Trust

India.
This organisation has trained 14,000 bank workers to offer loans for sustainable energy.

Ashden Award for regenerative agriculture

Spotlighting 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.

Award prize: £20,000

Supported by: The DOEN Foundation

22

reNature BV

The Netherlands.
Supports farmers and corporates in the transition to Regenerative Agriculture.
23

Solidaridad

India.
A programme helping woman soy farmers use sustainable farming practices.
24

YICE Uganda

Uganda.
A grassroots initiative training women and young people, including refugees, in regenerative farming techniques.
25

Krishi Janani

India.
A woman-led initiative connecting organic farmers to markets through mobile technology.
26

Associação Agroecológica de Teresópolis (AAT)

Brazil.
A smallholder farmers’ association in the agricultural ‘green-belt’ of Rio de Janeiro.
Join us live from COP26

Register for the 2022 Ashden Awards

and be the first to hear when entries open.

Register your interest now

The UK Longlist

Ashden Award for climate innovation in the UK

Targeting key areas with the potential to unlock significant carbon savings across the UK – advances in energy systems, the built environment, and industrial innovation supporting a circular economy.

Award prize: £10,000

Supported by: Impax Asset Management

27

Kensa Group

Lancashire and Yorkshire.
A major project to install ground source heat pumps serving social housing.
28

Library of Things

London.
A social enterprise helping people rent useful things like drills, tents and sewing machines in their own neighbourhood.
2021 FINALISTS

Riding Sunbeams

UK-wide.
Feeding renewable energy into the UK rail network.
30

Renewable Parts

Argyll.
Refurbishing wind turbine components, reducing waste and boosting the green economy.

Ashden Award for green skills

Highlighting organisations developing green skills in the areas of retrofit and low carbon heat.

Award prize: £10,000

Supported by: Garfield Weston Foundation 

31

Carbon Co-op

Greater Manchester.
Delivering a new end-to-end deep retrofit service – People Powered Retrofit.
33

Retrofit Academy

UK-wide.
Creators of an innovative retrofit co-ordinator course, tackling a major gap in the UK’s green skills workforce.
34

Warmworks Scotland

Scotland.
An agency tackling fuel poverty: they have helped 20,000 homes across Scotland become warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.
32

Nordic Heat

UK-wide.
A training platform supporting skills in greener heating and cooling, used nationwide.

Ashden Award for green communities

Recognising an initiative that makes climate action relevant to the everyday lives of citizens and the things they care about, with particular attention on engaging beyond typical ‘green audiences’

Award prize: £10,000

Supported by: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

35

Greener Kirkcaldy

Kirkcaldy.
A community-led charity and development trust combating the climate emergency, fuel poverty and food insecurity.
38

The Welcoming

Edinburgh.
Helping refugees save money, eat well and take on the climate crisis.
37

SCORE Scotland

Edinburgh.
The Green Futures Project helps Black and Minority Ethnic and majority communities address the causes and the effects of climate change, with initiatives from cycle lessons to community fridges.
36

Black & Green Ambassadors

Bristol.
Connecting, empowering and celebrating diverse leadership and community action on environmental issues, through year-long ambassadorships.
Join us live from COP26

Register for the 2022 Ashden Awards

and be the first to hear when entries open.

Register your interest now

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