NaFarm Foods, two others shine at Zayed Sustainability Prize 2025

Two organisations and a high school from Africa have been recognised among this year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize winners, celebrated for their unwavering contributions to addressing some of the world’s largest problems.

The awards were presented by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the 2025 awards ceremony held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, one of the world’s leading platforms for advancing sustainable development.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a tribute to the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, honours organisations and high schools driving progress across six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools.

This year, $5.9 million in funding was awarded to eleven winners from across the globe, including initiatives from India, Bangladesh, and Australia. Their efforts will add to the more than 407 million lives impacted by the Prize since 2009, worldwide.

This year, NaFarm Foods from Nigeria stole the show with its idea of introducing hybrid solar-powered dryers to address the widespread issue of post-harvest losses among farmers, securing the win in the Prize’s Food category.

These dryers, which work even during cloudy weather, provide a reliable and cost-effective way to preserve crops, reducing waste and improving food security, especially in a region that is often seen struggling with the matter.

As of today, an estimated 65,000 farmers across six states have benefited from it, with the initiative managing to reduce annual carbon emissions by at least 50,000 metric tons.

Moreover, the project has managed to provide around 18,000 women, young adults, and children with the opportunity to explore and develop skills destined to help them increase their incomes and build stronger, more resilient rural communities.

Tanzania

Meanwhile, in Tanzania, Open Map Development Tanzania (OMDTZ) earned first place in the Climate Action category thanks to its solution to counter flood risks. Using a combination of on-the-ground data collection with drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), OMDTZ has managed to create reliable flood risk maps that are increasingly shifting the ways in which local governments and residents are preparing for natural disasters.

Much like NaFarm foods, the Tanzanian SME’s impact on its community has been far-reaching. In Dar es Salaam alone, OMDTZ’s data has guided efforts such as clearing drainage systems and developing early warning alerts, directly benefitting 140,000 people. Their work has also served as one of the backbones to global initiatives, including the World Bank’s water-level monitoring system, which sends out flood warnings in real-time.

Now, with recognition from the Zayed Sustainability Prize, OMDTZ is set to expand its efforts into other flood-prone areas, such as Morogoro City and the Pwani Region, while further advancing its use of drone mapping and other technologies to enhance climate resilience.

Finally, representing Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global High Schools category, Ghana’s Sakafia Islamic Senior High School won for its aquaponics project, which integrates aquaculture and hydroponics to create a sustainable, closed-loop system for producing fish and vegetables. With fifty students trained and over 1,000 community members accessing fresh produce and workshops, it is another bold step toward tackling food insecurity in the region.

Africa’s success

Africa’s success at this year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize is a landmark moment, one worthy of celebration and pride. With three of the eleven winners hailing from the continent, Africa is proving that it is playing a growing role as a hub of innovation and becoming an important contributor to solving global challenges.

With $5.9 million (Sh890.9 million) distributed among the winners, the Prize has recognised innovative solutions that address critical needs, and given every one of them an incredible opportunity to expand their platform and reach.

Africa’s three winning initiatives from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana, are clear examples of how African ingenuity is addressing food security, climate resilience, and sustainable education, among other pressing issues.

With thanks to the Prize, their efforts will increase, pushing their impact beyond just their local community, and potentially improving many more lives, strengthening many more economies, and protecting not only the continent’s, but the planet’s most vulnerable.

As UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said whilst commending the winners at the ceremony – attended by numerous heads of state, ministers, and global leaders, underscoring the international significance of the event – “By nurturing these efforts, we are not only creating a more sustainable future for all but also honouring the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose vision for global progress and humanitarianism continues to guide us”.

Additionally, beyond Africa the Prize honoured initiatives from across the globe. India’s Periwinkle Technologies secured the Health category for its portable cervical cancer screening device, while Australia’s SkyJuice Foundation won in the Water category for its gravity-powered water filtration system.

Bangladesh’s Palki Motors triumphed in the Energy category with its affordable electric vehicles, and the Global High Schools category celebrated six schools worldwide, including institutions in Mexico, Nepal, and New Zealand.

Ultimately, however, for Africa, this recognition signifies more than individual achievement—it is a call to further amplify local innovation and invest in the continent’s potential to lead in sustainable development. The success of these winners sends a clear message: Africa is not only rising to meet global challenges but is also shaping solutions that pave the way for a greener and more equitable future.