Ashden’s International Awards are for organizations that are delivering, or at least playing a key role in delivering, renewable energy and energy efficiency at the local level and bringing about social, economic and environmental benefits. There are two types of cash grants available under the Awards: One is the Gold Award which offers a cash prize of £40,000 and the others will win prize funds of £20,000 each.
NGOs, businesses, social enterprises and government organizations based in developing countries can apply to these Awards.
For the year 2013, the Ashden International Awards competition is looking for projects that are working in the following areas:
- Avoided deforestation in tropical forest areas: enterprises or programmes that provide renewable energy, energy efficiency or sustainable heating fuels which are significantly reducing deforestation in tropical forest areas (for example: fuel efficient stoves and biogas, biomass briquettes to replace wood, micro hydro schemes that include forest protection).
- Finance organisations and schemes: organisations providing innovative financial mechanisms to access sustainable energy products and services (for example: end-user finance, carbon finance, finance for start-up and small energy enterprises).
- Increasing energy access: enterprises or programmes that increase energy access by providing renewable energy products or services for homes, businesses, education or health care (for example: providing off-grid electricity or extending the grid, clean cooking stoves, water provision, efficient electrical products).
- Humanitarian: organisations working on rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes which include a focus on rebuilding lives in ways that save energy and minimise the use of non-renewable resources in the long term (for example: fuel efficient stoves, off-grid electricity, insulation in flood-proof buildings, water treatment, solar hot water, water conservation and management to reduce fuel use for pumping and transporting water).
To submit applications, you need to complete the online registration form. The deadline to apply is 23 October 2012. For more information, visit this link.