NETFUND GREEEN INNOVATIONS AWARD JUDGING PROCESS AND FIELD VERIFICATION CONCLUDED

Following the launch of NETFUND GIA Phase IV and call for applications on 10th of February 2020, the first level of judging, selection, and field verifications to establish existence and credibility of projects has been concluded with 78 initiatives being selected from a pool of close to 1,000 applicants.

NETFUND launched the first Prestigious GIA programme in 2011 where 12 green initiatives were recognized and awarded. The second phase of GIA saw 24 green initiatives competitively awarded, from which seven of them were incubated under NETFUND incubation programme to enhance businesses acceleration.

In the third Phase of the award, initiatives under four key thematic areas comprising of Water, Energy, Agribusiness and Resource based waste management were recognized. A total of 22 Innovations were awarded while 26 from a pool of close to 10,000 applicants were incubated.

GIA  phase IV targeted initiatives and projects that contribute to Attainment of 10% tree cover ,Air pollution control, Waste management, Climate resilience, Environmental education and knowledge management.

Kenyans should continue to embrace and instill amongst themselves, a culture of self-regulation in environmental management and to envision a future where, all citizens take personal and community responsibility for the management of the environment. As such NETFUND launched Green Innovations Award Phase IV on 10th of February 2020 with a call for applications across the country in order to   competitively recognize and award Kenyans who are demonstrating exemplary innovative, environmentally-responsible and sustainable initiatives.

Following a judging criteria that focused on the relevance of the initiative regarding environmental management, innovativeness, commercial viability, social impact, economic impact and sustainability, 78 projects were shortlisted from a pool of close to 1,000 applicants by a team of independent experts and judges from Council of Governors, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), Media Council of Kenya, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Brand Kenya Board, E4impact, Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA), Green Belt Movement (GBM), Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA), NCBO and Kenya forest Service(KFS).

Judges noted efforts made my ordinary Kenyans through their extraordinary innovations as vital and noble which will continue to create job opportunities for the youths while enhancing environmental management and sustainability.

The judging and selection process was guided by ownership of the initiative, existence of the project, profile of the applicant(s), governance and risk assessment of the projects in order to ascertain originality of the projects. 

Subsequently, NETFUND will be hosting a gala ceremony in the course of the year 2020 to recognize and award winners of GIA phase IV.  Selected initiatives will be considered for NETFUND business upscaling and incubation programmes for further development to produce successful and financially viable green sustainable enterprises.