Africa Sustainable Futures Awards

The Financial Times and the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) have launched the third edition of the Africa Sustainable Futures Awards, a major annual programme that promotes innovative, private sector solutions to development challenges in Africa.

 The Africa Sustainable Futures Awards showcase commercially viable initiatives that provide transformative, resilient and scalable solutions, and address not just current needs but also the well-being of future generations, at a time when it is more important than ever to build self-sustaining models for growth. 

Building on the success of last year’s programme, which drew more than 300 entries, special attention in this third year will be given to initiatives that move beyond traditional development models by effectively mobilising capital, mitigating risks, and driving commercial and operational excellence. 

The winners will be announced at a special Awards Dinner on October 22, 2026, concluding the FT’s 13th Africa Summit in London, a major event that brings together African government, business, and finance leaders with global investors and industry partners to discuss how to drive forward the continent’s economic transformation. 

Access to Energy

 This award recognises innovative, private sector projects that significantly advance access to the electricity that households, agriculture and industry require to boost livelihoods, output and jobs. We are also looking for solutions that use advanced technologies, financing and/or risk mitigation mechanisms to demonstrably boost energy efficiency, optimisation and storage, whether at the level of the power grid or further down the value chain.  

Critical Infrastructure (non-Energy) 

This award highlights transformative, private sector initiatives that build or modernise the essential infrastructure required for Africa’s economic development, including transport, logistics, tourism, water and sanitation, healthcare and digital connectivity. We are looking for initiatives that demonstrate creative financing and risk mitigation strategies, catalyse investment, build local capacity, and generate quality jobs across these vital sectors.

Agribusiness 

This award recognises outstanding innovation in African agribusiness that transforms farming, significantly boosts food production, and actively builds vibrant, sustainable rural economies. We are looking for projects that effectively integrate local businesses and smallholder farmers into robust value chains that help smallholders move from subsistence to surplus, while generating substantial re-investment and skilled employment. 

Manufacturing Champions

This award celebrates manufacturing leaders across Africa that are significantly driving job creation and transforming local economies and communities. We are looking for operationally strong initiatives that promote technology transfer and skills development, and effectively integrate local suppliers and businesses into resilient value chains.  

Judges’ Award for Excellence

This prize recognises the initiative that, in the opinion of the judging panel, stands apart among the winners of all core categories for its level of innovation, impact, replicability, financial viability, and sustainability in the context of Africa’s development 

Innovation Showcase 

This special category is designed to highlight ground-breaking early stage projects in Africa that have the potential, with additional funding, to have a transformative impact in sectors core to economic development. We welcome innovative and dynamic entrepreneurial initiatives, with a solid path to profitability, that promise breakthrough solutions to some of the thorniest challenges facing Africa.

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