Africa Sustainable Futures Awards Winners
Access to Energy
CrossBoundary Energy
CrossBoundary Energy is demonstrating that renewable energy can power heavy industry through one of Africa’s first solar and battery baseload projects. Developed for the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the project combines 233MWp of solar generation with 526MWh of battery storage to deliver 30MW of guaranteed, dispatchable renewable power around the clock. Financed under a long-term power purchase agreement, it enables the mine to access reliable low-carbon electricity without upfront investment. The project is expected to reduce diesel consumption, cut emissions, create thousands of jobs and provide a blueprint for industrial decarbonisation across Africa.
Highly Commended
Lean Energy- Biomass-fueled steam systems, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania
Critical Infrastructure (non-Energy)
Heirs Insurance Group
Heirs Insurance Group is redefining insurance as digital protection infrastructure to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria. Combining a USSD platform, the SimpleLife app and Prince AI, Nigeria’s first multilingual generative AI insurance assistant, it enables affordable insurance access for underserved and low-income communities in multiple local languages. The group has reached more than 3mn people while building trust through rapid claims settlement, including a commitment to pay validated claims within 48 hours. By embedding insurance into digital and bancassurance channels, Heirs Insurance Group is increasing insurance penetration and creating a scalable, digitally native model for inclusive financial resilience.
Highly Commended
TowerCo of Africa - Mobile connectivity towers, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC
Agribusiness
Lersha
Lersha is transforming smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda through a digital ecosystem that integrates finance and market access. Its "phygital" model combines digital tools with a nationwide network of more than 4,000 rural youth agents, enabling farmers to access integrated services and non-cash financing backed by alternative credit scoring. Over 400,000 farmers have been digitally profiled, and 65,000 are now financed by eight institutions via a data-driven model linked to guaranteed off-takers and bundled with climate-smart advisory. These partnerships with banks and private-sector buyers have strengthened market access and repayment performance. Lersha is demonstrating how coordinated agricultural ecosystems can unlock investment and improve productivity, and aims to finance 1mn smallholder farmers by 2030.
Highly Commended
Keep IT Cool - Climate-smart cold chain platform, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania
Manufacturing Champions
Roam Air
Roam is accelerating Africa’s transition to electric mobility through the Roam Air, an electric motorcycle designed and manufactured in Kenya for African conditions. Combining local production with charging infrastructure, flexible financing and after-sales support, the company has deployed more than 4,500 motorcycles while helping riders reduce fuel and maintenance costs by 60–70 per cent. The business has created more than 400 skilled jobs and supports thousands more across its value chain, while cutting urban emissions and improving livelihoods. Roam aims to scale electric mobility across East Africa, demonstrating how locally built clean transport can drive industrial growth and economic opportunity.
Innovation Showcase
Zerobionic
Zerobionic is making STEM education more accessible for deaf learners through Africa’s first offline AI-powered humanoid robots that translate lessons into sign language in real time. Designed for schools without reliable electricity or internet, the locally manufactured, solar-powered robots are built from recycled plastic, combining inclusive education with circular manufacturing. Deployed across Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia and Rwanda, the technology has reached more than 510,000 deaf learners while training teachers in inclusive STEM education and creating green jobs for young people. Zerobionic demonstrates how African-designed robotics can expand educational opportunity while tackling waste and digital exclusion.
Judges Awards for Excellence
Lersha
Lersha is transforming smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda through a digital ecosystem that integrates finance and market access. Its "phygital" model combines digital tools with a nationwide network of more than 4,000 rural youth agents, enabling farmers to access integrated services and non-cash financing backed by alternative credit scoring. Over 400,000 farmers have been digitally profiled, and 65,000 are now financed by eight institutions via a data-driven model linked to guaranteed off-takers and bundled with climate-smart advisory. These partnerships with banks and private-sector buyers have strengthened market access and repayment performance. Lersha is demonstrating how coordinated agricultural ecosystems can unlock investment and improve productivity, and aims to finance 1mn smallholder farmers by 2030.