A social enterprise that provides all women with early access to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and a project selling excess solar power to the grid are among this year's winners of the 2022 Zayed Sustainability Prize.
The 10 initiatives were chosen from among 30 finalists competing in five categories – health, food, water, energy and global high schools – and announced at a ceremony held at Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday, the opening day of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
In the health, food, energy and water categories, each winner receives $600,000 (Dh2.2 million).
The global high schools category has six winners, with each receiving up to $100,000.
The $3 million annual prize, which was launched in 2008, supports sustainable projects that are kind to the environment.
The winners in the health, food, energy and water categories were:
Mamotest
Category: Health
What they do: provide all women with the opportunity to access high quality breast cancer early diagnosis and treatment, regardless of their geographic, social, or economic background.
“Since our establishment in 2011, Mamotest’s focus has been to reach more and more women and democratise access to early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in order to defeat it,” said Camila de Pamphilis, chief operating officer.
“Women are at the centre of our solution. We know that each one of them has a unique story behind them. Every member of our team shares the culture and values that are needed to accomplish our goals. We don’t fear change, we create it.”
Speaking before the ceremony, she said winning the prize would position Mamotest as one of the few social impact organisations worldwide ready to scale exponentially.
“It would mean being at centre stage and attracting supporters of all types such as partners, allies and investors to help us accomplish that difficult but not impossible challenge,” she added.
Where: Argentina
S4S Technologies
Category: Food
What they do: Empower rural women with new technology to process unwanted produce, reduce food waste, and increase their income.
The SME invented the solar conduction dryer, a solar-powered food processing technology that produces preservative-free, nutrition-rich food. It prevents 22,500 tonnes of produce each year from going to waste and 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
Dr Vaibhav Tidke, chief executive of S4S Technologies and UN Environment Leadership Awardee, invented and patented the solar conduction dryer.
“As a leader in sustainability, recognition from the prize is a dream,” he said.
Winning the prize will help S4S scale their impact further to 800 women entrepreneurs and 12,000 farmers. The global recognition would also help S4S tap into the global market and strengthen their supply chain.
Where: India
SOLshare
Category: Energy
What they do: Peer-to-peer energy trading to monetise solar energy for rural development and empowerment.
The SOLshare system enables households with solar home systems to sell their excess power to others through a microgrid, or sell it back to the national electric grid.
They do that by using the ‘SOLbox,’ an internet-of-things device that allows users to monitor their electricity consumption and sell excess electricity using their mobile phones.
The SME was founded by Dr Sebastian Groh, managing director, in 2014, after previously consulting on energy systems. He was intrigued by Bangladesh’s solar home systems programme, the largest in the world, which serves close to 6 million households.
So far, SOLshare has connected nearly 2,000 households and microbusinesses, benefiting about 10,000 people, 60 per cent of whom are women and children, and 500 entrepreneurs, a quarter of whom are women.
He said winning the prize would help take the company's work a long way.
“It will help further develop our technology and provide the means for SOLshare to expand beyond the borders of Bangladesh and move into other off-grid communities that need energy,” he said.
“As we continue to scale up our solutions for electric vehicle charging and solar peer-to-peer grids, we can truly provide energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability through our work.”
Where: Bangladesh
Wateroam
Category: Water
What they do: Provide water filter solutions to serve disaster-hit and rural communities.
The Wateroam system has been used in more than 38 countries, providing safe drinking water to more than 150,000 people, including in Vanuatu, to assist in the aftermath of Cyclone Harold and in Indonesia, following an earthquake; in addition to Nepal, the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Its lightweight portable system produces high-quality safe drinking water at a speed of 2,400 litres a day, without depending on electricity. It can be sent quickly to hard-to-reach locations.
The SME aims to provide 30 million people globally with safe drinking water, while aiming to develop a complementary software product that includes simple-to-use kits that enable quick water testing.
The company is led by David Pong, a social entrepreneur who serves as co-founder and chief executive.
He said winning the prize would help to propel the recognition of the work that is being done at Wateroam, “so the world can also join hands in tackling this global water crisis together and strive towards universal, equal access to clean drinking water”.
Where: Singapore
Global high school winners
The Americas
Instituto Iberia, the Dominican Republic:
The school plans to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel and use it to power its generator. Pupils hope to positively impact the environment and inspire community members to make more sustainable choices.
Europe and Central Asia
Liceo Europeo, Spain:
The school’s proposed project, LivingEnergy, uses micro-organisms to generate power from used face masks. It aims to eliminate up to 19 kilograms of face masks from polluted waters each year.
Middle East and North Africa
Eastern Mediterranean International School, Israel:
Pupils have devised a student-led engineering initiative, called Project Oasis, that aims to collect electricity and water from the air, simultaneously. It hopes to produce 6 kilowatts of energy and 1,000 litres of water every day from every machine built. The school plans to mass produce the technology.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sayidina Abubakar Secondary School, Uganda:
Female pupils in this rural school face a lack of access to sanitary products. The school’s project proposes to harvest raw plant materials from local farms to produce sanitary products, simultaneously improving girls’ health and boosting school attendance. The project is expected to benefit 500,000 young women.
South Asia
Hira School, Maldives:
The school depends on well water and asks pupils to bring their own drinking water from home each day. Pupils hope to harvest rainwater for the treatment, storage, and reuse of water. They estimate the project could provide two litres of consumable water per person per day, totalling 30,720 litres per month, and 368,640 litres per year.
East Asia and Pacific
UWC ISAK Japan, Japan:
The school hopes to become the most sustainable school in Japan by using a variety of renewable sources including a biomass boiler, solar panels and a rainwater collection system.
As part of the project, it plans to use wood chips from lumber yards, co-operating with local non-profit organisations for energy supply, and sustainable food production. It estimates 520 pupils will be involved in the first five years.
Surge in entries for 2022 prize
The 2022 cycle considered 4,000 applications from 151 countries – a 68.5 per cent increase in entries compared to the previous year.
Most entries for this year's prize focused on the resilience of the ecosystem and affordability of solutions using technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to drive impact.
Launched by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, it was earlier referred to as the Zayed Future Energy Prize, a tribute to his late father Sheikh Zayed.
In 2018, its name was changed to the Zayed Sustainability Prize to reflect its broader scope and encourage more applicants from wider fields to apply.
The prize has transformed the lives of more than 352 million people in 150 countries since 2008.
The jury comprises former heads of state, government ministers and international business figures.
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
India Test squad
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
EA Sports FC 24
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
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How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
