Guidelines
APPLICATION GUIDELINES & PRE-SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
1. South African Relevance
- The project, initiative, organisation, or individual must be based in South Africa.
- The impact must primarily benefit South African communities or the water sector.
- The impact must primarily and demonstrably benefit South African communities, institutions, or the South African water sector, irrespective of the origin of the applicant or technology.
2. Implementation Status
- The initiative must be:
- Implemented within the last 3–5 years, OR
- Ongoing with verifiable evidence of implementation and measurable or observable outcomes to date.
- Conceptual, proposed, or planned initiatives are not eligible.
- For ongoing initiatives, “demonstrable progress” must include evidence of active implementation, such as deployed infrastructure, operational pilots, field trials, services delivered, beneficiaries reached, or verified performance data. Conceptual, proposed, or planning-stage initiatives do not meet this requirement.
3. Evidence of Impact
- Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of implementation and at least one measurable or observable outcome, supported by documentation, data, visuals, or third-party confirmation.
- Applications without evidence will be excluded at pre-screening.
4. Ethical Standing
- Applicants must declare that there are:
- Applicants must declare that there are no pending fraud, corruption, or material legal cases related to the initiative, and that no material misrepresentation of information has occurred.
- No misrepresentation of information.
Applications that are incomplete, lack mandatory supporting documentation, or fail to meet any general eligibility requirement will not proceed to category-specific screening or adjudication.
General eligibility screening is binary (eligible / not eligible) and does not assess merit or comparative quality, which are reserved for the adjudication stage.
CATEGORY 1
Rural and Community-Based Water Projects
Purpose
Recognising innovative solutions and strategies that have improved water access, management, and quality in rural communities, while empowering local communities through sustainable water management, infrastructure development, or education.
Who Can Apply
- Community-based organisations
- NGOs and NPOs
- Traditional authorities or community structures
- Schools or community-led initiatives
- Partnerships involving municipalities or water entities
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Implementation in a rural, peri-urban, or underserved community
- Clear community participation and empowerment
- Improvement in at least one of the following:
- Water access
- Water quality
- Water management or conservation
Mandatory Submissions
- Project summary (problem, solution, outcomes, sustainability)
- Evidence of implementation (photos, reports, usage data, etc.)
- Evidence of community involvement (testimonials, attendance registers, letters of support)
- Description of how local capacity or ownership has been strengthened
CATEGORY 2
Corporate & Governance Commitment to Urban Water Sustainability
Purpose
Acknowledging achievement in sustainable water management in urban areas by awarding public or private agencies that have demonstrated leadership in driving policies, innovations, and practices aimed at conservation, resilience, and equitable water distribution.
Who Can Apply
- Municipalities or municipal entities
- Water boards or public water institutions
- State-owned entities
- Private sector organisations operating in the water value chain
Mandatory Registration & Compliance Documents
Applicants must submit copies of the following (where applicable):
- CIPC Registration Certificate (companies / NPCs)
- Municipal or Public Entity Enabling Documentation
- Council resolution, founding legislation, or delegation framework
- SARS Tax Compliance Status (PIN or certificate)
(recommended; not disqualifying for public entities) - Environmental or Regulatory Compliance Evidence, where applicable:
- Water Use Licence
- Environmental Management Plans or audit summaries
- Signed Declaration of Ethical Standing
Programme Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A formal water sustainability policy, programme, or strategy
- Active implementation for a minimum of 12 months
- Clear focus on urban water sustainability, including:
- Water conservation and demand management
- Water reuse or recycling
- Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction
- Efficiency improvements in treatment and distribution
- Equitable access and service reliability
Mandatory Submissions
- Institutional water sustainability narrative (max 5 pages)
- Governance and policy documentation
- Performance and impact evidence
- Equity and access initiatives
- Leadership endorsement letter (Board / EXCO / City Manager / Accounting Officer)
CATEGORY 3
Youth and Emerging Leadership in the Water
Purpose
Celebrating young professionals and emerging leaders who have demonstrated exceptional promise and commitment to advancing the water sector.
Who Can Apply
- Individuals aged 35 years or younger
- Young professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, or practitioners in the water sector
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be actively engaged in the water or sanitation sector
- Demonstrate leadership in:
- Projects
- Research
- Advocacy
- Innovation or sector development
Mandatory Submissions
- Personal leadership statement (maximum 2 pages)
- Evidence of leadership role and contribution
- Evidence of impact or outcomes
- Letter of endorsement from employer, mentor, institution, or community partner
CATEGORY 4
Innovation in Water Technologies
Purpose
Acknowledging technological innovations, inventions, and solutions that address South Africa’s water challenges, including purification, desalination, reuse, digital water technologies, and resource-efficient infrastructure, among others.
For the purposes of this category, applications must demonstrate a clearly identifiable technological innovation (e.g. engineered systems, hardware, software, materials, or process technologies). Initiatives that are primarily policy-driven, programme-based, governance-focused, or behavioural in nature, with no substantive technological innovation, should not be screened under this category.
Who Can Apply
- Individuals
- Start-ups or SMEs
- Research institutions
- Private companies
- Public-private partnerships
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A technological solution at Prototype, pilot, or early implementation stage, with the development stage clearly described (e.g. laboratory prototype, field pilot, utility trial, or early commercial deployment).
- Real-world testing or demonstration
- Clear relevance to South Africa’s water challenges
- A clearly identifiable technological component
(hardware, software, material, process technology, or engineered system), rather than a purely policy-, behavioural-, or programme-based intervention
- Novelty beyond standard industry practice,
Either through a new technology or a materially different application of existing technology in the South African context
Reject if:
- The submission is purely theoretical or academic, with no field testing or demonstration
- The initiative is primarily a policy, programme, governance, or operational intervention with technology acting only as an enabler.
- No evidence of real-world testing, piloting, or application is provided
Mandatory Submissions
- Technical concepts note (problem, solution, innovation)
- Evidence of testing, piloting, or demonstration
- Supporting visuals (photos, schematics, demonstrations)
- Early performance results or adoption evidence (where available)
- A brief statement confirming awareness of applicable water quality, environmental, or safety standards, where relevant to the technology
PRE-SCREENING QUALITY FILTER (APPLIES TO ALL CATEGORIES)
Applications will proceed to adjudication only if they demonstrate:
- Complete and accurate documentation
- Clear alignment with the selected category
- Evidence of implementation (not conceptual)
- Evidence of impact or measurable progress
- Credibility, compliance, and ethical standing
- Innovation Threshold
Screening officers must confirm that the submission demonstrates innovation beyond standard industry practice, routine upgrades, or off-the-shelf technology deployment. Applications should clearly articulate what differentiates the technology from existing solutions, either through novelty, adaptation to the South African context, or demonstrable performance improvement.
Applications that are incomplete, purely conceptual, promotional, or unsubstantiated will be excluded during pre-screening.