Objectives: The ReSource Award is an international Prize acknowledging leadership in the implementation of the principles of sustainability in watershed management. The prize is given every year and the winner (or the winners) is awarded with $150,000. The Award is administered by the Swiss Re Foundation, the charity arm of Swiss Re, the second largest reinsurer in the world operating in more than 25 countries. The Swiss Re Foundation provides financial and technical assistance to many organisations working in developing countries and emergent economies; in particular the Foundation works to improve welfare, to ensure child protection, and to protect the environment.
Geographic Focus: No geographical restriction given.
Prize: The ReSource Award was launched in 2002 as an internationally recognised prize and it is conferred annually. The prize can be used only for project implementation. The Award is given to support the planning, evaluation and implementation of water-related projects. The focus on water management was born from the necessity to increase awareness about the importance of managing existing water resources in a responsible way to guarantee water access for future generations. Modern risk research has stated that in the future, water will gain pivotal importance as an issue affecting society, ecology, and economics. The Award aims to encourage strong leadership and community involvement for preserving and nurturing water resources at the local level.
The award is given to projects that demonstrate a genuine interest in water management at the community level in developing and emerging countries. Successful projects must possess the following attributes: be innovative; involve the local community and regional institutions in the project implementation; be based on transferable concepts (thus enabling the project to be replicated in other areas).
Eligibility: NGOs, private or public scientific institutions or similar bodies are encouraged to apply. Co-authored projects are also welcome especially when the collaboration is between public and private bodies. Organisations with a strong emphasis on community work and/or community based are strongly encouraged to apply. ONLY 1 application from each participant can be accepted.
Applicants are also required to provide a track record in sustainability and project planning or management in the specific field of water management to qualify for the award.
The 2013 Award was given to WWF Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Programme Office to improve farmers’ access to water for production an to better technologies and production resources enhancing food security, access to income and pasture while taking pressure off the surrounding natural environment by developing and implementing a holistic watershed management plan. More information can be found here.
How to Apply Information: Candidates must fill in the online application form here.
The deadline for initial submission for the ReSource Award 2014 was April 2013 and it is now closed. The next call will be advertised in 2014. All the applications are reviewed in a couple of months. The Jury selects a maximum of 25 among all the initial submissions; the selected applicants are invited to submit a full project proposal. Another selection is made and 10 proposals are selected and forward to an independent jury that will nominate the winner (or the winners).
Complete guidelines published in several languages can be found here.
