ReSource Award
From 2004 to 2020, first Swiss Re and then the Swiss Re Foundation supported the ReSource Award to foster entrepreneurial thinking in managing water sustainably in low- and middle-income countries. The programme was designed both to recognise past success and to help start-ups develop and scale up promising approaches.
Each year an international jury selected the award finalists. In addition to two-thirds of the total prize money of USD 150 000, the ultimate winner enjoyed three years of coaching support from subject matter experts.
To sharpen our focus areas and increase our impact, in 2020 we phased out water as a focus area and with it the ReSource Award. The essential learnings from this long-standing programme is captured in the "17 years of ReSource Award" brochure.
Winner 2019: Smartphone-based water and soil testing kits
ffem has developed an affordable smartphone-based quality testing kit for water in India.
Winner 2018: A healthy environment starts at home
We’re working with CASSA to offer low-income Guatemalans sustainable and affordable housing.
Winner 2017: Producing more food with less water
We're enabling smallholder farmers to supply high-quality fish to local premium markets, by supporting Clearwater Farms.
Winner 2016: Improving lives one pump at a time
By supporting MSABI, we intend to further validate and scale a subscription based system for water point maintenance in Tanzania.
Winner 2015: Sustainable lake management
We supported WCS who protects and restores watersheds and biodiversity in Brazil's Pantanal region.
Winner 2014: Making water protection pay
By supporting LI-BIRD, we mobilized local institutions for sustainable management of watershed services in Nepal.
Winner 2013: Sustainable agricultural and husbandry
By supporting WWF in Madagascar, we supported the implementation of the first local watershed management in the Mahafaly region.
Winner 2012: Engaging the community in Kenya
KDI partnered with residents of impoverished areas to create low cost, high-impact built environments.
Winner 2011: Integrating economic mechanisms for boosting carbon storage in Central Asia
By supporting CAREC, two economic mechanisms for boosting carbon storage and supplementing incomes were implemented in the Chon-Aksuu watershed.
Winner 2010: Improved livelihoods in the Santa Cruz Valleys
With the support of Swiss Re Foundation, Natura Bolivia improved livelihoods in the Santa Cruz Valleys.
Winner 2009: Sustainable management of degraded watersheds in Afghanistan
Helvetas aimed to improve livelihoods of the poor rural population in the Kahmard district by reducing the risk of flood damage and increasing long-term land productivity.
Winner 2008: Participatory community watershed management in China
By supporting TMI, we helped to ensure clean and safe water supply supply for Shangri-la Town in China.
Winner 2007: Rainwater harvesting to improve livelihoods in Ethiopia
By supporting ERHA, we promoted rainwater harvesting in Ethiopia.
Winner 2005: Compensating for upstream activities in the Philippines
By supporting REECS, we helped to compensate for upstream activities in the Philippines.
Winner 2004: Clean water through eco-sanitation in China
By supporting the Yunnan Environmental Development Institute, eco-sanitation could be implemented in the Xian Rendong village, China.
Winner 2003: Introducing regulatory reforms in the A’Vuong watershed
By supporting WWF Indochina, we helped to develop a comprehensive framework for the management of freshwater in Central Vietnam.
Winner 2002: Water user become biosphere conservers in Guatemala
Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza has contributed to the conservation of the flora and fauna in Guatemala.