The UK has secured a place on the global stage of community-led environmental innovation, with Sand Dams Worldwide selected as a finalist in the Water category at the 2026 Water Air Food Awards (WAFA).
The London-based organisation has been recognised for its work addressing water scarcity in some of the world’s driest regions. The awards, which celebrate grassroots solutions to pressing environmental challenges, will culminate at the Generation Green Forum, hosted at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo in summer 2026. Public voting remains open until 30 Apr.
Tackling a persistent water crisis
Across dryland regions, millions of families continue to face severe water shortages. In many rural communities, individuals spend hours each day collecting water from unsafe and often contaminated sources. When rainfall does occur, it is typically brief and intense, running off hardened ground before it can be stored.
Since 2002, Sand Dams Worldwide has worked to address this challenge, reaching more than 1.2 million people across countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania through scalable, community-driven solutions.
A practical and scalable solution
At the heart of the organisation’s approach is the sand dam — a reinforced concrete structure built across seasonal riverbeds. These dams capture rainwater during wet periods, storing it within sand where it is protected from evaporation and contamination. The water meets World Health Organisation drinking standards and remains accessible throughout the year via hand pumps and taps.
Each sand dam can store up to 40 million litres of water, serve more than 1,000 people and last over 60 years, requiring minimal maintenance. The organisation also implements complementary solutions, including school water tanks, rock catchments and sand dam road crossings.
Beyond infrastructure, communities are supported through climate-smart agriculture and environmental restoration initiatives, including the planting of drought-resistant crops and trees, the establishment of seed banks and the rehabilitation of degraded land.
Measurable impact
The initiative has delivered significant results, with 1,424 sand dams constructed across 10 countries, providing reliable access to clean water for 1.2 million people. Time spent collecting water has been reduced by 73%, while water availability during dry periods has increased substantially.
Health and livelihoods have also improved, with a 64% reduction in household illness, improved hygiene standards and an 89% decrease in families experiencing food shortages. In Kenya alone, surplus agricultural produce has generated more than 24 million Kenyan shillings in income.
Building long-term resilience
With an ambition to enable one million sand dams benefiting 500 million people by 2050, Sand Dams Worldwide is advancing a model centred on local partnerships, community ownership and collaboration with governments and organisations across Africa and beyond.
Recognition at WAFA connects the initiative to a global network of partners and supporters, supporting efforts to scale its impact in the face of growing climate pressures.
Tina Lindgreen, chief executive officer and executive chairperson of WAFA, said the awards highlight “real people creating extraordinary impact from the ground up”, adding that such initiatives are often overlooked despite their significant contributions to environmental sustainability and community resilience.
