2024 Annual Report

In 2024, the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD) continued to work at the interface of science, policy and practice in the water and broader natural resources sector in Southern Africa. Against a backdrop of intensifying water scarcity, climate risk and biodiversity loss, AWARD’s work focused on strengthening climate resilience, supporting local livelihoods, and building more participatory, evidence-informed governance.   This report is structured into three parts: Part A introduces AWARD, where we come from, and our strategic focus. Part B describes seven flagship projects and programmes, from local pilots to basin-scale innovations. Part C wraps-up the report with an organisational overview of our people, partners, governance and future directions. Together, these parts present AWARD as a small but agile organisation that “waters seeds of change” through partnerships, social learning and systems-based practice.