The Awa Prize 2023
Discover the winners
From September to November 2023, talented women entrepreneurs from Enabel’s partner countries competed in the second edition of the Awa Prize, entrepreneurs with impact. After several months of competition and many beautiful encounters, we are proud to announce the 12 winners of this edition.
The 1st prize winners
Start-up
Adétola Danielle Adanlawo
Founder of Ilewa
Benin
Scale-up
Mariama Diallo
Founder of Bilinda SARL
Guinea
Innovation
Edith Kouassi
Founder of Ecoplast Innov
Côte d'Ivoire
People's choice
Dative Uwimana
Founder of Ikaze Ventures
Burundi
The Awa Prize aims at shedding the lights on social entrepreneurs in 18 partner countries of the Belgian development cooperation : Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, Guinea, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.
Candidates could enter the competition in 4 distinct categories : 'Start-up', 'Scale-up', 'Innovation', 'People's choice award'.
1.647 applications were received. After several selection steps and an online vote, 12 entrepreneurs from 8 different countries stood out.
Discover the 12 winners and their businesses below!
Winners by category
'Start-up'
Adétola Danielle Adanlawo is the founder and director of Ilewa, which manufactures and distributes washable and reusable baby nappies made from banana fibres. Its goal: Waste reduction (351,000 tonnes of waste per year worldwide).
Raissa Ikuzwe challenges international brands and launched Ino Coffee to give Rwandans a taste of local high-quality organic coffee. At the same time, the company trains young women and helps them find jobs.
With her company BUIM, Mireille Niyonkuru wants to bring electricity and light to rural areas in Rwanda and Burundi. By installing solar kits, BUIM aims to provide households with access to energy using safe, affordable and environmentally-friendly technology.
'Scale-up'
Mariama Diallo founded and runs Bilinda SARL, a company that manufactures environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Through its cleaning services the company is also creating decent jobs for almost 20 women in the community.
Nabalo Tarnagda Larba co-founded the Song-Taaba Cooperative to bring out the best from a local agricultural product: shea kernels. Whether it’s shea butter, soap or ointment, the products on offer are healthy and create stable, fair jobs for the women in the region.
Laurianne Kamuyi is the founder and director of Belkin Services, the only company in Kinshasa offering selective waste sorting for businesses and households. As well as collecting waste, a number of awareness-raising campaigns are being organised at national level.
'Innovation'
Edith Kouassi's Ecoplast Innov company uses plastics and tyres to create flooring products. With the eco-friendly paving slabs and other decorative plaques, Edith creatively solves a waste management issue.
KTF Concept, founded and run by Leila Kateferi, provides Burundians with an environmentally-friendly alternative for domestic fuel. By recycling organic waste into biomass pellets, the company enables households to cook their meals without generating pollution.
Bouchra Masrour founded Bahia Laboratoire, a company offering skincare and beauty products derived from sustainable and ecological agriculture products. Through her work, she links the benefits of nature with the well-being of her customers.
'People's choice award'
Ikaze Ventures, run by Dative Uwimana, offers tourists from all over the world the chance to discover the still little-known wonders of Burundi. 15% of the profits from the tours offered go to promoting environmental conservation.
Alida Ahouandjinou promotes the OYAYI company. Based in Cotonou, this company offers natural remedies created from organically grown plants. With its resolutely ecological approach, OYAYI is also helping to empower women.
Oumou Hawa Camara founded the restaurant and catering service ‘La cuisine de Hawa’. This establishment is the only one of its kind in Conakry. It focuses on local Guinean specialities prepared from fresh, locally-grown and organic produce.
The next edition of the Awa Prize will take place in June 2024. More information will be available in March 2024.
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