A Moroccan entrepreneur and scientist whose company produces clean water for rural communities has won the prestigious Cartier Women’s Initiative Award in the Middle East region.
Salma Bugarani, one of three finalist female entrepreneurs, was announced as the 2024 winner at a glittering ceremony in Shenzhen, China, last night. Her company, Green Watech, will receive access to mentorship and training programs, as well as funding worth $100,000.
Founded in 2018, Green Watec uses low-tech methods to purify the domestic wastewater of thousands of people in Moroccan villages, making it safe for use in agricultural irrigation. To date, Bugalani’s company has treated more than 200 million liters of water and contributed to the production of more than 11,000 tons of food.
As one of three entrepreneurs shortlisted for the Cartier Middle East Women’s Initiative 2024 Prize (the other two being Egyptian, Shahira Yahya and her company Chitosan, and Rania Gaafar and her company ADVA), Ms. Bougarani represents further progress in gender equality in the region.
There is no choice anymore. Clean water is a necessity. It’s a right.
Salma Bougalani, Founder of Green Watech
talk The National Speaking before the announcement last night about the significance of being selected as a finalist, Bougalani said: “I am a woman scientist who came from a very modest upbringing, but I had to work extremely hard to take on these challenges. Now girls from rural areas will believe they can do it too.”
“There are only three women working in clean tech in Morocco compared to 3,000 people. Providing clean sanitation is personal because I used to holiday in my grandfather’s village, where wastewater was discharged untreated into the river. I remember my mother telling me not to drink it, that it would make me sick.
“More than 32,000 villages in Morocco lack access to safe sanitation. People discharge wastewater into rivers and use the water to irrigate their vegetables and clean their homes.
“More than 2.3 billion people around the world don’t have access to safe sanitation, so we’re working to democratize it. It’s no longer a choice. Safe water is a necessity. It’s a right.”
The Cartier Women’s Initiative was founded in 2006 to help raise capital for companies started by women. Cartier launched the initiative after discovering that only 2 percent of funding worldwide went to female entrepreneurs, in an effort to redress the balance.
Each year, women-owned businesses from nine geographic areas go through a rigorous selection process, with only the strongest and most consistent business plans shortlisted to become what CWI calls “Fellows.”
The awards ceremony takes place in a different city each year – this year it was in Shenzhen, the world’s leading technology and startup hub – where the finalists will come together to receive intensive guidance and mentoring to help strengthen their companies.
One winner will be selected from each region to receive a top prize of $100,000, while the runner-up and second runner-up will receive $60,000 and $30,000, respectively.
Since its founding, CWI has supported the businesses of more than 300 women entrepreneurs, and Cartier said about 92 percent of them are still thriving.
Last night’s glitzy event took place at Shenzhen’s Bay Opera House and was hosted by presenter Sandi Toksvig and model-turned-entrepreneur Karlie Kloss.
Updated: May 23, 2024 5:33am
