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The Forward7 Initiative, which specializes in providing clean cooking solutions, has announced the launch of the Forward7 Clean Cooking Award, a global award designed to empower leading innovators and encourage organizations to develop advanced solutions that support the future of the LPG sector in Africa. The award also aims to accelerate the growth and expansion of downstream LPG distribution and end-use projects across the continent.

The Forward7 Initiative, which specializes in providing clean cooking solutions, has announced the launch of the Forward7 Clean Cooking Award, a global award designed to empower leading innovators and encourage organizations to develop advanced solutions that support the future of the LPG sector in Africa. The award also aims to accelerate the growth and expansion of downstream LPG distribution and end-use projects across the continent. The announcement was made during Forward7’s participation as a Strategic Partner at LPG Expo 2026, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in April.

The award features three main categories designed to address energy challenges across African markets. The Frontier Contexts category focuses on solutions that expand access to clean cooking in remote areas, underserved rural communities, and humanitarian settings. The Continuity & Loyalty Program category seeks innovative solutions that encourage the long-term use of LPG, helping build lasting customer relationships and reducing the risk of returning to harmful cooking fuels. The Urban Scale-Up category recognizes solutions that improve access, efficiency, and market growth in densely populated urban and peri-urban areas.

The total prize pool is $45,000, with $15,000 awarded to the winning project in each category. The prizes are funded by Forward7 to support the development of high-impact ideas that help address energy challenges.

To ensure a rigorous evaluation process that recognizes the most impactful innovations, the award is guided by a panel of distinguished global leaders and experts from the energy and development sectors. The panel includes Mr. Ahmad Alshammri, Senior Executive of Marketing, Communication, Sustainability, and Customer Experience at Gasco Holding; Ms. Anne Hyre, Executive Director of Bettering Human Lives Foundation; Mr. Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA); Mr. Kimball Chen, Chairman of the Global LPG Partnership (GLPGP); and Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, Secretary General of the African Organization for Standardisation.

The Forward7 Clean Cooking Award further strengthens Forward7’s position as a key driver of the global clean cooking transition. It also reflects Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to supporting innovation and international collaboration to address development challenges and create lasting prosperity for communities.