Salma Bougarrani, Moroccan entrepreneur, awarded the 2024 Cartier Women’s Initiative prize

Salma Bougarrani, a Moroccan entrepreneur and scientist, has been awarded the prestigious Cartier Women’s Initiative prize for the Middle East region for her groundbreaking work in providing clean water to rural villages. Bougarrani’s company, Green Watech, uses innovative low-tech methods to clean household waste water, making it safe for agricultural irrigation and benefiting thousands of people in Moroccan villages.

At the award ceremony in Shenzhen, China, Bougarrani was announced as the 2024 winner, beating out two other female entrepreneurs from Egypt. Along with the title, Green Watech will receive $100,000 in funding and access to mentorship and training programs.

Bougarrani’s dedication to providing clean water stems from her personal experiences growing up in a village where untreated waste water posed health risks. She emphasized the importance of safe water, stating, “It is not a choice anymore. Safe water is mandatory. It is a right.”

The Cartier Women’s Initiative was established in 2006 to support female entrepreneurs in accessing funding, as only 2% of global funding goes to women-led businesses. The initiative has since helped over 300 female entrepreneurs, with a success rate of 92%.

The award ceremony, held in different cities each year, aims to provide mentorship and guidance to strengthen the businesses of the finalists. Bougarrani’s win not only recognizes her achievements but also serves as a symbol of progress in gender equality in the region.