Ashden-winner AIDFI wins BBC's World Challenge

On Saturday, BBC World News broadcast the final of the World Challenge 10 series. The winner was 'The Only Way is Up', the ram pump project from the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation (or AIDFI).

The Philippines-based initiative - which won an Ashden Award in 2007 - uses the power of a river's flow to push water uphill. AIDFI has introduced the pump to over 170 villages.

There were 800 nominations from over 70 countries, from which 12 projects were selected. More than 167,000 people round the world voted online for their favourite. 'The Only Way is Up Project' received US $20,000 prize from Shell.

(Pic: Auke Idzenga, Programme Director, receives award at BBC World Challenge ceremony)

See also: AIDFI now in Top Three for BBC World Challenge
AIDFI works hard for votes in last week of BBC challenge
AID foundation selected as finalist for BBC World Challenge
Blog Action Day: Ram pumps provide freshwater for 50,000 people