The DFAT Technology Against Poverty Prize is a $, grant provided by innovationXchange as part of the Google Impact Challenge. The prize encouraged non-profits registered in Australia to explore new ways of delivering social impact internationally, using technology. InnovationXchange is particularly focused on how technology can make lives better in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Engineers Without Borders Australia project for micro water businesses to improve community health and livelihoods in Timor-Leste will support Timor-Leste in its aims to ensure all its citizens have access to clean water by . The Lafaek Water project is using a new water treatment technology developed by Water Source Australia to help make this happen. Combined with a scalable micro-business model, Lafaek water will support young people to treat, sell and distribute drinking water for communities and businesses. By the end of the project, , people, including , children, will have access to safe and reliable drinking water. It will also help determine whether this model can viably expand across Timor-Leste and into other countries, including in the Pacific. You can read more about the launch of the Lafaek Water pilot in Timor Leste here. Lafaek Water is an initiative of EWB Australia and The Wise Foundation. Read more on the Google Impact Challenge here.