First Zambian Company Among Top 30 Finalists at WIPO Global Awards 2025

By Adonis Byemelwa

It started quietly—just an idea, a spark rooted in the daily struggles of communities, and a relentless desire to change lives with purpose. From that humble foundation, AFNON has risen and now stands tall on the world stage.

In a landmark moment for Zambian innovation, AFNON has been named one of the top 30 global finalists in the 2025 WIPO Global Awards. From nearly 800 entries across 95 countries, this clean-tech startup is not just a finalist—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when vision meets grit, and innovation is shaped by empathy.

The announcement by the World Intellectual Property Organization has stirred deep pride across the country and the continent. AFNON is the first Zambian company ever selected for this honor, and the only African finalist in this year’s group.

“It still feels surreal,” reads a statement from the AFNON press release. “We’ve always believed in what we do, but to see that belief echoed by a global institution like WIPO is both affirming and deeply moving,” says Arnold Nyendwa, Founder & CEO of AFNON

This recognition arrives not just as a badge of honor, but as a celebration of a company that has worked quietly but powerfully to tackle some of the region’s most persistent challenges. Through its Juvin 3-in-1 Clean Cook Stove, AFNON is bringing clean, affordable cooking technology to communities where indoor air pollution, deforestation, and energy poverty remain widespread. The innovation, designed and manufactured in Zambia, reflects a deep understanding of both the environment and the lives it aims to improve.

What sets AFNON apart isn’t just the technology, but how it has fused that innovation with a clear, robust intellectual property strategy. The WIPO Global Awards are designed to recognize companies that don’t just invent but protect, scale, and sustain their ideas through the strategic use of IP. This is innovation not for innovation’s sake, but for impact, with lasting value for society.

“There’s something deeply powerful about this moment,” the statement continues. “It shows that transformative ideas can come from anywhere—even from places that are too often overlooked on the global stage.”

Each finalist in the WIPO Global Awards was chosen based on the strength of their business model, the strategic use of intellectual property, and the tangible social and environmental impact of their solutions. In this context, AFNON’s rise to the top 30 isn’t just a corporate milestone—it’s a story of belief meeting breakthrough.

This year’s competition saw record participation, making AFNON’s placement all the more remarkable. The awards serve as a global amplifier for enterprises that demonstrate how intellectual property can drive sustainable development, economic growth, and human dignity. And in that sense, AFNON is more than deserving.

“These companies show how creativity and IP rights can generate real-world benefits — for both businesses and society,” said Marcelo Di Pietro, Director of the WIPO Awards Program. “We warmly congratulate AFNON for reaching this stage.”

For AFNON, the journey has been anything but easy. The path to global recognition has been paved with challenges—technical hurdles, funding gaps, and the kind of quiet perseverance required to build something meaningful from the ground up. But in those trials, the company found its purpose sharpened. Each setback became a lesson, every breakthrough a reason to keep going.

“This journey hasn’t been easy,” the press release reflects. “But every challenge shaped us. Every small win built our confidence. And every community we worked with reminded us of why we started.”

The news of the nomination has sparked a wave of celebration at home, not just among team members, but among the communities that inspired and supported AFNON’s mission from the beginning. It’s a moment of triumph not just for a company, but for a country, and a continent, pushing forward on the global innovation frontier.

As the team prepares for the awards ceremony in Geneva this July, there’s excitement—yet also a calm sense of readiness. AFNON isn’t stepping into that global room to seek validation. They’ve already earned it. What they’re bringing is a story worth hearing—a reminder that innovation, when deeply rooted in humanity, can rise from anywhere and touch everywhere.

“We’re ready to share what we’ve built,” concludes the release. “Because this moment isn’t just ours. It belongs to Zambia, to Africa, and to every dreamer who’s ever believed that a small spark can light up the world,” says Arnold Nyendwa.