Small and medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools are invited to submit entries.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s global award for recognising organisations and high schools with sustainability solutions, has announced the 2023 cycle is now open for submissions.
Entries will be accepted until 6 Jul 2022 through the prize’s online portal. Small to medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools with sustainability solutions are invited to submit an entry for consideration in one of the five categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.
The prize’s 2022 award cycle received a record-breaking 4,000 applications, marking a 68.5% increase in submissions compared to the previous cycle, from a record 151 countries.
Commenting on the launch of the 2023 submission cycle, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, also director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, said: “For the past 14 years, the prize has delivered on its goal of recognising and rewarding the achievements of those who are driving impactful, innovative and inspiring sustainability solutions. As we continue to build on this legacy, we look forward to awarding the next cadre of sustainability pioneers, who will drive environmental and social change and generate an even greater positive impact on the world.”
The prize’s US$3 million annual fund rewards winners $600,000 in each category. The Global High Schools category is split into six world region winners, with each school able to claim up to $100,000 to start or further expand their project. The six world regions of the Global High Schools category are the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.
For the Health, Food, Energy and Water categories, organisations are encouraged to demonstrate that they are improving access to essential products or services and have a long-term vision for improved living and working conditions. For the Global High Schools category, their projects should be student-led, with emphasis placed on the students actively involved in the planning, implementation and monitoring process.
He added: “Young people remain an integral focus for the prize and we are committed to empowering even greater numbers of future sustainability leaders by providing them with a platform to turn their bold ideas into reality through our Global High Schools category.
“The Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to be a steadfast partner and thought leader in international sustainable development. By amplifying the critical work being done globally in health, energy, food and water, and facilitating the delivery of these solutions to vulnerable communities around the world through the prize winners, we have helped transform the lives of more than 370 million people.”
