Source: PRNewsfoto/Zayed Sustainability Prize. The 2019 Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony took place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). His Highness Sheikh Mohamed presented awards to 10 winners across categories such as Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; HH Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy PM and Minister of Presidential Affairs; HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; and HH Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance; and other high-ranking ministers and officials.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, UAE and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, along with leaders and representatives from the winners’ countries, presented awards to the 10 winners of the 2019 Zayed Sustainability Prize.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed congratulated the winners and commended their dedication and significant efforts in advancing sustainable development. He encouraged them to maintain their efforts in finding innovative and sustainable solutions to tackle current and future global issues.
He also acknowledged their inventive ideas and endeavors that have driven economic and social progress in their respective nations and regions.
“This year’s awards are a significant moment in the history of both the prize and the UAE. We witnessed the nation come together in 2018 to commemorate the UAE’s Founding Father during the Year of Zayed. These celebrations motivated the prize’s expansion to acknowledge a broader spectrum of impactful global solutions aimed at addressing worldwide sustainability challenges,” remarked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed.
“Under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the legacy of Sheikh Zayed’s values continues to influence our global perspective on development—a vision that emphasizes sustainability and inclusivity, which we will celebrate throughout 2019 as the Year of Tolerance.”
“By recognizing work across sectors that are fundamental to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the prize offers an unparalleled global platform for ideas with the potential to improve humanity and our planet. By generating wider positive change in areas like healthcare, food security, energy access, water, and sanitation, we are in a unique position to inspire and empower a new wave of trailblazers. These pioneers will create impactful innovations that will improve the lives of millions of underserved people worldwide.”
The 2019 prize recognizes leaders whose work and entrepreneurial spirit have led to practical solutions implemented in communities globally. A variety of groups, including small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profits, were encouraged to submit existing solutions that have already demonstrated a positive effect.
In the Health category, We Care Solar received the award for their creation, the Solar Suitcase. This portable maternity device aids in childbirth and related medical services in off-grid, rural locations. This unit combines lighting, fetal monitoring, and communication equipment. It has already helped 1.8 million people by assisting doctors, midwives, and other medical professionals in providing emergency obstetric care in 3,325 health facilities across Africa.
Sanku, the winner in the Food category, was recognized for its flour fortification machines. These machines equip and provide incentives for small, local millers to fortify their flour with essential nutrients using cutting-edge technology. Sanku has currently installed 150 of these fortification machines in flour mills across East Africa.
In the Energy category, BBOXX, an energy solutions provider, was recognized for its plug-and-play solar device. This device gives users an on-grid experience in off-grid environments. BBOXX has installed over 160,000 solar home systems across Africa, South America, and the Pacific region, connecting over 675,000 people with clean and affordable energy solutions. Their efforts have also offset roughly 87,000 tons of CO2 each year.
ECOSOFTT, the winner in the Water category, was awarded for its community-based water management standard. This decentralized system presents a collection of solutions for managing water sources, water usage, water recycling, and discharge. ECOSOFTT has implemented over 50 projects across five countries and provided more than 200,000 people with access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
The Global High Schools category focuses on motivating young minds and encouraging submissions based on concepts or project proposals they can put into action using the award’s prize money. Introduced in 2012, the category expanded this year from five to six schools, each representing a different world region. Participating schools presented project proposals addressing one or more of the four sustainability challenges: health, food, energy, or water.
The recipients of the 2019 Global High Schools category award were: The Impact School (Guatemala), representing The Americas; Gymnasium Goethe (Tajikistan), representing Europe & Central Asia; American School of Dubai (UAE), representing the Middle East and North Africa region; African Leadership Academy (South Africa), representing Sub-Saharan Africa; SECMOL (India), representing South Asia; and Muntinlupa National High School (The Philippines), representing East Asia & Pacific.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Chair of the Zayed Sustainability Prize jury and former President of Iceland, commented: “I want to express my gratitude to the UAE’s leadership for their foresight in establishing such an award 10 years ago. Through their dedication to its principles and objectives, the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s expanded and broadened mission allows it to extend its reach while transforming the lives of vulnerable communities worldwide.
“The prize is an important means of generating support and raising awareness for the global sustainability agenda. While we celebrate the 2019 prize winners, I would also like to acknowledge all those who submitted entries, those who were shortlisted, and the finalists— they have all demonstrated a clear passion and commitment to creating a more sustainable future.”
His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, remarked: “The Zayed Sustainability Prize aligns with our Founding Father’s holistic and humanitarian vision and will build upon the positive impact already achieved by its predecessor, the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The expansion and evolution of the prize categories has led to unprecedented interest. We are truly energized by the exceptional work, passion, and innovation occurring worldwide to identify the most effective solutions to global challenges.
“We extend our congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Zayed Sustainability Prize. The prize’s accomplishments rely on the collaboration of all stakeholders, from governments and industries to the resourcefulness and creativity found at the grassroots level. Their ingenuity and enthusiasm in pursuing sustainability-driven solutions to achieve global goals continue to inspire us.”
Since the prize’s inception in 2009, its winners have directly and indirectly impacted the lives of over 307 million people globally. They have significantly contributed to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 1 billion tons. Their efforts have also conserved 1.2 billion megawatts of clean energy and expanded energy access to 27.5 million people in some of the most impoverished communities in Africa and Asia.