UAE's global award issues call to high schools in Asia

New Delhi: The Zayed Sustainability Prize is now open for submissions for its 2020 edition.

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) pioneering global award for rewarding innovation, impact and inspiration in sustainable development solutions, is inviting organisations and schools, across Asia, to submit their entries in one of itsfive categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.

Entries will close on 30 May.

The winner of each category receives US$600,000 in prize funding.

The Global High Schools category awards up to US$100,000 to each of six schools from the following six world regions: The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific.

Inspired by the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize has recognised winners' solutions that have delivered direct and indirect positive impact to more than 318 million people around the world, since its establishment in 2008.

Formerly known as the Zayed Future Energy Prize, in April 2018 the Prize extended its scope from an initial focus on energy to incorporate broader global sustainability priorities.

Past winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize from India include India's SECMOL and Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya schools, IDEI, and Orb Energy. The Prize's five categories are designed to align closely with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In addition to rewarding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organisations (NPOs) and similar organisations,for their empowering solutions to disadvantaged communities, the Prize's Global High Schools category also looks to inspire the world's youth, to become the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Speaking on the significance of the Asia region in driving global sustainability solutions, Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, said: "The momentum for sustainable development is gaining pace in Asia, as more and more countries are increasingly aware of the need to intensify efforts in relation to the sustainability of its communities and cities."

"The quality of entries we have received from Asia, over the past few years, reflects the pioneering work being done across the continent to harness new technologies and implement innovative and sustainable solutions that align with the humanitarian impact the Prize seeks to affect,"Dr. Lamya added.

While entries vary in scope, examples of winning solutions and school projects include: facilitating access to healthcare technologies, in rural regions; improving food security and encouraging sustainable agriculture; delivering greater access to energy for off-grid communities; offering affordable clean drinking water and sanitation solutions as well as enhancing education, training and advocacy.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize's robust, three-stage evaluation process, begins with the independent due diligence conducted by a reputed international research and analysis consultancy.

Following this, the shortlisted entries undergo evaluation by a Selection Committee of industry specialists to determine the finalists.

From this list, the Prize Jury selects the winners, in all five categories. For the Global High Schools category, the award is divided into six winners, across six world regions.

They are: The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific.