The category recognises small and medium sized enterprises and nonprofit organisations that have demonstrated impact in the following areas:
Individuals can nominate their organisation or another eligible entity for this category.
Organisations must also demonstrate a clear vision and long-term plan to further deploy their solution and scale up their impact, as well as inspiring others to follow suit by advancing sustainable and human development.
To be eligible for this category, the nominated organisation must be a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) or a non-profit organisation (NPO).
Innovation refers to a novel solution or a transformation of an existing solution that solves a challenge or a need, generates value and brings significant positive impact.
A solution can be an approach, technology, a service or a product.
• has a unique value proposition;
• is disruptive or transformative;
• is technically and commercially viable; and
• is adopted by the market.
The Prize does not award early stage start-ups, demonstration projects, prototypes or solutions that have not demonstrated any impact on the ground.
Impact refers to a positive change that addresses social, economic, technological and/or environmental challenge(s) and has proven to make the world a better place by improving the well-being of humanity.
The impact criterion requires organisations to demonstrate that:
• their solution is reducing climate risk and vulnerability;
• they are resilient to potential social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges;
• their solution has resulted in measurable positive impact on beneficiary communities;
• they have good governance by employing skilled people and establishing fair policies;
• they have a detailed plan of how the Prize money would be used to further increase their impact.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, was a pioneering advocate of global sustainability and human development. Leading by example, he placed great value in the pursuit of socio-economic development that meets the needs of both current and future generations. Continued through the Prize, Sheikh Zayed’s legacy is a source of inspiration for the entire world.
The inspiration criterion requires organisations to demonstrate that their solution:
• reflect’s Sheikh Zayed’s core values – sustainability and human development that were central to his own approach and actions;
• can inspire and influence others to advance sustainable and human development; and
• can further inspire sustainable actions from the wider community by instigating behavioural changes.