THE ZAYED Sustainability Prize, the United Arab Emirate’s first global award for organizations and high schools with sustainability solutions, is calling for submissions for its 2023 cycle.

Small to medium enterprises, non-profit organizations and high schools with sustainability solutions are invited to submit an entry for one of the five categories of Heath, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.

Entries will be accepted until July 6, 2022 through the Prize’s online portal.

The Prize’s 2022 award cycle received a record-breaking 4,000 applications from 151 countries.

The Prize’s $3 million annual fund rewards winners $600,000 in each category. The Global High Schools category is split into six world region winners. Each school will claim $100,000 to start or further expand its project.

The six world regions of the Global High Schools category are The Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.

For the Health, Food, Energy and Water categories, organizations should 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 being actively involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring processes.

“For the past 14 years, the Prize has proudly delivered on its goal of recognizing 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 real environmental and social change and generate an even greater positive impact on the world,” Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, said.

“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,” Al Jaber added.

Inspired by the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize has, to date, recognized 96 winners whose solutions or student-led school projects have positively transformed the lives of millions.