The Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards recognize and celebrate the contributions that innovators in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors are making in advancing the sustainable development goals in Commonwealth countries.

Objectives

• Identify, highlight and support the innovations that show demonstrable potential for advancing sustainable development in Commonwealth countries.
• Help create an environment that will encourage and sustain funding, mentoring and support to scale up innovations led by governments, businesses, women, young people and not-for-profit organizations across the Commonwealth.
• Showcase the depth and breadth of innovation potential, grit, determination and creativity that exists across the Commonwealth.
• Inspire, encourage and challenge Commonwealth citizens to develop innovations that will make a positive difference to their communities, countries and the Commonwealth.

Award Details

Each award winner will receive a trophy, a certificate and prize money of £3,000. Award winners will receive ongoing support for their work and may also be invited to participate in high-level forums such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Commonwealth Business Forum and Commonwealth Games.

Award Categories

Three awards will be given in each of the following five categories:

• Improve the well-being of Commonwealth PEOPLE
• Improve PROSPERITY in the Commonwealth
• Protect the PLANET and the natural environment in the Commonwealth
• Promote PEACE and justice in the Commonwealth
• Promote PARTNERSHIPS for development in the Commonwealth.

There will be three award winners in each of the five categories, adding up to a total of 15 winners.  In each of the five categories, one winner will be selected from the public sector (national/regional/local government), one winner from will be from civil society / not-for-profit sector and one winner will be an entrepreneur or a private sector company.

Who can apply?

• Nominees can be individuals, groups or teams, organizations, companies, charities or government ministries / departments / agencies.
• Nominees must be directly engaged in developing their innovations, either in a full-time, part-time or voluntary capacity.
• Nominees must be Commonwealth citizens, governments or public sector organizations in Commonwealth countries, private enterprises based in Commonwealth countries or civil society / not-for-profit organizations based in Commonwealth countries.
• Nominated innovations must be able to demonstrate impact or potential in achieving progress on one or more of the 17 SDGs in a Commonwealth country (or countries).
• Nominees must be willing to take part in Commonwealth-supported activities and initiatives related to the Commonwealth Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards.

For more information, visit Commonwealth Innovation.