Zayed Sustainability Prize 2027 Cycle for Enterprises, High Schools & NGOs Worldwide (Up to US $1 million Prize Funding)

Applications are open for Zayed Sustainability Prize 2027 Cycle. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies and the UAE’s pioneering global award for sustainability and humanitarian innovation, has opened submissions for its 2027 cycle. The Prize carries forward the vision and legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by supporting those advancing a more inclusive and sustainable world.

Now in its 18^th year, the Prize has positively impacted over 400 million people by expanding access to clean energy, water, food, healthcare and improving nature resilience. With an increased prize fund of US $7.2 million, the Zayed Sustainability Prize supports enterprises, nonprofit organisations and schools delivering transformative solutions.

Over nearly two decades, the Prize has improved the lives of more than 400 million people worldwide, supporting projects that deliver real and lasting benefits, from expanding access to renewable energy and affordable healthcare, to increasing food and water security and strengthening resilience in vulnerable regions.

Zayed Sustainability Prize Categories (Eligibility & Prizes)

Now in its 18^th year and with a total of US $7.2 million in funds, the Prize invites small and medium enterprises, nonprofit organisations, and high schools to submit innovative solutions across six categories:

Health

• This category recognises organisations that have demonstrated innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of health that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to essential and affordable healthcare
  • Ensuring access to maternal and newborn healthcare
  • Ending epidemics (AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis etc.)
  • Preventing and treating water-borne, communicable and non-communicable diseases
  • Reducing illness from pollution, hazardous chemicals and contamination
• Eligibility
• 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, organisations must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a non-profit organisation (NPO).
• Prize
  • Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.
  • Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.

Food

• This category recognises organisations that have demonstrated innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of food that include, but are not limited to:
  • Decreasing hunger and malnutrition
  • Increasing agricultural or other food processing productivity
  • Ensuring sustainability of food systems
  • Enhancing sustainable food production
• Eligibility
  • 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, organisations must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a non-profit organisation (NPO).
• Prize
  • Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.
  • Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.

Energy

• This category recognises organisations that have demonstrated innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of energy that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to affordable and reliable clean energy
  • Increasing production of clean energy
  • Improving energy efficiency and energy infrastructure
  • Implementing clean energy technology innovation
• Eligibility
  • 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, organisations must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a non-profit organisation (NPO).
• Prize
  • Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.
  • Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.

Water

• This category recognises organisations that can demonstrated innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of water that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water
  • Ensuring access to sanitation and hygiene
  • Increasing water use efficiency
• Eligibility
  • 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, organisations must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), or a non-profit organisation (NPO).
• Prize
  • Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.
  • Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.

Climate Action

• The category recognises organisations that have demonstrated innovative, impactful and inspirational solutions producing positive results in the following areas:
  • Climate Adaptation and resilience building
  • Sustainable Land Use and Forest Conservation
  • Nature-based solutions for conserving/restoring ecosystems and natural resources or carbon removal
  • Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage
• Eligibility
  • The solution may be an approach, service and/or product that can be directly attributed to a quantifiable positive impact pertaining to the areas mentioned above.
  • 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).
• Prize
  • Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.
  • Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.

Global High Schools

• The Global High Schools category recognises high schools or secondary schools, from six global geographic regions that propose innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability projects in the areas of health, food, energy and/or water. The proposed project could be in one area (e.g. water) or a combination of areas (e.g. health, food, energy, water and climate action).
• The Prize is intended to encourage students to develop and implement their sustainability ideas and is not aimed at administrative projects or educational reforms at the school.
• The award in this category is not given for past achievements but will enable students from winning high schools to implement sustainability projects in their own schools. These student-led projects must demonstrate innovative approaches to address sustainability challenges and inspire students to take active roles in sustainable development.
• The application must be submitted by the students and supported by the school management. The projects must:
  • demonstrate how they meet the three criteria: impact, innovation, inspiration, as explained in the Evaluation Criteria section of this page;
  • be able to be implemented and operational within one to two years; and
  • benefit the school community and/or their local/regional community for several years.
• Prize
• In each of the following six global regions, one school will win US $150,000, while 12 finalist schools will win US $25,000:
  • The Americas
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Middle East & North Africa
  • Europe & Central Asia
  • South Asia
  • East Asia & Pacific

Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards

• Winners in each of the five organisational categories receive US $1 million
• While Global High Schools winners will receive US $150,000 to implement or expand student-led projects in their communities.

Evaluation Process

All entries undergo a rigorous three-stage evaluation process.

• First, each submission is reviewed through a comprehensive due-diligence step to ensure it meets the Prize’s core criteria of Impact, Innovation and Inspiration.
• This is followed by detailed assessments conducted by the Selection Committee, comprising category-specific panels of independent international experts.
• From their shortlist, finalists are identified and shared with the Prize Jury, who unanimously elect the winners across all six categories.

The Award Cycle Timeline

Click Here to Apply

Click Here for more Details

Application Deadline: 22nd June 2026, 17:00 EST

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