UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Award
In 2025 UNIDO will launch the ONE World Sustainability Award. It honours ground-breaking contributions to sustainable industrial development, recognizing businesses and individuals who demonstrate excellence in sustainability and innovation. The award supports the long-term development of industries and businesses, enhancing their market access and fostering growth.
The first-ever award ceremony will take place at UNIDO’s General Conference 2025, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will be the start of a universal platform with high-level participants from 173 UNIDO Member countries to showcase the winners’ solutions that address critical sustainability challenges. And it offers a unique opportunity to drive paramount change and promote sustainable industrial practices worldwide.
Partnership Opportunities
By supporting the UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Award, partners are championing a movement for long-lasting change. The Award sets the stage for meaningful engagement with stakeholders across industries, governments, and academia. Your support will drive sustainable transformation of industries, regions, and communities, creating lasting impact.
We offer a range of partnership and sponsorship opportunities designed to provide long-lasting value and ensure that they are linked with impactful, sustainability-driven initiatives.
These include the following two possibilities:
General Partner:
You can showcase your institution’s commitment to global development and sustainable industrialization by becoming a General Partner of the award. As a General Partner of the award, you will not only support the winner’s solutions but also create a universal platform together with the leading UN organization for sustainable industrial and economic development.
This includes prominent visibility at the award ceremony and beyond, alongside the opportunity to create a network with key decision-makers, industry leaders, and innovators. Additionally, this partnership serves as a basis for future-oriented investments and signals a true commitment to driving meaningful change for sustainability.
Category Partner:
You can take financial leadership in one of the award categories, such as the Innovative Start-up Award, Women in Industry Award, or the Sustainable Supply Chain Award. This allows you to directly align with the winner's brand and mission, with specific areas of sustainability that resonate most with your values and interests.
Driving Winners’ Growth?
Partnerships ensure that the next wave of sustainability leaders have the support they need to grow and succeed.
The winners could benefit from these partnerships via training programs in collaboration with UNIDO, that focus on ESG practices (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
This includes supporting the next generation of industry leaders, helping them build sustainable business practices, and more.
Winners could also profit from financial support, through a dedicated partner providing prize money to scale their businesses, invest in sustainable innovation, and strengthen their operations.
A dedicated partner could also offer not only capital but potentially also strategic mentorship, access to industry networks, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure long-term success.
Access to Capital: Winners receive financial support to scale their business, enhance sustainability initiatives, and drive impactful innovation.
Access to Markets: Winners gain exposure to new markets and customers through strategic partnerships and sponsor networks, helping to expand their reach and business growth.
Strategic Networking Opportunities: Winners connect with key decision-makers, industry leaders, and potential investors, opening doors for collaborations and future opportunities.
Capacity Development & Mentorship: Winners benefit from tailored mentorship programs, capacity-building workshops, and expert guidance, empowering them to further develop their business and sustainable practices.
Strategic Benefits for Partners?
Creating Lasting Impact & Legacy
Unlike many awards that provide a one-time recognition, the UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Award focuses on long-term, transformative impact.
Partners play a pivotal role in sustaining and scaling sustainable solutions far beyond the event itself. Through mentoring programs, trainings, grants, or strategic collaborations, sponsors can contribute to shaping industries that align with the sustainable development goals.
Ongoing Visibility & Engagement
You have the opportunity to engage with upcoming innovators and pioneers in the sustainability space, ensuring continued visibility and collaboration long after the ceremony.
By partnering with UNIDO, sponsors align their brand with a global leader in sustainable development, fostering relationships that extend into practical, real-world solutions for sustainable growth.
Pioneering the Next Wave of Sustainability: Directly influence the next wave of sustainability innovators through start-up support, mentorship, and funding opportunities.
Ongoing Impact: Be part of a legacy that supports sustainability in the long term, fostering industry-wide changes.
Brand Association: Align with a prestigious international event and gain global recognition for your commitment to sustainability.
Access to Networks: Gain entry to exclusive, high-level networks of global influence, industry leaders, and decision-makers.
Take Action
By supporting the UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Award, you’ll be making an investment that reaches far beyond the event — shaping the future of industries, communities, and global sustainability for years to come.
With UNIDO as the leading multilateral industrial development organization at the forefront, you could secure a long-lasting partnership that positions your organization as a key player in driving global change.
For further information please contact our expert team in Vienna: j.russmann@unido.org