Award winners will be selected on the basis of an objective set of criteria by an independent jury composed of eminent people from different walks of life with each winner receiving a trophy, a certificate and a cash prize worth £3,000.
The third biennial edition of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development award ceremony is set to be held on 27th November at this year’s Kenya Innovation week Commonwealth edition 2023. Launched by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, in 2019, this will be the third edition of the awards, with the previous ceremonies held in 2019 and 2021.
This year’s Kenya Innovation week themed “Innovating to Unlock our Common Wealth” will focus on leveraging innovation to advance wealth creation for societal well-being and promises to be a prestigious event graced by Presidents, senior government officials, development specialists, tech leaders, philanthropists, enthusiasts and innovators from all the 56 Commonwealth member countries among many other nations.
What are the key objectives of the Awards?
1. Identify, highlight and support innovations that demonstrate potential for enhancing sustainability in Commonwealth countries in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Help create an environment that will encourage and sustain investments in innovations led by governments, businesses, women, young people and social enterprises across the Commonwealth.
3. Illustrate the depth and breadth of talent, commitment and creativity that exists across the Commonwealth by highlighting the innovative potential of the award winners.
4. Inspire, encourage and challenge others to develop innovations that will be of value and service at the community, national, regional or international levels in achieving the SDGs.
Who can be a nominee?
1. Nominees can be individuals, organisations, companies, charities or government ministries / departments / agencies;
2. Nominees must be directly engaged in developing their innovations, either in a full-time, part-time or voluntary capacity;
3. Nominees must be Commonwealth citizens, governments or public sector organisations in Commonwealth countries, private enterprises based in Commonwealth countries or civil society / not-for-profit organisations based in Commonwealth countries;
4. 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);
5. Award winners must agree to take part in Commonwealth-supported activities and initiatives related to the Commonwealth Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards.
What is the basis for selecting Award winners?
1. Level of achievement, impact or demonstrable potential of innovation to advance sustainable development in one or more Commonwealth countries; strategy, business / delivery plan and impact evaluation / results measurement framework.
2. Level of innovation/fresh approaches to problem-solving.
3. Quality of achievement and impact.
4. Quality of the evidence and supporting documentation provided.
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 from the civil society / not-for-profit sector and finally an entrepreneur or a private sector company. Award winners will be selected on the basis of an objective set of criteria by an independent jury composed of eminent people from different walks of life with each winner receiving a trophy, a certificate and a cash prize worth £3,000.
The Kenya Innovation week Commonwealth Edition 2023 will offer a unique opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices for building innovative ecosystems that create shared value.
Through panel discussions, exhibitions, keynote speeches, fireside chats, workshops and networking events, participants will learn from one another and build connections to support their innovation journeys. With a focus on building sustainable solutions that benefit communities, Kenya welcomes innovators, investors, corporations, Governments, development partners, and all who are passionate about innovation and are committed to creating Commonwealth in this era of globalisation.
Entry deadline: 15 October 2023 at 23:59 HOURS GMT
