UNIDO Announces Winners Of Inaugural One World Sustainability Awards At GC21 In Riyadh

UNIDO announced the winners of the inaugural ONE World Sustainability Awards, celebrating the innovators whose work advances sustainable, inclusive industrial development across the globe. The awards were presented on the first day of the twenty-first session of the UNIDO General Conference (GC21) and Global Industry Summit, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the significance of the Sustainability Awards, the Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Saudi Arabia, Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah said, “These awards send a clear message to the world. They remind us that the future of industry is not defined by competition alone, but by responsibility. They show that profitability and positive impact can thrive side by side and that sustainability is no longer a choice but a powerful economic drive”.

UNIDO Director General highlighted in his opening speech that “this is the beginning of a movement where sustainability is not an option but a standard. The winners show us that innovation, responsibility and success can go hand in hand. The choices we make today – how we produce and how we consume – impact our societies today and tomorrow. Together we can shape a future that is fair, sustainable, and full of opportunities for all.”

The awards were launched to honor pioneers and entrepreneurs driving progress toward inclusive, resilient, and climate-aligned industrial growth. The inaugural edition of the Awards received almost 2,000 applications from across 135 countries. The awards feature four distinct categories that form essential pillars of a future-ready global economy: Innovative Startups, Sustainable Supply Chains, Women in Industry, and Lifetime Achievement.

Sustainable Supply Chains Award

Nature Bio Foods – represented by Amit Singh
A global leader in organic and Fairtrade food systems, Nature Bio Foods is driving sustainable agri-business at scale. It works with more than 96,000 smallholder farmers in India, and countries across Africa and Europe. The company pioneers climate-resilient, carbon-neutral, and regenerative agriculture models, ensuring traceable, ethical, and sustainable farm-to-fork supply chains.

Women in Industry Award

Drop Access Limited – Norah Magero
Kenyan mechanical engineer and CEO of Drop Access, Norah Magero is internationally recognized for advancing solar-powered cold-chain innovation for vaccines and food systems. A TED Fellow and award-winning engineer, she champions inclusive industrial innovation across Africa. Drop Access is revolutionizing healthcare logistics through solar-powered cold storage solutions for essential health products.

Innovative Start-ups Award

WeLight Africa – led by Romain De Villeneuve
WeLight Africa accelerates rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa through sustainable mini-grid solutions. With operations expanding in Madagascar and Mali and plans for Nigeria and the DRC, the company is reshaping clean-energy access for underserved rural communities, reaching millions across Africa.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
Norway’s first female Prime Minister and former WHO Director-General, Dr. Brundtland has spent decades advancing sustainable development and global health. Her leadership laid the foundation for the modern sustainability agenda and continues to influence global policy.

The ceremony signifies the beginning of a long-term global platform designed to scale innovation, mobilize strategic investment, and strengthen collaboration between business, government, and knowledge partners including GITEX, Fraunhofer Society, Osapiens and NTT Data.

“The scale of UNIDO’s presence here in Riyadh inspires us to advance our cold-chain innovations and deepen Drop Access’s impact for the communities that need them most.”, said Norah Magero, Drop Access Limited

As UNIDO continues its mission to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development, the ONE World Sustainability Awards will remain a foundation for recognizing solutions that build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.

Echoing Magero’s sentiment, Romain De Villeneuve from WeLight Africa expressed, “We are deeply grateful to UNIDO for this award, which recognizes the work carried out by our teams and partners, and WeLight’s impact on nearly 800,000 people. This reinforces our commitment to expanding access to electricity across Africa, where 600 million people still remain without power.

“UNIDO in Riyadh is a reminder of how global collaboration can unlock industrial solutions with the potential to scale. For Nature Bio Foods, it strengthens our ambition to expand climate-resilient, ethical supply chains to even more farming communities.”, Amit Singh from Nature Bio Foods concluded.