South-South Awards Previous Awardees & Recognitions

South-South Business Awards

A new annual program recognizing one outstanding business in each category. Explore the 2026 awards.

Theme: Digital Health for Digital Development

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City — September 19, 2011

Awardees:

• H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh — Global Women & Children’s Health
• H.E. Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna, President of the Dominican Republic — Global Women & Children’s Health
• H.E. Vanda Pignato, First Lady of El Salvador — First Ladies Health & Women Empowerment Initiative Award
• H.E. Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya — Global Health, Technology & Development Award
• H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda — Global Health, Technology & Development Award
• H.E. Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal — Global Health, Technology & Development Award
• H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania — Global Health, Technology & Development Award
• H.E. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of Botswana — Corporate Social Responsibility Award
• H.E. Teodoro Obiang, President of Equatorial Guinea — Corporate Social Responsibility Award
• H.E. Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil — Corporate Social Responsibility Award
• Hans Vestberg, CEO of Ericsson — Outstanding Achievement to Broadband Communications Award
• Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi Alliance — Outstanding Contribution to Global Health Award
• Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University — Outstanding Contribution to Global Health Award

Recognitions: Mo Ibrahim (Mo Ibrahim Foundation), Winston Chung (Winston Global Energy), Michael Santiago (Polaris Aviation Solutions), Hu Yong (Cool Cartoon Communications), H.E. Joseph Deiss (President, 65th UN General Assembly).

Theme: E-government & Sustainable Tourism

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City — September 23, 2012

Awardees:

• Heads of State and Government of Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Cape Verde, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Nigeria (former), Panama, Seychelles, South Africa, UAE, Uruguay and Zambia — E-Government Development & Global Governance Leadership Awards
• H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union — Global Governance Leadership Award
• Chen Feng, Chairman of HNA Group — Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Recognitions: Han Demin (Beijing Otolaryngology Institute), Leila Lopes (Miss Universe 2011–12), Gilberto Santa Rosa (musician), H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser (President, 66th UN General Assembly), H.E. Ban Ki-moon (UN Secretary-General).

Theme: Innovation & Technology for Sustainable Development

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City — September 22, 2013

Awardees:

• HRH Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain — Global Governance Leadership Award
• H.E. Laura Chinchilla Miranda, President of Costa Rica — Global Governance Leadership Award
• H.E. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji — Global Governance Leadership Award
• H.E. Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa — Humanitarian Achievement Award

Recognitions: Graca Machel (Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital), David Paich (musician), H.E. Denzil Douglas (Prime Minister, St Kitts & Nevis), H.E. Sheikh Hasina (Prime Minister of Bangladesh), H.E. Candida Montilla de Medina (First Lady, Dominican Republic).

Theme: Climate Change

United Nations Headquarters, New York City — September 24, 2014

Awardees:

• H.E. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa — honoring Samoa’s leadership on climate change in Small Island Developing States
• H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan — honoring leadership in international water cooperation
• H.E. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General — honoring leadership on climate change
• Cai E’Sheng, Chairman of SS-SCSD Asia-Pacific Committee — honoring support for South-South Cooperation
• The Dominican Republic, Qatar and Turkey — honoring leadership in the HOPEFOR Initiative

Recognitions: H.E. John Ashe, President of the 68th UN General Assembly.

The 2015 South-South Awards

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City — September 26, 2015. Held in support of the UN Summit for the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.