Themes
Previous South-South Awards Themes
The South-South Awards are held annually under a new theme in relation to the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development priorities. Awards are given to individuals and groups that have made significant progress within these themes, as well as broader goals of poverty eradication, equality, good governance, health, technology, education, climate change, and public-private partnerships.
2011
“Digital Health for Digital Development”
2012
“E-government and Sustainable Tourism”
2013
“Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development”
2014
“Climate Change”
Selection Process
How honorees are chosen
Honorees of the South-South Awards are chosen exclusively by the Awards Committee based on a series of factors including relevance to the year’s theme, availability of data, and the individual’s or organization’s standing in the global development community. The Committee is composed of representatives from the organizing entities, including Member States, the UN agencies supporting the year’s theme, and other supporting organizations.
Awards evaluation is based on publicly available data from reputable international sources, such as the United Nations, major civil society organizations, or official country reports.
The Trophy
The South-South Award
The annual South-South Awards features a ceremony in which a physical award is presented to outstanding individuals and groups honored for their contribution to global sustainable development and worldwide partnerships. Previous recipients have included Presidents and Prime Ministers, the United Nations Secretary-General, celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs, and philanthropic leaders.
The South-South Awards trophy’s radiant golden design features three human figures atop a platform, assisting each other in supporting a globe. Each of the figures bearing the globe represents one of the three pillars of global development: the United Nations, governments, and the private sphere, which includes businesses and civil society, all integral parts in achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability.
The globe features all continents of the global South, surrounded by a golden laurel wreath, a universal emblem of victory and accomplishment. The figures, working in tandem, extend their arms upwards, holding the globe far above, representing the need for partnerships and renewed cooperative efforts between diverse stakeholders to uplift the world and the objectives of sustainable development.
The South-South Awards’ Recognition plaque is given to individuals and groups who have made continued progress within a national context in the thematic area of that year’s ceremony. Both the trophy and plaque contain a personalized, laser-engraved nameplate showcasing the year of the ceremony, the recipient’s name and title, and their contribution to global sustainability.
Previous Honorees
South-South Awards Previous Honorees
Previous South-South Awards ceremonies honored Heads of State and Government and other senior government officials, as well as private sector CEOs, heads of major international organizations, and cultural icons.
In 2013 the honorees included state leaders from Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Fiji, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Dominican Republic. Humanitarian Achievement Awards and Recognitions were given to former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and his spouse, Graca Machel.
In 2014, the South-South Awards recognized the significant contributions of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi; the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; and the President of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, John Ashe. A special recognition was given to the Chairman of the SS-SCSD Asia-Pacific Committee, Cai E’Sheng.
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