Turning Vision into Action: Winners of the 2025 UN SDG Action Awards Announced
Rome, Italy — Changemakers and initiatives transforming inequalities into opportunities for millions of people across Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Turkiye were honored at the eighth annual Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome.
The Ceremony featured live performances from award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Diodato and Nigerian artivist Cill.
Selected from over 5,500 entries from 190 countries, winners were chosen from nine finalists in three categories Creativity, Resilience and Changemaker.
🏆 Changemaker Award — Celebrating Those Who Shape a More Equitable and Peaceful World
In a rare tie, this year’s Changemaker Award honors two exceptional individuals whose courage and commitment have redefined what it means to drive lasting change.
[WINNER] Human rights advocate, Julienne Lusenge has spent decades championing women, confronting violence, and building peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—turning adversity into transformation and courage into collective power.
“I thank the UN SDG Action Campaign on behalf of all Congolese women, girls, men and boys who fight every day for peace, justice and their dignity” said Sandrine Lusamba, on behalf of Julienne Lusenge.
[WINNER] Forced to flee the war in Syria, Jîn Dawod founded a mental health platform that provides psychological support to thousands of displaced people, proving that healing can cross every border.
“I wish I could have told my younger self that she would stand in light and turn that pain into purpose. Everyone who is in their weakest and darkest point in their life, I am your message from the future. This Award is not the end, it’s the beginning” said Jîn Dawod.
🏆 Creativity Award — Celebrating Imagination, Innovation, and the Power of Storytelling
[WINNER] In Nigeria, where 33 million people face acute food insecurity, Smartel through hydroponic systems – a soil-free farming method – creates new livelihoods for women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
“To every young dreamer, listening to me today, always remember that we are the bridge between the failures of the past and blessings of the future. Now is the best time for you to act. Wake up, build with compassion, innovate with love and take up the world biggest challenges because you can” said Smart Israel, Founder, Smartel Agri-Tech.
🏆 Resilience Award — Honouring Courage, Solidarity, and the Strength to Rebuild
[WINNER] Born in Brazil, CUFA transforms favelas into vibrant hubs of talent, creativity, and innovation, engaging millions worldwide and redefining what development looks like—by the community, for the community.
“CUFA means Unified Central of Favelas. It is about giving support and opportunities to communities, kids, women and men, we want everyone to live without poverty and inequality” said Marcus Vinícius Athayde, President, CUFA.
🏆 The UNHCR #IBelong Campaign received the Honourable Mention for its decade-long global movement ending statelessness for millions of people. The #IBelong Campaign representative, Maha Mamo shared:
“I was stateless for 30 years of my life. Statelessness is an invisible cage. You have dreams, potential, and so much to give yet you’re deprived of basic rights: education, healthcare, the freedom to move. UNCHR’s #IBelong Campaign gave me identity, nationality, and a home”.
In recognition of the winners, Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, said,
“We can all be heroes of tomorrow. Let’s not be frozen by the weight of inequality. Let’s be moved by the power of possibility. Because the future is not something we inherit—it’s something we shape together.”
Award-winning Italian artist Diodato performed two songs to open and close the ceremony, a version on Pink Floyd’s ‘Us and Them’ and his original composition ‘L’atto di Rivoluzione’, both on the theme of the evening of changemakers building bridges between parallel realities.
“Everyone can change the world with actions. Tonight we are with people who are changing the world, working for the planet and people – thank you very much” said Diodato.
Now in its 8th year, the UN SDG Action Awards, a signature programme of the UN SDG Action Campaign, is made possible in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Media Contact
Olcay Patrycja Tetik, Policy and Partnerships Specialist, UN SDG Action Campaign
Email: olcay.tetik@undp.org
Website: https://sdgactionawards.org
Please find the high-resolution photos and winner profiles. B-roll footage is available upon request.
Notes to editors
- The UN SDG Action Campaign is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme and based in Bonn, Germany. To bring us closer to a just, inclusive and sustainable future, the Campaign elevates unheard communities, nurtures changemakers, and leverages creativity to inspire hope and bold action.
- The Ceremony took place on 29 October 2025 in Rome and was broadcast worldwide through RAI, Italy’s national broadcaster and official media partner, and UN Web TV.
The full list of finalists:
– Creativity Award Finalists – initiatives that harness creativity and innovation to inspire and influence change across the world.
- Sounds Right – Shifting Climate Narratives through Sound, Storytelling, and Streaming, streaming her sounds to millions of listeners and directing royalties to protect biodiversity strongholds.
- Smartel – Building Climate-smart Food Systems in Nigeria and Beyond: From city rooftops to refugee camps, Smartel grows food to strengthen food security, scaling a new model of agriculture in Nigeria and beyond.
- Stolen, Missing & Murdered – Reclaiming Indigenous Truth through Investigative Storytelling: Powerful investigative podcasts that break through decades of silence and reach millions of listeners, restoring the voices of Indigenous communities — and reshaping public opinion.
– Resilience Award Finalists – initiatives that turn adversity into action, helping communities thrive despite systemic barriers, conflict, or climate disasters.
- Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal – Women Building Lasting Peace and Economic Resilience in Nepal strengthening democratic participation in communities deeply affected by war, inequality, and disaster.
- Central Única das Favelas (CUFA) – Redefining Development for the Community, from the Community in Brazil . Born in Brazil, CUFA engages with millions of people worldwide and transforms favelas into hubs of talent, creativity, and innovation.
- Footprint to Freedom – Survivor-Led Resilience to End Human Trafficking. Working across Africa and Europe, Footprint to Freedom reshapes how the world confronts human trafficking — showing that when survivors lead, freedom follows.
– Changemaker Award Finalists – individuals advancing justice, equality, and peace through grassroots action, and systems change.
- Julienne Lusenge – Championing Women, Confronting Violence, Building Peace. Congolese human rights defender who has transformed her beginnings as a journalist into a lifelong fight for justice, dignity, and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Jîn Dawod – Healing Beyond Borders for Refugees Everywhere. Forced to flee the war in Syria, Jîn Dawod provides a mental health lifeline to thousands of displaced people through her award-winning platform, proving that healing can cross every border.
- Shiori Ito – Breaking Silence for Gender Justice. Shiori Ito breaks silence on sexual violence — turning her personal trauma into a global movement for justice, survivor rights, and systemic reform.
The winners were chosen by 18 specially selected judges, drawn from UN leadership, government, civil society, arts, business and youth activism.
- Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
- Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development & Cooperation at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
- Kimberly Kay Hoang, Professor of Sociology, University of Chicago
- E. Dr Rania A. Al‑Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation, Egypt
- Nomzamo Mbatha, Actress, Humanitarian & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
- Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Honourable Emma Theofelus, Minister of Information & Communication Technology, Namibia
- Uğur Gallenkuş, Visual Artist
- Manuela Kasper‑Claridge, Editor-in-Chief, Deutsche Welle
- Rupen Desai, CMO & Venture Partner, Una Terra (Co-Founder, The Shed 28)
- Lucia Silva, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Assicurazioni Generali
- Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
- Vasser Seydel, President, The Oxygen Project
- Amitabh Behar, Executive Director, Oxfam International
- Chenai Mukumba, Executive Director, Tax Justice Network Africa
- Andrea Macrì, Four-time Paralympian, Legacy Managerl Milano Cortina 2026
- Yoke Ling Chee, Executive Director, Third World Network
