The award recognizes young people’s endeavour to be effective and productive citizens, contributing to the welfare of their communities and environment, as well as institutions that improve the enabling environment and infrastructure for youth to make an impact, in all United Nations Member States.
The award was first launched during the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, in January 2017 and the awarding ceremony took place in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in January 2018.
In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc across the globe, deeply effecting people’s health, livelihoods and prospects for the future, adversely affecting and in some cases even reversing gains made in the pursuit of the SDGs. Under its two categories, this year’s edition of the Award will particularly consider youth-led and youth-enabled action that helps mitigate the immediate, medium- and long-terms impacts of COVID-19. The Award will not only focus on action that helps put the pursuit of the SDG back on track, but that also assists people and communities build forward (post COVID-19) greener, smarter and in a more inclusive manner.