FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards 2018 | Financial Times | 30 March 2018 |

The crucial role of the private sector in global efforts to address climate change, achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and eliminate poverty, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected states, will be a key focus of the 2018 Transformational Business Awards.

Special attention will continue to be given to products and services that harness disruptive technologies and business solutions to increase impact and efficiencies. The use of blended finance, combining different sources of capital to ensure scale, will also be highlighted. This unique global programme, now in its fifth year, is open to all financial and non-financial private sector organisations. The 2017 Awards attracted 148 entries from 152 organisations, involving projects in more than 84 countries.
Achievement in Transformational Infrastructure

The award for Achievement in Transformational Infrastructure highlights projects – in both urban and non-urban contexts -- that address the most crucial infrastructure needs in developing economies, with long-term socio-economic impact. Special attention will be given to initiatives that are environmentally conscious and help efforts to fight climate change, including green building. Land governance will also be taken into account. This category is open to private sector businesses only.

• Achievement in Transformational Finance
The award for Achievement in Transformational Finance recognises innovative financing structures, products or services -- including blended solutions that bring together diverse sources of capital -- that support initiatives with substantial social, environmental and corporate governance value and the potential to transform lives in developing economies. This category is open to all private sector financial participants.

• Achievement in Sustainable Development
In September 2015, members of the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to achieve by 2030 the eradication of poverty in all its forms, as well as protect the planet from degradation, and generally ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives. The crucial role of the private sector in addressing the challenges highlighted by the SDGs is recognised in the Achievement in Sustainable Development category, which focuses on certain specific goals or targets. This category is open to all financial and non-financial private sector organisations, as well as NGOs that can meet the judging criteria. Particular attention will be given to the use of new technology and disruptive business models. Entries that focus on projects in fragile and conflict-affected states and the world’s poorest countries are encouraged.

For 2018, this category comprises three separate awards:

• Food, Water and Land
This award relates to Goal 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”, and Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, with an additional emphasis on access to land, land tenure rights, land management, and land governance – all critical for the achievement of both food and water security.

• Health, Wellness and Disease Prevention
This award relates to Goal 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. Although significant strides have been made in increasing life expectancy in developing economies, much more needs to be done to reduce the mortality rate, particularly among mothers and infants; improve the delivery of medicines, healthcare and health education; reduce the impact of a wide range of diseases; and rapidly address new and emerging health issues. Special attention will be given to innovative, replicable business models that improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

• Education, Knowledge and Skills
This award relates to Goal 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, with an additional emphasis on the provision of skills-based training that will help young people gain employment and entrepreneurs secure their livelihoods, in line with Goal 8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

Overall Awards:

• Excellence in Disruptive Technologies
This award will recognise the short-listed initiative that stands apart across all private sector categories for its ground-breaking use of new technology and the strength of its disruptive approach to markets and business models.

• Excellence in Climate Solutions
This award will recognise the short-listed entry that across all private sector categories most effectively addresses one or more of the effects of climate change in the context of a developing economy, or that can be replicated in a developing economy.

• Excellence in Transformational Business
This prize will be awarded to the initiative that in the opinion of the judging panel stands apart among the winners of all private sector categories for its level of innovation, impact, replicability, financial viability and sustainability in the context of a developing economy.

2017 Winners:

ACHIEVEMENT IN TRANSFORMATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE:
• Winner: Truck Alliance, China
• Special Commendee: National Freight Information and Transportation Hub (NAFITH), Jordan and Iraq

ACHIEVEMENT IN TRANSFORMATIONAL FINANCE:
• Winner: WorldRemit, Global

ACHIEVEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON FOOD, WATER AND LAND:
• Winner: Winnow, Global
• Special Commendee: Ignitia, Sub-Saharan Africa

ACHIEVEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTH, WELLNESS AND DISEASE PREVENTION:
• Winner: CarePay M-TIBA Mobile Health Wallet, Kenya

ACHIEVEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Winner: Edukasyon.ph Employment Platform, Philippines
• Special Commendee: BRAC STAR Skills Training Programme, Bangladesh

SPECIAL PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD: ACHIEVEMENT IN CITY-LED TRANSFORMATION:
• Winner: PACCM Climate Action Programme, Mexico City

OVERALL AWARD: EXCELLENCE IN DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
• Winner: Truck Alliance, China

OVERALL AWARD: EXCELLENCE IN CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
• Joint winners: Block Island Wind Farm, US
• CrossBoundary Energy Fund, Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana

OVERALL AWARD: EXCELLENCE IN TRANSFORMATIONAL BUSINESS
• Winner: WorldRemit, Global