Latest news with #SustainableImpactChallenge
Web Release
2 days ago
- Business
- Web Release
Majra – National CSR Fund honours top 20 CSR projects at inaugural Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025
National CSR Fund recognised the top three winning projects and honoured 17 other initiatives shortlisted for the inaugural edition of Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025, during a prestigious awards ceremony held at the SEE Institute in The Sustainable City, Dubai. Held under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, alongside prominent figures, such as H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, the event celebrated innovative initiatives that created tangible impact in the nation's sustainability landscape. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said: 'The UAE is deeply committed toward developing national strategies and programs that uphold social responsibility and encourage sustainable practices across all sectors. At Majra, we are pleased to play a key role in this effort by fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with the private sector. The launch of the first edition of the Sustainable Impact Challenge, which will be held annually, reflects our mission to instil corporate CSR values and nurture a culture of sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to support impactful private sector projects that align with the national agenda, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote responsible business practices. This is in line with our broader commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future in accordance with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' The Sustainable Impact Challenge is a national platform designed to identify and celebrate outstanding CSR initiatives led by private sector companies, third-sector organisations, universities, and other institutions. It reflects Majra's firm dedication to empowering these vital contributors and directing their efforts toward sustainable development. By recognising impactful initiatives, the Challenge further supports the UAE's broader national drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes the adoption of CSR and sustainability practices across all major sectors. In her speech, H.E. Hessa Buhumaid affirmed the pivotal role played by Majra through the launching of such CSR initiatives and the identification of effective private sector leadership that would enhance social impact. H.E. highlighted the importance of this Challenge as the first initiative showcasing projects with significant environmental, economic, and social impact in conjunction with the prestigious 'Year of Community' program. Her Excellency praised the efforts of the third sector in providing valuable contributions and actively tackling social, environmental, and economic issues. The top three winners included HeroGo, for its project 'Empowering the GCC to access better quality and more affordable groceries while eliminating food waste'; Thiqa Education's '1 Dirham makes an impact' initiative; and Distant Imagery Solutions' 'Rooted in Innovation UAE Engineered Drones Transform Mangrove Restoration' initiative. Together, they were awarded a total cash prize of AED 600,000 in recognition of their exceptional contributions to sustainable development in the UAE. Additionally, the other shortlisted sustainability initiatives were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts and given the opportunity to showcase their project outcomes. Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, said: 'We are delighted to identify and honour the innovative, impactful projects through the Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025. These initiatives highlight the pivotal role of private sector firms in driving sustainable change. At Majra, we look forward to relentlessly supporting such efforts that contribute to the UAE's vision for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.' On the sidelines of the event, several sessions and meetings were held to reinforce Majra's lead role in fostering sustainability in various industries. A key session at the event featured H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, along with undersecretaries from five ministries to discuss the main challenges that hinder the advancement of social responsibility in the UAE. Key issues highlighted included the lack of opportunities that encourage private sector involvement, ongoing environmental hurdles and ways to find adequate solutions, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks that require organisations to implement CSR practices. Another key session titled, 'The Role of Public, Private and Third Sector in Developing an Impact Economy,' explored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable economy. The panel featured thought leaders including Dr. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Emirates Environmental Group, Chandran Nair, Founder and CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) and H.E. Maysa Al Nowais, Executive Director – Community Engagement and Volunteering, Social Contributions Authority – Ma'an. The session was moderated by Mohammed Hanif Al Qassim. The event also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Fashion Sustainability Taskforce, held in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The meeting laid the groundwork for future collaboration and set the direction for a unified roadmap to promote sustainability within the fashion industry. The Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 stands as a testament to Majra's unwavering commitment towards establishing a thriving ecosystem that encourages and supports CSR initiatives in line with the UAE's strategic development goals.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Majra – National CSR Fund honours top 20 CSR projects at inaugural Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025
4 June 2025 20:46 SHARJAH (ALETIHAD)Majra – National CSR Fund recognised the top three winning projects and honoured 17 other initiatives shortlisted for the inaugural edition of Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025, during a prestigious awards ceremony held at the SEE Institute in The Sustainable City, under the patronage and in the presence of Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, alongside prominent figures, such as Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, the event celebrated innovative initiatives that created tangible impact in the nation's sustainability landscape. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said: 'The UAE is deeply committed toward developing national strategies and programs that uphold social responsibility and encourage sustainable practices across all sectors. At Majra, we are pleased to play a key role in this effort by fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with the private sector."The launch of the first edition of the Sustainable Impact Challenge, which will be held annually, reflects our mission to instil corporate CSR values and nurture a culture of sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to support impactful private sector projects that align with the national agenda, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote responsible business practices. This is in line with our broader commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future in accordance with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.'The Sustainable Impact Challenge is a national platform designed to identify and celebrate outstanding CSR initiatives led by private sector companies, third-sector organisations, universities, and other institutions. It reflects Majra's firm dedication to empowering these vital contributors and directing their efforts toward sustainable recognising impactful initiatives, the Challenge further supports the UAE's broader national drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes the adoption of CSR and sustainability practices across all major her speech, Hessa Buhumaid affirmed the pivotal role played by Majra through the launching of such CSR initiatives and the identification of effective private sector leadership that would enhance social impact. She highlighted the importance of this Challenge as the first initiative showcasing projects with significant environmental, economic, and social impact in conjunction with the prestigious 'Year of Community' Minister praised the efforts of the third sector in providing valuable contributions and actively tackling social, environmental, and economic top three winners included HeroGo, for its project 'Empowering the GCC to access better quality and more affordable groceries while eliminating food waste'; Thiqa Education's '1 Dirham makes an impact' initiative; and Distant Imagery Solutions' 'Rooted in Innovation UAE Engineered Drones Transform Mangrove Restoration' the winners were awarded a total cash prize of Dh600,000 in recognition of their exceptional contributions to sustainable development in the other shortlisted sustainability initiatives were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts and given the opportunity to showcase their project outcomes. Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, said: 'We are delighted to identify and honour the innovative, impactful projects through the Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025. These initiatives highlight the pivotal role of private sector firms in driving sustainable change. At Majra, we look forward to relentlessly supporting such efforts that contribute to the UAE's vision for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.'On the sidelines of the event, several sessions and meetings were held to reinforce Majra's lead role in fostering sustainability in various industries. A key session at the event featured Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, along with undersecretaries from five ministries to discuss the main challenges that hinder the advancement of social responsibility in the issues highlighted included the lack of opportunities that encourage private sector involvement, ongoing environmental hurdles and ways to find adequate solutions, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks that require organisations to implement CSR key session titled, 'The Role of Public, Private and Third Sector in Developing an Impact Economy,' explored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable economy. The panel featured thought leaders including Dr. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Emirates Environmental Group, Chandran Nair, Founder and CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) and Maysa Al Nowais, Executive Director – Community Engagement and Volunteering, Social Contributions Authority – Ma'an. The session was moderated by Mohammed Hanif Al event also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Fashion Sustainability Taskforce, held in the presence of Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The meeting laid the groundwork for future collaboration, and set the direction for a unified roadmap to promote sustainability within the fashion industry. The Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 stands as a testament to Majra's unwavering commitment towards establishing a thriving ecosystem that encourages and supports CSR initiatives in line with the UAE's strategic development goals. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Food rescue, drone tree planting startups win awards at Sustainable Impact Challenge
A company that rescues imperfect fruits and vegetables and a startup that uses drones to plant trees received top honours at the Sustainable Impact Challenge. Organised by Majra — National CSR Fund, the challenge picked projects with the maximum impact and gave away Dh600,000 to winners to continue their work. The first prize went to Herogo which was awarded Dh300,000. The initiative collects fruits and vegetables that are too big, too small or don't meet the requirements to be sold at supermarkets and delivers them to UAE residents at a discounted rate in an effort to reduce food waste. Buyers can save up to 30 percent of their grocery bills by subscribing to a Herogo box. 'It's a platform that is empowering millions of people to access affordable and healthy meal while fighting food waste,' said Daniel Solomon, founder of the company. 'In 2024 alone, we rescued over 400,000kg of fruits and vegetables from going to the landfill. That's about 1 million CO2 saved from nutritious food.' He added that with the prize, the company will be expanding its reach to reach more homes in the UAE and other Gulf countries. Recognition Majra is a UAE federal government entity dedicated to supporting the private sector in amplifying their impact in the space of CSR, ESG and sustainability. The Sustainable Impact Challenge identifies and celebrates outstanding CSR initiatives led by private sector companies, third-sector organisations, universities, and other institutions. The initiative saw a total of 228 entries, of which 100 were selected by an internal committee. These were then whittled down to the top 20 projects which were on display at the SEE Institute at Dubai Sustainable City. Each of the 20 projects were given a surprise cash award of Dh20,000 each during the announcement ceremony. According to Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, the projects were selected based on specific factors. 'These 20 projects are more capable at scaling and creating bigger impact if they scale,' she said. 'We want to give visibility to projects that are really impactful, and we give the verified impact stamp to those projects. We're limiting social washing and greenwashing in the nation to really support private sectors' contributions.' Other winners The second place in the competition went to online tutoring firm Thiqa Education's 'One Dirham makes an impact' initiative. The firm donates Dh1 for every tutoring hour that is purchased from them to educational initiatives. 'In May we delivered more than 3,000 tutoring hours so we will donate more than Dh3,000,' said Hamdan Karmustaji, co-founder and CFO of the company. 'With this prize money, we are aiming to expand our impact to reach more people to create our pre-recorded lessons and sessions platform that will reach the targeted audience. Our vision is to make education accessible to everyone and everyone.' The third prize of Dh100,000 was won by Distant Imagery Solutions for their 'Rooted in Innovation' project that has been transforming mangrove planting in the UAE and internationally. With the prize money, the company is going to launch an initiative in Tonga. 'They've had a lot of tsunamis recently, and the areas behind the mangroves suffered the least because the mangroves really broke the surge,' said Cory Rhodes, co-founder of the company. 'We're we're going to work with them to co-develop and design the tech to figure out exactly how we need to tweak it. Then we're going to teach the communities how to build everything and maintain it and operate it and then leave them with all of the tools that they need so that the project is sustainable in the long term.' Ajman University received a special mention and Dh50,000 cash award for their project of getting students to plant mangrove trees. 'We have had over 1200 volunteers planting 3500 trees and 45 percent of our volunteers were below the age of 18,' said Maya Haddad, sustainability manager at the university. 'We get school children with us from schools that are underprivileged. Usually, they don't have access to inclusive, sustainable education that is hands-on, and this is a great opportunity for them.'
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Majra – National CSR Fund honours top 20 CSR projects at inaugural Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 - Middle East Business News and Information
H.E. Bin Touq: The UAE is deeply committed toward developing national initiatives that promote the values of social responsibility, and the 'Sustainable Impact Challenge' embodies our vision of encouraging responsible business practices The event witnessed several sessions and meetings that discussed a range of topics, including: Barriers that hinder the advancement of social responsibility in the UAE and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks to adopt CSR initiatives across the private sector. The importance of supporting public-private collaborations in developing the impact economy and promoting sustainable and comprehensive development. UAE, June, 2025: MAJRA – National CSR Fund recognised the top three winning projects and honoured 17 other initiatives shortlisted for the inaugural edition of Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025, during a prestigious awards ceremony held at the SEE Institute in The Sustainable City, Dubai. Held under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, alongside prominent figures, such as H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, the event celebrated innovative initiatives that created tangible impact in the nation's sustainability landscape. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said: 'The UAE is deeply committed toward developing national strategies and programs that uphold social responsibility and encourage sustainable practices across all sectors. At Majra, we are pleased to play a key role in this effort by fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with the private sector. The launch of the first edition of the Sustainable Impact Challenge, which will be held annually, reflects our mission to instil corporate CSR values and nurture a culture of sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to support impactful private sector projects that align with the national agenda, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote responsible business practices. This is in line with our broader commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future in accordance with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' The Sustainable Impact Challenge is a national platform designed to identify and celebrate outstanding CSR initiatives led by private sector companies, third-sector organisations, universities, and other institutions. It reflects Majra's firm dedication to empowering these vital contributors and directing their efforts toward sustainable development. By recognising impactful initiatives, the Challenge further supports the UAE's broader national drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes the adoption of CSR and sustainability practices across all major sectors. In her speech, H.E. Hessa Buhumaid affirmed the pivotal role played by Majra through the launching of such CSR initiatives and the identification of effective private sector leadership that would enhance social impact. H.E. highlighted the importance of this Challenge as the first initiative showcasing projects with significant environmental, economic, and social impact in conjunction with the prestigious 'Year of Community' program. Her Excellency praised the efforts of the third sector in providing valuable contributions and actively tackling social, environmental, and economic issues. The top three winners included HeroGo, for its project 'Empowering the GCC to access better quality and more affordable groceries while eliminating food waste'; Thiqa Education's '1 Dirham makes an impact' initiative; and Distant Imagery Solutions' 'Rooted in Innovation UAE Engineered Drones Transform Mangrove Restoration' initiative. Together, they were awarded a total cash prize of AED 600,000 in recognition of their exceptional contributions to sustainable development in the UAE. Additionally, the other shortlisted sustainability initiatives were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts and given the opportunity to showcase their project outcomes. Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra, said: 'We are delighted to identify and honour the innovative, impactful projects through the Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025. These initiatives highlight the pivotal role of private sector firms in driving sustainable change. At Majra, we look forward to relentlessly supporting such efforts that contribute to the UAE's vision for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.' On the sidelines of the event, several sessions and meetings were held to reinforce Majra's lead role in fostering sustainability in various industries. A key session at the event featured H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice Chairman of Majra's Board of Trustees, along with undersecretaries from five ministries to discuss the main challenges that hinder the advancement of social responsibility in the UAE. Key issues highlighted included the lack of opportunities that encourage private sector involvement, ongoing environmental hurdles and ways to find adequate solutions, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks that require organisations to implement CSR practices. Another key session titled, 'The Role of Public, Private and Third Sector in Developing an Impact Economy,' explored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable economy. The panel featured thought leaders including Dr. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Emirates Environmental Group, Chandran Nair, Founder and CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) and H.E. Maysa Al Nowais, Executive Director – Community Engagement and Volunteering, Social Contributions Authority – Ma'an. The session was moderated by Mohammed Hanif Al Qassim. The event also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Fashion Sustainability Taskforce, held in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The meeting laid the groundwork for future collaboration and set the direction for a unified roadmap to promote sustainability within the fashion industry. The Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025 stands as a testament to Majra's unwavering commitment towards establishing a thriving ecosystem that encourages and supports CSR initiatives in line with the UAE's strategic development goals.
Mid East Info
21-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
MAJRA – National CSR Fund reviews most prominent achievements and results in Q1 of 2025
These discussions took place during the second Board of Trustees meeting in 2025 chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq >> H.E. Bin Touq: 'The UAE has adopted national visions and initiatives to promote social responsibility and embed its principles. We are committed to continuing advancing our efforts to achieve sustainable impact in the country.' The Fund's achievements included launching the 'Sustainable Impact Challenge' and the 'Community Impact Medal' and establishing six national priority projects in collaboration with relevant ministries. UAE, May, 2025: The Board of Trustees of MAJRA – The National CSR Fund conducted its second meeting of 2025, chaired by His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The meeting reviewed recent progress across the Fund's projects and initiatives, assessed key performance indicators, and discussed future strategies aimed at strengthening corporate social responsibility within the private sector to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting also reviewed the Fund's key achievements and outcomes during the first quarter of 2025. This includes the launch of the Sustainable Impact Challenge (SIC), and the 'Community Impact Medal' for SMEs, and initiation of six national priority projects in collaboration with relevant ministries. MAJRA also organised a Vision and Mission workshop with over 50 participants from public and private sectors and confirmed eight 'Year of Community' initiatives, including SIC and Ramadan Souq in UAQ. Several transformational projects were also rolled out across emirates, notably the expansion of the Dubai Can Initiative in Dubai, the launch of a Youth Entrepreneurship Funding Program in collaboration with the Saud bin Saqr Foundation in RAK, and the implementation of the Green Residential Parks Initiative in UAQ. His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, 'Under the guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE has launched national strategies and initiatives to strengthen social responsibility and support private sector engagement in projects that embed its core principles. At Majra, we are committed to continuing our national efforts to instil these values and promote sustainable impact in the UAE. Our goal is to support the UAE's ambition of becoming one of the world's most prosperous societies within the next decade, in alignment with the pillars of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' H.E. added, 'This meeting represents a significant milestone in reviewing the progress and achievements of the Fund during the previous phase and strengthening national collaboration to launch more initiatives and projects that will contribute to advancing the UAE's economic and social development.' H.E. reaffirmed Majra's commitment to supporting and empowering national professionals and directing social investments towards projects that achieve tangible and sustainable developmental impact. The meeting highlighted all initiatives and decisions associated with Majra's key projects, including the Sustainable Impact Challenge, efforts aligned with the 'Year of Community', and the Impact Index. During the meeting, participants reviewed recommendations, highlighted achievements and explored mechanisms to further stimulate social responsibility practices and improve societal impact among UAE-based companies, relying on a unified benchmark for evaluating quality and progress. Furthermore, they explored Fund projects linked to the fields of arts, culture, heritage, education, environment, health, and technology and their progress, with a key focus on the MAJRA Project Accelerator for Impact Economy, which will improve the capacity and financial support to launch such innovative programmes. MAJRA Project Accelerator for Impact Economy prioritises private sector engagement, encouraging collaboration with third sector institutions to develop and implement sustainable solutions in priority areas identified by federal agencies, such as education, health, environment, technology, art, culture, and heritage. This aligns with MAJRA's efforts to contribute to the development of a sustainable impact economic system by unifying the efforts of all parties concerned with aspects of social responsibility and sustainability in the country. Attendees further discussed mechanisms for establishing partnerships with relevant entities and fostering collaboration between sustainability leaders from various sectors to facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise and drive the impact economy. Furthermore, the meeting explored strategies implemented and proposed to reinforce the role of MAJRA as a federal platform for boosting and directing private sector contributions in the field of social responsibility. This can be attained through initiatives for enhancing sustainable impact, nurturing a generation equipped with future skills and encouraging community engagement among youth and all segments of society. During the meeting, participants also evaluated the developments in the Impact Index, its key objectives and scope of work and the outcomes of the Impact Lab and strategic performance indicators for the first quarter of 2025. They further explored ways to develop and promote the Social Impact Seal among targeted companies and SMEs. Sarah Shaw, CEO of MAJRA, said: 'This meeting marks a vital opportunity for us to review the achievements and progress made by the Fund since the beginning of 2025 and take necessary measures to improve performance and ensure that these initiatives align with the country's directions. At MAJRA, we are dedicated to developing integrated societal and national priority programs that represent the country's vision to create a sustainable economy, and a society based on cooperation, innovation and technology. This commitment comes in line with the framework of our tireless efforts to improve private sector participation and offer a stimulating environment for socially impactful projects. We look forward to continuing our support for the Board of Trustees and strengthening the private sector's role as a strategic partner in attaining the vision and goals of MAJRA.' During the meeting's conclusion, the Board of Trustees reaffirmed their commitment to MAJRA's vision, mission and strategic objectives. They further highlighted the significance of boosting the private sector's societal role and guiding its contributions toward projects that align with the aspirations of the wise leadership and contribute to supporting the nation's comprehensive development process. The meeting was attended by members of the Board of Trustees of Majra – The National CSR Fund, including H.E. Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees; H.E. Aisha Ahmed Yousuf, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Development; H.E. Hanan Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre; H.E. Abdulaziz Khalid Al Jaziri, Deputy CEO of Dubai Future Foundation; Maryam Al Qassab, Manager of the Chairman Office at Sharjah Book Authority; Ms. Bedour Al Raqbani, Board Member of the American University of Sharjah; Dr. Mariam Al Suwaidi; and Sarah Shaw, CEO of the National CSR Fund 'Majra'.
