2025 Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards

2025 Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards (http://sdgactionawards.org), a signature programme of the UN SDG Action Campaign (https://sdgactioncampaign.org/), unveiled the winners of the 2025 edition, selected from over 5,500 applications across 190 countries and territories. The Awards honored trailblazing individuals and initiatives accelerating progress on the world’s most pressing challenges — from climate resilience and gender equality to peacebuilding and inclusive economic growth.

The ceremony featured powerful performances by award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Diodato and Nigerian artivist Cill, alongside inspiring messages from Stefania Fancello, Head of the Development Cooperation Policy and Programming Unit at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD; Uğur Gallenkuş, visual artist; Nomzamo Mbatha, actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador; Andrea Macrì, four-time Paralympian; and Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-in-Chief of Deutsche Welle. The Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards programme is made possible thanks to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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Additional Credits:
Diodato – Un Atto di Rivoluzione – ℗ Carosello Records. Courtesy of Carosello Records.
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00:48 Opening Video
01:42 Performance: “Us and Them” by Diodato
05:56 Diodato speaks with the MC
07:22 Welcome from Rajesh Mirchandani, Master of Ceremony
09:33 Parallel Realities Art and live chat with Uğur Gallenkuş, Visual Artist
13:29 Meet the Finalists
14:21 Marina Ponti, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign
17:22 Meet the Judges
18:56 Resilience Category with Judge Nomzamo Mbatha, Actress, Humanitarian, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
21:34 Resilience Finalists
23:20 Resilience Winner Announcement
24:26 Resilience Winner Acceptance Speech – CUFA
26:19 Honourable Mention – UNHCR #IBelong Campaign
28:30 Honourable Mention Presenter Speech – Isabella Santini, UNDP Weather Kids Campaign
30:42 Honourable Mention Acceptance Speech - Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR Representative to Italy, The Holy See & San Marino
31:54 Honourable Mention Acceptance Speech - Maha Mamo #IBelong Campaign Representative
35:19 Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
37:47 Performance: “Echi” with Cill (Singer), Timi Trigger (Guitar) and local children’s choir
41:11 Cill, Singer, Songwriter, And Artivist
42:58 Creativity Category with Judge Andrea Macrì, Legacy Manager, Milano Cortina 2026
46:22 Creativity Finalists
48:36 Creativity Winner Announcement
49:15 Creativity Winner Acceptance Speech – Smartel
51:07 Stefania Fancello, Head of Development Cooperation Policy and Programming Unit, Italy MFA
53:28 Changemaker Category with Judge Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-In-Chief, Deutsche Welle
56:27 Changemaker Finalists
58:09 Changemaker Winner Announcement
59:06 Changemaker Winner Acceptance Speech – Julienne Lusenge represented by Sandrine Lusamba
1:01:25 Changemaker Winner Acceptance Speech - Jîn Dawod
1:05:12 Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMZ Germany
1:08:22 Marina Ponti, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign
1:11:53 Dialogue with Diodato, Italian singer-songwriter
1:15:30 Performance: “Un Atto di Rivoluzione” by Diodato
1:19:40 Closing
1:23:25 Credits