The UN Foundation hosted its annual Global Leadership Awards on November 21, 2024 to recognize extraordinary individuals and organizations whose work embodies the values and purposes of the UN — to create a safer, healthier, and fairer world for everyone, everywhere. That work has always been invaluable. Today, it’s indispensable.
The founders of the United Nations, uniting after years of great strife and suffering, believed in the power of cooperation to create a better world. They made a promise to future generations. And they saw limitless possibilities if ‘We the Peoples’ work together with common purpose.
Inspired by that faith, we celebrated remarkable leaders who are making a difference.
PREVIOUS HONOREES have included government and world leaders, human rights champions, artists and activists, corporate leaders and innovators.
Members from UN OCHA’s United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) accept the UN Heroes Award.
Poet and Activist Amanda Gorman accepts the inaugural Unite Our Strength Award.
Jessica Sibley, Chief Executive Officer of TIME, accepts the Goal 17 Innovation in Partnership Award.
Angélique Kidjo, Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter and International UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, accepts the SDG Vanguard Award.
Louise Mabulo, Founder of the Cacao Project, accepts the SDG Vanguard Award.
Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, was honored as the 2024 Champion for Global Change.
The We the Peoples Awards is an opportunity to hear from the world’s leading changemakers, connect with the UN, and explore the frontiers of global impact. The awards support the UN Foundation’s work to accelerate the SDGs, raise climate ambition, and reimagine multilateral cooperation for a better and fairer future.
In 2024, UN Foundation presented the following awards:
Learn more about We the Peoples.
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Champion for Global Change Award
Accepted by Jessica Sibley, Chief Executive Officer
Goal 17 Innovation in Partnership Award
Poet and Activist
Unite our Strength Award
Photo Credit: Danny Williams
GRAMMY-WINNING UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
SDG Vanguard Award
Photo Credit: Erwan Blaszka
Founder of The Cacao Project
SDG Vanguard Award
Accepted by UNDAC and INSARAG team members
UN Heroes Award