WorldRemit awarded overall prize for Excellence in Transformational Business
June 9, 2017: The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of the 2017 FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards.
This year’s programme marks 12 years of collaboration between the FT and IFC on awarding global initiatives that highlight ground-breaking, commercially viable solutions to today’s development challenges.
The winners and highly commended are:
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, and CrossBoundary Energy Fund, Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana
Overall Award: Excellence in Transformational Business
Winner: WorldRemit, Global
For 2017, special attention was given to products and services that harness disruptive technologies and business models to achieve their sustainability objectives. The awards also again highlighted solutions that address climate change and help meet key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A total of 148 entries were received from 152 organisations involving projects in more than 84 countries.
“The superb short-lists this year reflected the catalytic impact of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals on initiatives to address climate change and alleviate poverty. It was not easy to choose a winner among such strong nominees, but we are delighted with this year’s winners and particularly the role that disruptive technologies are playing in driving progress,” said Robert Armstrong, chief editorial writer of the Financial Times and co-chair of the awards judging panel.
“The FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards have evolved over the years to provide innovative solutions to pressing development challenges,'' said Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President for Blended Finance and Partnerships, IFC, and judging panel co-chair. “Most recently, the awards have focused on the central role for the private sector in meeting the SDGs, by combining capital, innovative thinking, new partnerships-creating opportunities where they are needed most in emerging markets.”
The awards judging panel consisted of:
Robert Armstrong, Chief Editorial Writer, Financial Times (co-chair)
Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President for Blended Finance and Partnerships, IFC (co-chair)
Samir Abhyankar, Partner, TPG Growth
Kalipso Chalkidou, Director, Global Health and Development Group, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College
Billy Cobbett, Director, Cities Alliance
Chris Locke, Founder, Caribou Digital
Kanini Mutooni, Member of the Board, Global Innovation Fund
Nick Robins, Co-Director, Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Henrik Skovby, Cxecutive Chairman, Dalberg Group
PwC was technical advisor for the programme.
The awards were presented at a special dinner in London attended by around 200 senior decision-makers in business, finance and development. The event followed a half-day Transformational Business Conference organised by the Financial Times and IFC.
For more details on the FT/IFC Transformational Business Conference and Awards, please visit live.ft.com/transformationalbusiness, where you will also find photographs and video of both events.
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For further information, please contact:
Sin Yee Hon, FT: sinyee.hon@ft.com
Nadezda Nikiforova, IFC: nnikiforova@ifc.org
About the Financial Times:
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. In 2016 the FT passed a significant milestone in its digital transformation as digital and services revenues overtook print revenues for the first time. The FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of almost 860,000 and makes 60% of revenues from its journalism.
About IFC:
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In FY16, we delivered a record $19 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to help end poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.