Environment

Majra – National CSR Fund has launched the public voting phase for the second edition of its Sustainable Impact Challenge 2026, offering a total prize pool of Dh2 million to recognize and support high-impact social enterprises and sustainability initiatives across the UAE.

The initiative, designed to identify credible and scalable corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability projects, has returned following the success of its inaugural edition, where participating social enterprises secured funding opportunities, increased market visibility, and expanded their operations beyond the competition.

Public voting will remain open until June 30, allowing residents across the UAE to support projects that demonstrate measurable social and environmental impact. The top 100 projects based on public votes will advance to a technical evaluation stage, where a panel of experts will assess submissions using evidence-based criteria before selecting the top 20 finalists and ultimately the three overall winners.

Sarah Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Majra – National CSR Fund, said the initiative aims to showcase impactful projects while strengthening the country's sustainability ecosystem.

"We want to ensure that the best projects are highlighted and that their stories are shared. That is how we amplify impact. When we followed up with last year's winners to understand how they deployed their prize funds, we saw a strong commitment to expanding their impact and increasing their visibility across the UAE market," she said.

Beyond financial rewards, the challenge provides winners with additional support through Marfa'a Majra, a dedicated programme designed to help social enterprises strengthen operations, expand their reach, and integrate into the wider sustainability ecosystem.

The inaugural edition attracted 228 submissions from social enterprises operating across the UAE. Encouraged by the response, Majra expects participation to nearly double this year while increasing the total prize value shared among the top three winners to Dh2 million.

According to Shaw, the initiative addresses the need for greater visibility and validation of sustainability projects capable of delivering measurable results.

"We saw a significant gap in understanding the breadth and quality of CSR and sustainability projects operating in the UAE, and more importantly, identifying which initiatives are verified, validated, and capable of delivering measurable impact," she noted.

Projects eligible for recognition span sectors including education, healthcare, environment, culture, technology, and sports, aligning with the UAE's national sustainability priorities.

Following the public voting stage, shortlisted entries will undergo an independent technical assessment to evaluate their impact, scalability, governance, and long-term sustainability. To encourage wider participation, the top three winners from the previous edition are not eligible to compete this year.

Shaw said the long-term ambition is to create a comprehensive "impact map" that enables investors, businesses, and philanthropic organisations to identify high-performing initiatives contributing to the UAE's sustainable development goals.

She added that the Sustainable Impact Challenge is intended to become a national platform that accelerates innovative, scalable projects while strengthening collaboration across the country's social impact ecosystem.

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