The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has announced its 2025 honourees: Prime Minister of Barbados and climate change champion the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, humanitarian organisation World Central Kitchen founded by Chef José Andrés, and 15-year-old health innovator Heman Bekele – the award’s first youth honouree.
The award, aimed at individuals and organisations, is adjudicated by its independent jury for their notable contributions to pressing societal issues and nurturing peace and solidarity across diverse communities, both globally and at the grassroots level.
The three recipients will be honoured on 4 February 2025 during the sixth edition of the award ceremony, at the Founder’s Memorial, which will be livestreamed on the award’s social media channels.
Named in honour of the Founder of the UAE, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity stands as a testament to his revered humanitarian legacy and unwavering commitment to serving people of every background.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was selected by the judging committee for her leadership on climate action and policy. Prime Minister Mottley launched the Bridgetown Initiative in 2022, a call for decisive action to reform global financial systems to take into consideration climate inequality. She has committed to achieving 100 per cent renewable energy for Barbados by 2030, investing in solar, wind, and other clean energy sources to reduce the island’s reliance on fossil fuels. The prime minister has pioneered debt-for-climate swaps, enabling countries to reallocate national debt toward climate resilience projects.
Global food relief organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK), founded by Chef José Andrés in 2010, provides food relief to communities suffering from humanitarian crises and natural disasters. Since its founding, WCK has delivered more than 300 million meals to communities in over 30 countries, including more than 70 million meals to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
Partnering with local chefs, volunteers, and suppliers, WCK supports local economies while delivering fresh, nutritious meals. Through collaborations, including with the UAE, and its innovative first-on-the-ground approach allowing for rapid response to crises under challenging circumstances, WCK has demonstrated its innovative capabilities in providing meals to the people who need them most.
Heman Bekele, a 15-year-old Ethiopian-American health innovator, will be honoured for his ambition to save the lives of the most vulnerable and his vision of accessible and affordable healthcare. At 14, he developed a cost-effective soap to prevent and treat early-stage skin cancer, an idea that earned him the title of TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year and recognition in various science competitions. Heman now collaborates with researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to develop the life-saving soap and seeks to expand global access to healthcare solutions for those who need it most.
His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said: “It is the judging committee’s honour to spotlight three outstanding honourees who are addressing some of today’s most urgent challenges—climate resilience, humanitarian relief, and youth-driven innovation. This year’s recipients demonstrate that transformative work can be undertaken at any age, in any place in the world, and in any field. By honouring Prime Minister Mottley, World Central Kitchen, and Heman Bekele, we seek to inspire others to envision and act towards a better future for the world.”
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 2025 judging committee member and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, said: “The honourees have gone the extra mile to make a difference in the everyday lives of people around the globe, which will benefit humanity going forward. Their dedication to uplifting communities reflects the spirit of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and serves as a reminder that, through a sense of unity among humankind and commitment to one another, we can drive profound and lasting change.”
