2025 Sasakawa Awards for Disaster Risk Reduction Announces Shortlisted Candidates

To meet the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the Sendai Framework, accelerated action is needed to achieve resilience, and to reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health. We have the knowledge and solutions to overcome many of these challenges, which emerge at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to global collaborations.

The Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction was established in 1986 with support from the Nippon Foundation alongside the WHO Sasakawa Health Prize and UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize to recognize outstanding contributions to building community resilience and reducing disaster risk. This year's theme, "Connecting science to people: democratizing access to innovation and technology for disaster resilient communities," celebrates efforts to make scientific knowledge and technological solutions accessible for community resilience in our increasingly complex world.

This year there were nearly 200 nominations from around the world and an exceptionally high quality of submissions. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is extremely grateful to our eminent panel of jurors who gave their time voluntarily to select this year’s winners of the award:

• Eltson Eteckji Fonkeng, Researcher and Chair, Africa STAG
• Marcie Roth, Executive Director and CEO, World Institute on Disability
• Shaila Shahid, Climate Resilience & DRR Specialist, Miyamoto International

UNDRR is pleased to announce the shortlisted candidates for the 2025 Sasakawa Awards, in two separate categories: one for Individuals and the second for Organizations.

Individuals:

• Mr. Rob Hopkins, “Radio Rob”, Yukon, Canada
• Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, India Meteorological Department, India
• Professor Virginia Murray, Global Disaster Risk Reduction at UK Health Security Agency, UK
• Dr. Harkunti Rahayu, Indonesian Disaster Expert Association, Indonesia
• Mr. Shee Kupi Shee, Disaster Management and Peace Building, Lamu County, Kenya
• Dr. Kelvin Mashisia Shikuku, International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya

Organizations:

• Aquatic Service, Madagascar
• Church Agencies Network – Disaster Operations (CAN-DO), Australia
• Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster (GNDR), Global/UK
• Jago Nari, Bangladesh
• World Institute on Disability (WID), Global/US

These nominees have demonstrated exceptional commitment to inclusive and resilient approaches in disaster risk reduction, embodying the all-of-society approach outlined in the Sendai Framework. Their work represents critical contributions toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the targets of the Sendai Framework through democratizing access to science and technology for disaster resilience.

All shortlisted candidates will receive a certificate. Award winners will receive a trophy recognition and a grant to continue their valuable work in building more resilient communities worldwide.

The Ceremony

The winners of the 2025 Sasakawa Awards will be officially announced at the Sasakawa Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the Global Platform 2025 International Conference Centre of Geneva (CICG) in Plenary A on 5 June at 18:15. The ceremony will be preceded by an intimate reception.

Live stream: