Entries Open for FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards 2020

Deadline: 31 March 2020

The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have launched the 2020 edition of the FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards, the leading global initiative that highlights and promotes ground-breaking, long-term private sector solutions to major development challenges.

The 2020 edition of the FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards marks 15 years of collaboration between the Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation on awards that have had a substantial impact on the way financial and non-financial organisations approach sustainable investment.

The aim is to recognise, showcase and reward private sector innovation, impact, replicability, financial viability and sustainability across a number of key areas identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2020 awards include a new category on harnessing the power of innovation and technology to ensure inclusion among the most marginalised and vulnerable groups, including the disabled, refugees from conflict and persecution, and those that are excluded due to their gender, age, location, caste, religion or sexual identity.

While the focus of all categories is on transformational impact in developing economies, the awards are also open to projects that address similar market deficiencies in the developed world and that could be replicated in severely under-supplied regions.

The winners will be announced at a special dinner in London on 16 June, preceded by the FT/IFC Transformational Business Conference, a major gathering of thought leaders who will explore and debate the issues generated by the Awards.

Core Categories

Transformational Solutions in Urban Infrastructure
Transformational Solutions in Food, Water and Land
Transformational Solutions in Health, Wellness and Disease Prevention
Transformational Solutions in Education, Knowledge and Skills

Special Award: Innovating for the Most Vulnerable and Disadvantaged

Overall Awards for 2020

Excellence in Disruptive Technologies
Excellence in Climate Solutions
Excellence in Transformational Finance and Impact Investing
Excellence in Transformational Business

Benefits

If your entry is short-listed in one of the awards categories:
- Your organisation and the initiative that has been short-listed will be promoted in an advertisement in the global FT newspaper and through FT Live social media channels.
- You will be invited to attend the FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards dinner, where the winners in each category will be announced.
  - All short-listed entries are presented in detail at the Awards dinner before the winners are revealed. You will also be able to network with other organisations short-listed for the awards.
If the judging panel selects your entry as a winner in one of the categories:
- Your organisation and the award-winning initiative will be promoted in an advertisement in the global FT newspaper and through FT Live social media channels
- A summary of your entry will be featured on the Awards website

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is open to all financial and non-financial private sector organisations. Start-ups with innovative solutions and a clear roadmap to financial sustainability are encouraged to apply. On the financing side, special attention will be given to entries that embrace best practice in impact investing.
Productive sector companies, investment institutions and advisory firms involved in projects addressing key challenges in urbanisation, climate, education, healthcare, technology, food and water security, and inclusion with respect to developing economies, including:
- Infrastructure developers
- Energy companies
- Engineering companies
- Technology companies
- Healthcare providers
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Design houses
- Pension funds
- Sovereign wealth funds
- Life insurance companies
- Impact investors
- Private equity firms
- Investment banks
- Fund managers
- Consultancies