Award honours leadership in bringing business and philanthropy together to create lasting impact.
Leaders from government, philanthropy, business, science and culture were recognised at the 2026 Changemakers Awards, held alongside the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The ceremony was organised by the Global Partnerships Forum in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations.
Badr Jafar named among 2026 award recipients
Among this year’s honourees were José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Badr Jafar, UAE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business and Philanthropy and CEO of Crescent Enterprises; Dr Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation; and Dr Srgjan Kerim, President of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly.
Jafar was presented with the award at UN Headquarters by Amir Dossal, Founder and President of the Global Partnerships Forum. The recognition highlighted his leadership in bringing together business, philanthropy and strategic partnerships to advance sustainable and inclusive development.
‘Meaningful change is never achieved by one person alone’
Dossal said Jafar represents the spirit of the Changemaker Award, pointing to more than three decades of his work spanning the business and philanthropic sectors.
Dossal said Jafar’s work over the past three decades has demonstrated how cooperation between business and philanthropy, backed by strong partnerships, can deliver measurable progress.
He added that Jafar’s leadership and dedication provide an example for professionals across different sectors working to advance sustainable and inclusive development.
Responding to the recognition, Jafar said that while the term “Changemaker” refers to an individual, achieving meaningful change is ultimately a collective effort.
Drawing on his experience in business and philanthropy, he stressed that no single sector can address complex challenges on its own. Governments provide policy direction and frameworks, businesses develop and expand solutions, while philanthropy can connect the two by taking risks and supporting initiatives over the longer term.
Jafar said this collaborative, whole-of-society model is strongly embraced in the UAE, where its effectiveness has been demonstrated domestically as well as through partnerships around the world.
Jafar’s role as UAE Special Envoy
As the UAE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business and Philanthropy, Jafar focuses on strengthening cooperation between government, the private sector and philanthropic organisations to support the country’s diplomatic and development objectives.
During the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, he is also convening a series of special meetings at the UAE Mission to the United Nations focusing on key priority areas.
The discussions cover several key areas, including investment in the water sector ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi; strategic philanthropy and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD); as well as artificial intelligence and inclusive development.
