2025 Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards

The ceremony featured powerful performances by award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Diodato and Nigerian artivist Cill, alongside inspiring messages from Stefania Fancello, Head of the Development Cooperation Policy and Programming Unit at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD; Uğur Gallenkuş, visual artist; Nomzamo Mbatha, actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador; Andrea Macrì, four-time Paralympian; and Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-in-Chief of Deutsche Welle. The Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards programme is made possible thanks to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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Additional Credits:

Diodato – Un Atto di Rivoluzione – ℗ Carosello Records. Courtesy of Carosello Records.

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00:48 Opening Video

01:42 Performance: "Us and Them" by Diodato

05:56 Diodato speaks with the MC

07:22 Welcome from Rajesh Mirchandani, Master of Ceremony

09:33 Parallel Realities Art and live chat with Uğur Gallenkuş, Visual Artist

13:29 Meet the Finalists

14:21 Marina Ponti, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign

17:22 Meet the Judges

18:56 Resilience Category with Judge Nomzamo Mbatha, Actress, Humanitarian, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

21:34 Resilience Finalists

23:20 Resilience Winner Announcement

24:26 Resilience Winner Acceptance Speech – CUFA

26:19 Honourable Mention – UNHCR #IBelong Campaign

28:30 Honourable Mention Presenter Speech – Isabella Santini, UNDP Weather Kids Campaign

30:42 Honourable Mention Acceptance Speech - Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR Representative to Italy, The Holy See & San Marino

31:54 Honourable Mention Acceptance Speech - Maha Mamo #IBelong Campaign Representative

35:19 Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

37:47 Performance: "Echi" with Cill (Singer), Timi Trigger (Guitar) and local children's choir

41:11 Cill, Singer, Songwriter, And Artivist

42:58 Creativity Category with Judge Andrea Macrì, Legacy Manager, Milano Cortina 2026

46:22 Creativity Finalists

48:36 Creativity Winner Announcement

49:15 Creativity Winner Acceptance Speech – Smartel

51:07 Stefania Fancello, Head of Development Cooperation Policy and Programming Unit, Italy MFA

53:28 Changemaker Category with Judge Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-In-Chief, Deutsche Welle

56:27 Changemaker Finalists

58:09 Changemaker Winner Announcement

59:06 Changemaker Winner Acceptance Speech – Julienne Lusenge represented by Sandrine Lusamba

1:01:25 Changemaker Winner Acceptance Speech - Jîn Dawod

1:05:12 Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMZ Germany

1:08:22 Marina Ponti, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign

1:11:53 Dialogue with Diodato, Italian singer-songwriter

1:15:30 Performance: "Un Atto di Rivoluzione" by Diodato

1:19:40 Closing

1:23:25 Credits