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The Hon. Mohamed Nasheed, a pioneering human rights activist and advocate for climate action, former President of the Maldives and the current Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, has been announced as the recipient of the 2024 Global Citizen Award. This annual tribute, presented by leading international residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners in partnership with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian organization Andan Foundation, recognizes his impactful leadership in advancing human rights and climate resilience on a global scale.
The prestigious award, which honors an individual who shows exceptional courage and commitment towards improving and supporting the global community, was presented at a gala reception during the 18th annual Global Citizenship Conference in Singapore, which brought together presidents and prime ministers, other senior government ministers and officials, and leading academics, as well as top-tier private client advisors and wealth management professionals.
President Nasheed received the Global Citizen Award for his unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and humanitarian causes, particularly championing climate resilience for vulnerable countries. Since his tenure as the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, he has been instrumental in addressing the global climate crisis. In his current role as Secretary General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, representing 70 countries, he leads broad advocacy efforts. He has championed renewable energy and led climate resilience projects in the Maldives and internationally. His initiatives have significantly shaped global climate policy, particularly for vulnerable nations most at risk from the impacts of climate change, improving lives worldwide.
Chairman of Henley & Partners and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, remarked on Nasheed’s deserving recognition. “President Nasheed’s dedication to humanitarian work and climate action for vulnerable communities is truly extraordinary. As a steadfast advocate for our planet and its most at-risk populations, he has elevated the urgent call for climate resilience and social equity worldwide. Nasheed embodies the spirit of global citizenship, bridging divides and championing a sustainable future for those most vulnerable. We are honored to recognize a leader whose vision resonates across borders and generations.”
The Global Citizen Award selection process is based on a majority decision of the Global Citizen Award Committee. The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal designed by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of USD 20,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee’s humanitarian efforts. In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting through the firm’s network of more than 60 offices worldwide.
Since its inception, the Global Citizen Award has honored many remarkable individuals. The first laureate was German entrepreneur Harald Höppner, who set up the refugee humanitarian aid project Sea-Watch. Other previous recipients are Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Africa’s largest disaster relief organization, and Monique Morrow, Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet, a digital identity project that aims to bring hope to the estimated 1.1 billion individuals in the world who cannot prove their legal identity. Diep Vuong, Co-Founder and President of the Pacific Links Foundation, was awarded for her work in Southeast Asia, campaigning for the rights of those enslaved by human trafficking, and Prof. Dr. Padraig O’Malley received his Global Citizen Award in recognition of his efforts around conflict resolution and reconciliation in Iraq, Northern Ireland, and South Africa. Last year the award went to humanitarian, philanthropist, and Founder of the Future Prowess Foundation School for orphans and less privileged children, Zannah Bukar Mustapha for his critical role in mediating the release of over 100 of the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Islamic insurgency group Boko Haram in Nigeria in April 2014, giving rise to the international #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Thanking Henley & Partners and the Andan Foundation for their recognition of his work, Nasheed said, “I am deeply honored to accept this award, which underscores our collective commitment to addressing the climate crisis and protecting those most at risk. Real change begins with unity, and together, our shared humanity can overcome the challenges that shape our future.”
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Notes to Editors
About the Global Citizen Award
Global issues are defined by the UN as challenges that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone — they require all segments of society to work together in order to alleviate them.
The Global Citizen Award is open worldwide to those working in a field with a direct link to the issues they are looking to affect and their work needs to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable social groups.
The laureate is selected by a majority decision by the Global Citizen Award Committee, an independent body of eminent individuals who share a global vision and a personal commitment to contribute to a more just, peaceful, and tolerant world.
The awardee is honored at the Global Citizen Award gala event as part of Henley & Partners’ annual Global Citizenship Conference, the world’s largest and most significant conference on investment migration, which takes place in a different country each year.
The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal, an award certificate, and a USD 20,000 monetary prize that goes toward supporting the awardee’s humanitarian efforts. Following the award, Henley & Partners is committed to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness about the awardee’s work and supporting their selected project. In particular, the firm offers expertise in marketing and PR strategies to effectively maximize the project’s impact and reach.
About Andan Foundation
The Andan Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian foundation based in Switzerland. It is regulated by the Swiss Federal Authority for the Supervision of Foundations and audited annually by BDO.
Andan leads private sector initiatives to support families fleeing their homes due to war, internal conflict, and climate change. It identifies and develops innovative, sustainable solutions promoting refugees’ self-reliance, boosting their resilience, and fostering their inclusion in their new countries. Andan prioritizes projects that expand economic, financial, and political opportunities for both refugee populations and the communities that welcome them. Andan facilitates and propels partnerships between the private sector and UN agencies, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions concerned with refugees and migrants.
Andan’s main, long-term project is the Andan Global City, which will completely upend and reform how we deal with the growing global refugee and migration crisis.
About Henley & Partners
Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 60 offices worldwide.
The concept of residence and citizenship by investment was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.
Henley & Partners also runs the world’s leading government advisory practice for investment migration, which has raised more than USD 15 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs.
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Sarah Nicklin
Group Head of Public Relations & Communications
Henley & Partners
Email: sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com
Mobile: +27 72 464 8965