RAED: A New Milestone Providing Additional Momentum Toward a Safer and More Sustainable Arab Environment

The Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) expresses its profound pride and appreciation upon receiving the Schwab Foundation Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2026 in the category of “Collective Social Innovators.” This recognition honors the Network’s sustained role in advancing environmental sustainability, empowering civil society and building effective regional partnerships for sustainable development across the Arab region.

RAED views this prestigious international recognition as a strong vote of confidence in its institutional and professional journey. The Network emphasizes that this award is not bestowed upon an individual or a single institution; rather, it represents the culmination of years of collective effort involving the RAED Secretariat, its members and national coordinators across Arab countries, alongside dozens of partner organizations, experts, journalists and environmental activists. These efforts are united by a shared belief in the power of collective action to protect the environment, advance climate justice and support the transition toward more sustainable development models.

RAED highly values the decision of the Schwab Foundation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, announced today, Tuesday, 13 January 2026, to select the Arab Network for Environment and Development among a distinguished global cohort of 21 leaders from 17 organizations across different continents. This selection reflects the growing international recognition of the pivotal role played by Arab civil society in addressing global environmental and development challenges, particularly climate change, natural resource degradation and inequalities in access to development opportunities.

RAED further affirms that its inclusion in the Schwab Foundation community, comprising more than 500 social innovators who have contributed to improving the lives of nearly one billion people worldwide, together with the invitation extended to the Network to attend the World Economic Forum, opens new horizons for strengthening international cooperation, exchanging expertise, mobilizing resources and developing innovative environmental and development models in the Arab region. These efforts are fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the global climate action agenda.

The Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship for this recognition, as well as to its partners and members across the Arab world. The Network reaffirms that this achievement constitutes a renewed incentive to continue working toward a safer and more sustainable Arab environment, and toward societies that are more resilient and capable of innovation in the face of future challenges.