SDG Pioneers

Monday 18, 2019

Roshan Weerasinghe has dedicated himself to aligning the corporate community development projects with the Sustainable Development Goals, with the main objective of enhancing living standards of local communities in terms of health, education, innovation collaboration level and productivity.

As an Assistant Manager from the ‘Eco Go Beyond’ Team of MAS Holdings, he has contributed to promoting greater environmental responsibility. The content of the ‘Eco Go Beyond’ Sustainable Development Education Programme includes rainwater harvesting, biogas generation out of food waste, as well as turning the waste into resources by introducing new concepts such as upcycling, down cycling.

Roshan has organized and deliberately conduced two volunteerism programmes to raise awareness and mobilize colleagues to support the Global Goals. One programme focused on the SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by helping the elderly with cleaning and foods, etc., while the other programme promoted the SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) by creating innovative gardens that increased water efficiency and harvest, but required less fertilizer than the traditional gardens.

To bring about better understanding of the SDGs in the country, Roshan also translated all the Sustainable Development Goals into local language and shared with his colleagues and other external stakeholders.

Roshan has been engaged with the World Largest Session that brings the Global Goals to children all over the world, reaching over 130 countries and millions of children since its launch in September 2015 in partnership with the UNICEF.

MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. has been an active Participant of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka since 2003 and a member of the steering committee of the Network Sri Lanka.

MAS Holdings is the largest apparel and textile manufacturer in South Asia.

SDG Pioneer Sri Lanka

What is the SDG Pioneers Programme?

SDG Pioneers are individuals – working at any level in a company – who are doing an exceptional job of making global goals local business. Through their own company or by mobilizing other businesses, they are helping to reach one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while also contributing to business success.

 

For the 2019 SDG Pioneers Programme,

Young Professionals (35 and under) working at any level of a company participating in the UN Global Compact were eligible to apply or be nominated.

 

 

Review Process

Local Rounds

Global Compact Local Networks seek out young business leaders who are advancing the Global Goals locally. Local Networks are allowed to only recognize 1 (one) SDG Pioneer who will then continue to compete in the Global Round.

First Evaluation

Second Evaluation

Global Compact Office

The judging process for local rounds consists of an internal review and an external review. The internal review will be conducted by the Global Compact Network Sri Lanka based on pre-determined judging criteria by the UN Global Compact. Five successful candidates will be chosen from this step to move onto the next evaluation.

This round of review will be conducted by the Second Evaluation Panel consisting of Global Compact Sri Lanka board members, and leaders from business, academia, and non-profit. The shortlisted candidates will be ranked.

The ranked application will be sent to the Global Compact Office in New York for due diligence. The Global Compact Office will confirm the winner for the Local Rounds.

Global Rounds

Global Rounds will take place from June to September. The 2019 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers will be announced and recognized during the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74) in New York this September.

In 2018, over 150 nominations were received from over 50 countries, from which ten finalists were selected by the SDG Pioneers Selection Group, exemplifying how business can be a force for good in addressing the challenges we face as a global society.

An SDG Pioneers Selection Group, comprised of representatives of the Board and Expert Networks of the UN Global Compact, the Global Compact Network Council, academia, UN Private Sector Focal Points and previous SDG Pioneers. The Selection Group voted on the nominees based on a set of criteria, including the individuals' commitment to embedding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into their companies' core strategies and advancing the Global Goals, as well as their engagement with the UN Global Compact and its Local Networks.

 

TIMELINE

-LOCAL ROUND-

SUBMISSION PERIOD: FEB 9 – APRIL 5

REVIEW PROCESS: APRIL 8 – MAY

RECOGNITION AND ANNOUNCEMENT: MAY 21 (the latest)

-GLOBAL ROUND-

GLOBAL SUBMISSION: 21 MAY – 21 JULY

REVIEW & SELECTION: 21 JULY – AUG

ANNOUNCEMENT: SEPTEMBER