DESIGN EQUALITY with Innovation became the 7th international competition in the SDGs-focused programme to students, graduates and young professionals run by the socio-cultural initiative BE OPEN and its partners. Since 2019, the programme aims to encourage creation of innovative solutions by younger creatives, for a more prosperous and sustainable future, with the focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Programme.

At the opening of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Equality for women and girls is a human right. It is a matter of justice. It is the foundation of sustainable development and lasting peace. And it is essential for humanity. By ensuring access to quality education for girls, and opening the doors of opportunity to decent work for women, we kick-start economic growth and we forge stronger economies. And by giving women and girls their rightful seat at the table, we boost our chances of solving immense challenges – from climate to conflict… In these perilous times for women’s rights we must rally around the Beijing Declaration. Recommit to the Platform for Action. And stand firm in making the promise of rights, equality and empowerment a reality for every woman and girl around the world.”

BE OPEN joined in encouraging women's participation in innovation, community initiatives and sustainable small businesses by dedicating the 2025/2026 competition to contributing to achieving SDG#5, that is promoting the solutions that advocate and advance gender equality, meet the needs of women and girls, promote women as innovators and entrepreneurs.

From several hundreds of submissions fifty were shortlisted as honorary mentions and became candidates for the First, Second and Third prizes, the Public Vote Prize and the Founder’s Choice prize.

The winners of the first three prizes have been selected by an international jury panel that featured sustainability professionals, academics, designers, and experts in environmental policies and practices:

• The First Prize of 5,000 euro goes to Norah Kimathi, a 2026 graduate from Strathmore University, Kenya. Norah is BA of Science in Informatics, Computer Science and Robotics Engineering. Her project Zerobionic is an AI-powered robotic exoskeleton designed to improve access to STEM education for deaf and hard-of-hearing girls.
• The Second Prize of 3,000 euro goes to Victress Igboanusim from the Imo State University, Nigeria for her Calyx-Probe, a handheld AI-powered diagnostic device designed to improve access to non-invasive reproductive healthcare.
• The Third Prize of 2,000 to Lennox Omondi and his team members Dullah Shiltone, Keylie Muthoni and Brian Ndung'u, 2024 graduates from St. Paul's University, Kenya. Their submission Ecobana is a circular manufacturing project that transforms banana agricultural waste into biodegradable sanitary pads for women and girls in underserved communities.

Successful entrepreneur and avid supporter of innovation Elena Baturina, Founder of BE OPEN, praised the winners and all the participants: “As global challenges grow more complex and interconnected, traditional methods often fall short. Addressing today’s urgent issues demands fresh thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and bold experimentation. And this is exactly what we see in incredible projects submitted to Design Equality by young people from all over the world. We are privileged to witness and support the creative power of younger people that will bring us closer to equality, thus creating more leaders of sustainable change”.

The Public Vote and Founder’s Choice Prize winners will be announced in June 2026. In addition to the grants, all the winners will be awarded access to relevant educational opportunities, and a fully paid trip to a major sustainability-related event in order to be able to present their projects to decision makers and global audiences.

BE OPEN firmly believes that creativity is essential for transitioning to a sustainable existence. To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, innovative and design thinking is crucial. Design serves as a vital tool for implementing the UN SDGs.

In 2019, BE OPEN established the competition programme to raise awareness among young professionals in creative and engineering fields about the urgent need for action regarding the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to Design Equality, BE OPEN has held six competitions and covered SDGs 2, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 17.

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