Who can participate in the FFSA?

The FFSA is open to all active UNGCMBC members in good standing — both corporate and SME. Corporate members may nominate through the SIC (Pathway A) or an independently published case study (Pathway B). SME members may nominate through SME Sustainability Stories (Pathway A) or Pathway B. Individual-level awards are open to all members via self-nomination.

What is the difference between the FFSA and the ESG Select List?

The FFSA is a competitive programme where nominations are shortlisted and judged — only one winner is recognised per category per tier. The ESG Select List follows a merit-based selection process where multiple organisations can be recognised under the same category, provided they meet the criteria. Recognition for each cycle is limited to 50 organisations in total. The two programmes run independently and are not a pipeline — participating in one does not affect your standing in the other.

Do I need a formal sustainability report or ESG framework to nominate?

No. What matters is that your initiative is genuine, documented, and has produced measurable outcomes. You do not need to have a full ESG report, a dedicated sustainability team, or alignment with a formal framework to participate. The SIC and SME Sustainability Stories pathways are designed to help organisations articulate their sustainability story with support from UNGCMBC.

Can an organisation nominate for multiple categories?

Yes. An organisation may submit separate nominations for different categories, provided each nomination relates to a distinct initiative. The same initiative may not be submitted across multiple categories.

How are shortlisted nominees selected?

All enterprise-level submissions — regardless of pathway — are reviewed by UNGCMBC's Technical Committee for completeness, credibility, and eligibility before proceeding to the Independent Judging Panel. SIC and SSS submissions that pass the Technical Committee review are automatically shortlisted. Pathway B submissions are reviewed on the same basis.

How does the 50/50 judging model work?

All shortlisted nominees — enterprise and individual — participate in a public voting period conducted anonymously on UNGCMBC's official platform. Public votes account for 50% of the final score. The Independent Judging Panel's assessment accounts for the remaining 50%. In the event of a tie, the panel score serves as the tiebreaker.

Are judging criteria the same for SMEs and corporates?

Yes. The same six enterprise judging criteria apply to both SME and corporate submissions. However, SME submissions are assessed proportionately — judges evaluate SME initiatives relative to the size, sector, and capacity of the organisation, not against the same absolute standard as a large corporation. SMEs also compete within the SME tier only, not against corporate submissions.

When will I know if I have been shortlisted?

All nominees will be notified by email following the Technical Committee review. Shortlisted nominees will be publicly announced ahead of the public voting period.

Are nominees from Malaysia, Brunei, and Cambodia assessed together?

No — nominees are assessed within their respective countries. Malaysian companies compete only against other Malaysian companies, Bruneian companies against other Bruneian companies, and Cambodian companies against other Cambodian companies. This ensures recognition is fair and meaningful within each national context.

How much does it cost to develop a case study with UNGCMBC?

UNGCMBC offers two co-developed case study pathways at subsidised member rates:Sustainability Impact Case Study (SICS) — RM25,000 for corporate membersSME Sustainability Stories — RM5,000 for SME membersBoth fees are subsidised member rates, applicable upon ensuring your Communication on Progress (CoP) is active. Full details on what is included in each pathway will be shared upon submission of your interest form.

Forward Faster Sustainability Awards | United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei

Forward Faster
Sustainability Awards

Organised By UN Global Compact Network Malaysia, Brunei & Cambodia (UNGCMBC)

About The Forward Faster Sustainability Awards (FFSA)

The Forward Faster Sustainability Awards (FFSA) honour organisations and leaders that have made sustainability an integral part of business strategy, operations, and culture.

Organised by the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia, Brunei & Cambodia (UNGCMBC), the Awards celebrate measurable progress aligned with the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2027 cycle introduces a formal SME enterprise pathway for the first time, publishes judging criteria publicly, and strengthens the eligibility requirements for independently published case studies — all in service of making the Awards more credible, inclusive, and meaningful.

Awards Categories

The Forward Faster Sustainability Awards feature two main categories that celebrate both corporate and individual leadership in advancing sustainable business practices.

The Enterprise-Level Awards recognise organisations that have translated sustainability commitments into measurable, credible outcomes. Organisations are assessed across five revenue tiers to ensure fair comparison between companies of similar scale.

All enterprise nominations — whether from corporate or SME members — are assessed by the Independent Judging Panel using the same six criteria. SME submissions are evaluated proportionately, reflecting the context and capacity of a smaller organisation.

Corporate members are assessed within one of five revenue tiers:

The Nine Sustainability Categories

All nine categories are open to both corporate and SME members. Each nomination must relate to a specific, documented sustainability initiative that falls within the scope of one category. Nominations are submitted in the category that best reflects the primary focus of the initiative — a nomination may touch multiple categories, but must be submitted in the one that is most material.

Embedding sustainability into strategy and leadership.

Sustainability Governance

Reducing emissions and advancing low-carbon solutions.

Climate Action

Promoting inclusivity, equity, and women’s empowerment.

Gender Equality

Ensuring fair, safe, and equitable workplaces.

Decent Work & Living Wage

Mobilising capital for responsible growth.

Sustainable Finance & Investment

Upholding transparency and ethical business conduct.

Anti-Corruption

Building responsible and resilient value chains.

Sustainable Supply Chain

Protecting ecosystems and natural resources.

Nature & Biodiversity

Creating meaningful social and economic impact.

Community Engagement

Individual-Level Awards recognise sustainability leaders who have demonstrated exceptional personal commitment to embedding sustainability within their organisation and sector. Nominations are open through self-nomination and are segmented by company size to ensure leaders at every level are recognised equitably.

Forward Faster CEO Award

Recognises CEOs who have made sustainability a genuine leadership priority — embedding it into business strategy and organisational culture.

Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Award

Recognises CSOs and senior sustainability practitioners driving measurable innovation and organisational transformation.

Sustainability Manager Award

Recognises managers leading sustainability initiatives from within — translating policy into practice and embedding lasting change

Each award is open across three company size tiers: SME, Mid-Tier, and Corporate.

Nominations are made via self-nomination through an online form. A short supporting document describing the nominee's sustainability achievements is required.

Individual-level nominations deadline: 30 November 2026.

Nomination Process: Enterprise Level

There are two pathways for enterprise-level nominations. All pathways are assessed using the same judging criteria by the Independent Judging Panel.

Pathway A

For corporate members

Sustainability Impact Case Study (SICS)

The Sustainability Impact Case Study (SICS) is UNGCMBC's flagship enterprise nomination pathway. Co-developed directly with UNGCMBC, the SICS is a structured, credible account of your organisation's sustainability initiative — its context, actions, measurable outcomes, and significance.

1

Co-developed with UNGCMBC

2

Automatically shortlisted upon passing Technical Committee review

3

Includes co-branding and amplification across UNGCMBC platforms

Learn More About the SICS →

For SME members

SME Sustainability Stories (SSS)

SME Sustainability Stories is a co-developed case study pathway built specifically for SME members. Following the same model as the corporate SICS, you complete a nomination interest form and our team will be in touch to guide you through the process.

1

Same co-development model and award categories as the corporate SICS

2

Automatically shortlisted upon passing Technical Committee review

3

Includes co-branding and amplification across UNGCMBC platforms

SME nominations compete within the SME tier only — not against corporate submissions.

Register your interest →

New in 2027

Pathway A Interest Registration Deadline: 31 OCTOBER 2026

Pathway B

Submit an independently published sustainability case study

Submit your Case Study

If your organisation has already produced a sustainability case study with an eligible independent third-party partner, you may submit it directly for consideration. Pathway B submissions are reviewed under identical judging criteria as SIC and SSS submissions.

Eligible third party partners include:

Public universities and recognised research institutions
Statutory bodies and government agencies
International standard-setting bodies
Registered NGOs with a relevant, publicly stated sustainability mandate — subject to UNGCMBC's eligibility review

PLEASE NOTE:

☑ Paid authorship or commissioned consultancy does not qualify

☑ A signed letter of collaboration from the third-party partner describing their involvement is required

☑ The third party must have co-authored or formally endorsed the case study in its entirety — not merely verified individual data points

Nomination Form for Pathway B will open on 1 October 2026.

Updated for 2027

Pathway B Submission Deadline: 30 NOVEMBER 2026

How Submissions are Judged

All shortlisted nominations are evaluated by an Independent Judging Panel made up of sector experts with no commercial relationship with UNGCMBC or its members. Final scores are determined through a 50/50 model: 50% from the panel and 50% from public voting conducted on UNGCMBC's official platform.