The Hero Awards, in collaboration with Afghan Women Rising, are developing the world's largest "solution engine" for the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Announced during the Geneva plenary session, the initiative converts each of the UN's 169 specific targets underneath the larger goals into prompts for AI bots, initially leveraging platforms such as OpenAI's GPTs, Gemini's Gems, and Claude Artifacts. These prompts will evolve into full-fledged AI assistants capable of continuous self-updating and developing actionable workflows to drive progress toward the Goals, according to CIO John Toomey.
A significant portion of the work is being carried out by members of Afghan Women Rising—young women in Afghanistan who are denied formal education under the Taliban-led government, which has made it illegal for them to attend school. These women build the AI bots online and then engage in in-person discussions to refine the prompts, ensuring a human element is incorporated. "Having these girls design the prompts allows them to sidestep the ban against schooling," said Program Director Amy Chang. "They get valuable experience building projects that will contribute to Sustainability both in and outside of their own country for a long while, and prepare themselves for a time in which their talents will be vital for the country's future." In developing the protocols, the girls have drawn inspiration from the writings of J. Kutcher, specifically her metaphor of garden plant growth representing the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual development of young women.
When a protocol is completed, its creator becomes eligible for a Hero Award, provided the protocol suggests previously unknown strategies for advancing the UN targets. Successful efforts are publicized on The Hero Awards website and through press releases. Since the program was announced and publicized six months ago, individuals from other organizations in the Global South have requested involvement and will be included in future iterations. These organizations include: PARI (People's Archive of Rural India), devoted to the welfare of underserved populations in rural India; Siku.org, a non-profit serving the First Nations of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland; Cybersmartafrica.org, a group of thousands of teachers and students in Senegal preserving local cultures and improving digital literacy; Terrastories, an open-source, community-driven application built for South American and Amazonian indigenous communities to map, protect, and share oral histories; and Winyama, an Australian indigenous group that champions cultural mapping to train elders in documenting "Dreamtime stories," songlines, historical land use, and biological data.
The June Hero Award winners include Tara Jensen, Maria Ortiz, Herman Matsui, and Wilhelmina Searles. For more information, visit theheroaward.substack.com or theheroaward.net. Nominations and inquiries can be sent to admin@heroaward.net. The UN Goals and Targets are detailed at sdgs.un.org/goals.
This initiative matters because it leverages AI to address global sustainability challenges while providing educational and professional opportunities for marginalized communities. For business and technology leaders, it demonstrates how AI can be harnessed for social good, potentially inspiring similar collaborative models. The involvement of Afghan women highlights the transformative power of technology in circumventing oppressive restrictions, and the inclusion of diverse global organizations ensures a wide range of perspectives in tackling the SDGs.
