IsDB Group – WAIPA

Investment Excellence Awards 2026

The WAIPA–IsDB Investment Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from IsDB Member Countries that have demonstrated excellence in facilitating investments, advancing sustainable development outcomes, strengthening investment-ready project pipelines, and building effective investment facilitation ecosystems.

Apply for IPA Award 2026

Overview

The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH), is pleased to launch the IsDB Group – WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards 2026.

The awards aim to recognize and celebrate outstanding national Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from IsDB Member Countries that are playing a transformative role in attracting, facilitating, and enabling investments that contribute to sustainable development, private sector growth, economic diversification, and long-term prosperity.

As countries increasingly compete for investment while pursuing ambitious development objectives, IPAs are evolving beyond traditional investment promotion functions. They are becoming key institutions for investment facilitation, stakeholder coordination, investor servicing, project advancement, partnership-building, and sustainable economic development.

The awards provide a platform to showcase successful practices, recognize innovation and impact, and promote peer learning among Investment Promotion Agencies across IsDB Member Countries.

IPA Awards 2026 Category

Category 1

Award for Outstanding Sustainable Investment Project

Recognizing a flagship investment project that delivers measurable sustainability outcomes and contributes to national development priorities. The award also recognizes the role of the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) in facilitating and advancing the investment.

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This award recognizes an outstanding investment project from an IsDB Member Country that demonstrates significant contributions to sustainable development through measurable economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

The project should demonstrate a clear contribution to sustainable development and support one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eligible projects may contribute to areas such as climate resilience, renewable energy, environmental sustainability, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, circular economy practices, resource efficiency, social inclusion, healthcare, education, food security, or other initiatives that deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.

Particular consideration will be given to projects that support national development priorities and contribute to broader economic, social, and environmental objectives within the host country.

Projects may be operational, under implementation, or in an expansion phase, provided that tangible sustainability and development outcomes can be demonstrated or clearly evidenced.

While the award recognizes the investment project itself, particular consideration will be given to the role played by the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) in attracting, facilitating, supporting, or expanding the investment. Applicants should clearly demonstrate how the IPA contributed to the successful realization of the project, including activities such as investor outreach, investment facilitation, stakeholder coordination, problem-solving, aftercare support, policy advocacy, or other interventions that helped advance the investment.

The award evaluates both the sustainability and development impact of the investment project and the effectiveness of the IPA’s contribution in enabling the project to achieve its intended economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

Category 2

Award for Investment-Ready Projects, Partnerships & Facilitation Excellence

Recognizing Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) that have demonstrated excellence in supporting and strengthening pipelines of investment-ready projects, mobilizing partnerships, and facilitating investments. The award celebrates IPAs that help transform investment opportunities into bankable and investible propositions that contribute to economic growth and development.

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This award recognizes Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) that have demonstrated excellence in identifying opportunities, strengthening pipelines of investment-ready projects, and facilitating strategic investments. It recognizes IPAs that have played a significant role in advancing investment opportunities through effective partnerships, stakeholder coordination, investor engagement, and investment facilitation.

The award recognizes the IPA’s contribution to building effective investment ecosystems and helping transform investment opportunities into bankable and investible propositions. Particular consideration will be given to IPAs that have successfully collaborated with ministries, subnational authorities, industrial zones, utilities, development agencies, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen investment readiness, mobilize investors, and advance investment opportunities towards implementation.

Applicants should provide examples of investment-ready projects and opportunities that help demonstrate the role played by the IPA in facilitating investments, mobilizing partnerships, coordinating stakeholders, strengthening investment readiness, building pipelines of investment-ready opportunities, and advancing investments. Projects and opportunities may originate from ministries, PPP units, industrial zone authorities, subnational governments, utilities, development agencies, sovereign entities, or private sector stakeholders.

The award does not require the IPA to be the project owner, project developer, lead implementing agency, or PPP authority. The projects and opportunities submitted are intended to provide context and illustrate the IPA’s contribution in supporting and advancing investments.

Applicants are encouraged to highlight the specific actions undertaken by the IPA, including investor outreach, partnership-building, stakeholder coordination, investment facilitation, problem-solving, project promotion, or other interventions that helped advance investment opportunities.

Eligible submissions may include strategic investment projects, industrial ecosystems, economic corridors, sector development platforms, special economic zones, innovation districts, logistics hubs, tourism destinations, agribusiness platforms, infrastructure projects, sustainability-aligned investment opportunities, or other initiatives that have benefited from the IPA’s support and facilitation efforts.

The award evaluates the effectiveness of the IPA in mobilizing partnerships, strengthening and promoting pipelines of investment-ready projects and opportunities, facilitating investor engagement, advancing investments, and contributing to investments that support national development priorities and economic growth.

Key dates

Launch of Awards Programme

17th June 2026

IsDB Annual Meetings 2026 Baku,
Azerbaijan

Submission Deadline

10th September 2026

 

Awards Ceremony

10th – 12th November 2026

30th World Investment Conference (WIC 2026) Geneva, Switzerland

Awards Announcement and Presentation

The IsDB Group – WAIPA Awards are an initiative of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH).

The launch of the awards programme and the call for submissions will be announced during the IsDB Annual Meetings 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Following the evaluation process, the winners will be formally announced and recognized during the 30th World Investment Conference (WIC 2026), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 10–12 November 2026.

Winning IPAs will receive a trophy and certificate and will be recognized through WAIPA’s and IsDB’s communication channels, publications, and events. Award-winning practices and initiatives may also be showcased as case studies to promote peer learning and knowledge sharing across the global IPA community.

Eligibility

  • The awards are open to national Investment Promotion Agencies from IsDB Member Countries.
  • Applicants may submit entries in one or both award categories.

Awardee

One winner will be selected in each category:

  • Award for Outstanding Sustainable Investment Project
  • Award for Investment-Ready Projects, Partnerships & Facilitation Excellence

In addition, the jury may grant up to two Special Recognition Awards to outstanding submissions from Investment Promotion Agencies in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The Special Recognition Awards are discretionary and will only be granted where submissions demonstrate a high standard of achievement and merit recognition.

Submission & Evaluation Process

  • Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from IsDB Member Countries may submit entries for one or both award categories.
  • Separate application forms will be provided for each category. The forms will need to be filled in English language.
  • Each IPA may submit a maximum of one entry per category.
  • IPAs are encouraged to attach supporting documents, including project profiles, investment prospectuses, reports, presentations, publications, impact assessments, case studies, or other materials that help substantiate the submission.
  • All submissions will undergo an initial eligibility and completeness review by the WAIPA Secretariat.
  • Eligible submissions will then be evaluated by an independent jury comprising representatives from WAIPA and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group and other experts.
  • The jury will assess submissions against the published evaluation criteria and assign scores accordingly.
  • Based on the jury’s evaluation, the highest-scoring submission in each category will be selected as the winner.
  • In addition, the jury may grant up to two Special Recognition Awards to outstanding submissions from Investment Promotion Agencies in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
  • The decisions of the jury shall be final.

Contact

For any questions regarding the awards programme, please contact:

World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.waipa.org