The eighth International Standards of Account and Reporting Honours award celebrates outstanding initiatives that advance sustainability and enhance corporate transparency.
The International Standards of Account and Reporting (ISAR), the leading entity of the UN system for accounting and reporting issues, has announced winners of the ISAR Honours Award 2025.
The announcement came during a meeting of intergovernmental experts hosted by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.
The ISAR awards, handed out annually since 2018, recognizes top initiatives that promote transparent, consistent and comparable sustainability reporting worldwide.
What is sustainability report and why it matters
Sustainability reporting refers to qualitative and quantitative disclosures by organizations about environmental, social and governance matters.
UNCTAD is the leading entity of the UN system for accounting and reporting issues, both critical to attracting investment and promoting financial stability.
It highlights the importance of inspiring policymakers, regulators and companies to raise the bar for such disclosures – as a key step to realizing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Who are the winners and what did they do well?
In the 2025 national category, the winners are:
- Financial Reporting Council (Nigeria)
- Bangladesh Bank
- Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants
These institutions exceled at improving national reporting frameworks and regulatory alignment, as well as making sustainability information more accessible.
In the international category, the following entities stand out:
- International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation
- We Mean Business Coalition
- European Financial Reporting Advisory Group
Their work exemplifies leadership in advancing globally aligned standards, driving corporate climate action and reducing fragmentation in sustainability reporting.
Strong participation worldwide
Selected from about 60 applications across five regions, the ISAR 2025 winners speak to the growing global momentum towards high-quality disclosures.
Here’s a regional breakdown of submissions: 17 from Africa, 17 from Asia, 7 from Europe, 5 from Eurasia, 3 from the Gulf region, 7 from Latin America, alongside entries from three international organizations.
41 applications competed in the national category and 18 in the international group, a testament to strong engagement domestically and globally.
By showcasing best practices, UNCTAD’s ISAR Programme fosters knowledge-sharing and wider adoption of credible reporting standards – both crucial to responsible business conduct and sustainable development.