Celebrating Impact: Meet the Finalists of the Social/ Regional Development/ Community Service Award 2026

We are excited to reveal the finalists of the IPMA Global Project Excellence Award 2026 in the Social/ Regional Development/ Community Service Projects category.

This category highlights projects that demonstrate the profound impact project management can have on communities and society as a whole. It recognizes initiatives that address important social needs, create meaningful change, and deliver sustainable value for the people they serve.

The 2026 finalists represent inspiring examples of how purposeful project leadership, collaboration, and innovation can help overcome challenges and build stronger, more connected, and resilient communities. Through their projects, they have demonstrated not only excellence in delivery, but also a strong commitment to creating lasting positive outcomes.

This year’s competition attracted an exceptionally strong and diverse field of nominations, representing projects of different sizes, scopes, and regions. The outstanding quality of submissions made the evaluation process particularly challenging, requiring the assessors to carefully assess both excellence in project management and the tangible, long-term impact each project creates for its community. 

While only a select number of projects could be named finalists, every nominated initiative has made a meaningful contribution to the communities it serves. Each project reflects dedication, innovation, and a genuine commitment to improving people’s lives. The finalists were ultimately distinguished by the exceptional combination of project management excellence and the significant, lasting impact of their results. 

The finalists of the Social/ Regional Development/ Community Service Projects 2026 category are:

• Landell Mills (Ireland), with a project Africa RISE
• UNFPA Morocco Country Office (Morocco), with a project ACCESS 
• The Governorate of Mugla (Türkiye), with a project Climate Change Adaptation of Agricultural Irrigation in Muğla: Transition to Modern Irrigation Infrastructure

These outstanding projects reflect the belief that excellence in project management is not only measured by successful delivery, but also by the lasting difference created for society. They demonstrate how projects can become catalysts for change, improving lives, empowering communities, and inspiring sustainable development worldwide.

We congratulate all finalists for their dedication, achievements, and contribution to advancing the impact of project management. Your work continues to inspire and set new standards for excellence across the global project community.

The final rankings will be announced during the IPMA Global Awards Gala Ceremony on 18 September 2026 in Hiroshima, Japan. This year’s Awards Gala will be a special occasion, marking the closing of the 35th IPMA World Congress.

We warmly invite you to join us for this special occasion and honour the achievements of the world’s most exceptional project professionals.

Tickets for the Gala are available here: IPMA World Congress 2026 Tickets – Secure your participation now!