Koya University Wins Prestigious Athar Award for Environmental Initiatives

Koya University, a UNAI member institution in Iraq, has won the Athar Award for environmental sustainability, ranking first in the Kurdistan Region and among Iraq’s top universities. Its initiatives in waste reduction, energy efficiency, and environmental education reflect a strong commitment to building a “Green University.”

Prof. Dr. Mohammed H. S. Zangana, President of Koya University (left), receives the Athar Award during a ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photo:Courtesy of Dlshad Jamil Kaka Rash

SDG of the month

Graphic featuring ‘Goal of the Month’ alongside the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 icon and text for Gender Equality on a red background.
SDG of the month

Goal of the Month | March 2026: Goal 5 - Gender Equality

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential for sustainable development. Goal 5 focuses on closing the gender gap and ensuring equal opportunities for all. 

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

 

Learn more about the Goal of the Month, and how you can get involved, then check out the UNAI SDG Hub Network