The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education is an esteemed award that recognizes outstanding contributions and initiatives aimed at advancing education for girls and women worldwide. Established in 2015, this biennial prize honors individuals, organizations, and projects that have made significant efforts to promote gender equality in education and empower girls and women through learning opportunities.
The prize seeks to highlight innovative approaches, best practices, and successful models that have effectively addressed the challenges and barriers faced by girls and women in accessing quality education. By shining a spotlight on these exemplary efforts, UNESCO aims to inspire further action and investment in girls’ and women’s education, ultimately contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
Recipients of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education are selected through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process. Nominations are solicited from UNESCO Member States, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders engaged in promoting gender equality in education. A panel of experts assesses the nominations based on criteria such as innovation, impact, sustainability, scalability, and relevance to UNESCO’s mandate and priorities.
The prize consists of a monetary award, a certificate of recognition, and opportunities for networking and knowledge-sharing with other education stakeholders. Winners are celebrated at an award ceremony held during UNESCO’s General Conference, where they have the opportunity to showcase their achievements and share insights with the global education community.
The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education serves as a powerful platform for raising awareness, mobilizing support, and catalyzing action to ensure that girls and women everywhere have equal access to quality education and the opportunity to fulfill their potential. By recognizing and celebrating champions of girls’ and women’s education, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering individuals and communities through education.
The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education honours outstanding and innovative contributions made by individuals, institutions, and organizations to advance girls’ and women’s education. It is the first UNESCO Prize of this nature and is unique in showcasing successful projects that improve and promote the educational prospects of girls and women and in turn, the quality of their lives.
Funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Prize is conferred annually to two laureates and consists of an award of US $50,000 each to help further their work in the area of girls’ and women’s education. The Director-General of UNESCO awarded the Prize for the first time in 2016.
Benefits
- The Prize is conferred annually to two laureates and consists of an award of US $50,000 each to help further their work in the area of girls’ and women’s education.
Requirements For The UNESCO Prize for Girls and Women’s Education
Nomination Process
Who can nominate?
Governments of UNESCO Member States via their Permanent Delegations to UNESCO and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in official partnership with UNESCO can make up to 3 nominations. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Who can be nominated?
Individuals, institutions, or organizations advancing girls’ and women’s education are eligible for nomination. Nominations must focus on an established project or programme of the candidate, which has been running for at least two years, and meets the selection criteria.
How to be nominated?
Self-nominations are not accepted. If you, your institution, or organization meet the selection criteria, please contact your country’s National Commission to UNESCO or a relevant NGO in official Partnership with UNESCO.
Selection Process
Timeline
- Launch of the call for nominations (8 March, International Women’s Day)
- Submission of nominations online (8 March – 24 May)
- Meeting of the International Jury (June/July)
- Announcement of the Prize laureates (early October)
- Award ceremony (11 October, International Day of the Girl Child)
Application Deadline: May 24, 2024.
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