In commemoration of International Women’s Day, UNESCO has initiated the call for nominations for the esteemed 2024 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education. This prestigious award recognizes and celebrates the exceptional efforts of individuals, institutions, or organizations dedicated to advancing girls’ and women’s education globally. With an annual grant of US$50,000, this prize aims to acknowledge the critical role education plays in empowering females and addressing gender disparities.
Despite significant strides in education, 122 million girls worldwide still remain deprived of schooling, and a staggering two-thirds of illiterate adults are women. Recognizing the urgency to bridge this gap, UNESCO urges nations to prioritize gender equality in educational policies, curricula, and budgets. Transforming Education Summit 2022 echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for concerted efforts to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Nominations for the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education are invited from Governments of UNESCO Member States and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) collaborating with UNESCO. Each entity can nominate up to three deserving candidates whose initiatives demonstrate innovation, impact, and sustainability in promoting girls’ and women’s education. Projects nominated must have been operational for a minimum of two years and exhibit potential for replication and scalability.
The selection process involves an impartial International Jury comprising five distinguished experts, tasked with evaluating nominations based on their potential for transformative change. Submissions, which must be in English or French, are to be made through an exclusive online platform accessible only to designated UNESCO bodies and partner NGOs.
The deadline for nominations is set for May 24, 2024, Paris time. Following rigorous assessment by the Jury, the Director-General of UNESCO will unveil the 2024 laureates, who will be honored during the International Day of the Girl celebrations around October 11, 2024.
As the world strives for gender equality, the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education stands as a beacon of recognition and encouragement for those dedicated to unlocking the full potential of girls and women through education.
For more information, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official UNESCO website or contact GWEPrize@unesco.org.
