The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prize for Women’s and Girls’ Education 2025 accepts applications. The UNESCO Prize for Women’s and Girls’ Education recognizes significant and innovative contributions to girls and women’s education made by individuals, institutions, and organizations.

It is the first UNESCO Prize of this kind, and it is unique in that it highlights successful projects that improve and promote girls’ and women’s educational prospects and, thus, their quality of life. The Prize is awarded annually to 2 laureates and is funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

• Organized by: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Funded by: Government of the People’s Republic of China
• Launch of the call for nominations: 5 March
• Submission period for nominations: 5 March – 10 May
• International Jury meeting: June/July
• Announcement of Prize laureates: Early October
• Award ceremony: 11 October (International Day of the Girl Child)

Prize:

• Each winner will receive a $50,000 prize to help them continue their work in girls’ and women’s education.

Who can be nominated?

• Individuals, institutions, or organizations promoting girls’ and women’s education are eligible to be nominated.
• Nominations must be based on a candidate’s established project or program that has been in operation for at least two years and meets the selection criteria.

Selection Criteria:

Nominations will be considered only if the project or program:

• Has a strong focus on improving girls’ and women’s education, as well as gender equality in and through education, and contributes to one or more of the Prize’s five priority areas:
  • Participation: Assisting girls in making the transition from primary to secondary school and completing their basic education.
  • Literacy: Assisting adolescent girls and young women in learning to read and write
  • Teachers: Enlist teachers as change agents with gender-responsive teaching attitudes and practices by supporting the creation of a gender-responsive and safe teaching-learning environment.
  • Skills: Assisting girls and women in gaining life and work-related knowledge and skills.
• At the time of nomination, it has already been running for at least two years (for example, a project nominated in 2025 must have been active since May 2023)
• Demonstrates that it is potentially replicable, scalable, and/or has significant learning potential for initiatives in other contexts.

Who can nominate?

• UNESCO Member States’ governments, through their Permanent Delegations to UNESCO and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in official partnership with UNESCO, can submit up to three nominations.
• No self-nominations are permitted.

How do you submit a nomination for the UNESCO Prize for Women’s and Girls’ Education?

No self-nominations are permitted. If you, your institution, or your organization meet the selection criteria, please contact your country’s National Commission to UNESCO or a relevant NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.

• Nominations can be submitted in English or French via the dedicated online platform by the concerned Member State’s National Commission or Permanent Delegation to UNESCO or an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO. The Permanent Delegation must validate nominations submitted by a Member State’s National Commission. The organization’s headquarters must verify nominations from UNESCO-affiliated non-governmental organizations. Nominations from affiliated offices or country branches will not be accepted.
• National Commissions and Permanent Delegations to UNESCO can use their official UNESCO account to access the online submissions platform here. The Secretariat will provide NGOs with direct access to the online platform upon request in official partnerships with UNESCO. Don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] to request access.
• The Member States and NGOs may request that candidates complete the online nomination form directly.
• The Prize Secretariat will grant candidates access to the platform upon request from the nominating entity (National Commission, Permanent Delegation, or NGO in official partnership with UNESCO). Requests should be sent to [email protected] by 10 May 2025. After the candidate has completed the online form, the nominating entity must review and validate the submission.

Nominate Now

Please visit UNESCO’s website for more information about the UNESCO Prize for Women’s and Girls’ Education.

Similar opportunities you may like:

• 2025/2026 Luiss University International Selection Scholarships for Master Students
• NEW UI GREAT Scholarship 2025 at the University of Indonesia
• UMY University Scholarships 2025-26 in Indonesia (Fully Funded)