by Nneka Nwogwugwu
UNESCO has announced the call for nominations for the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education.
Awarded annually, the prize recognizes two laureates who have made exceptional contributions to advancing education for girls and women. Despite notable progress in recent decades, 122 million girls remain out of school globally, and women still make up 63% of the world’s illiterate adult population.
Barriers such as gender, cultural norms, stereotypes, poverty, ethnicity, and geographic location continue to hinder girls and women from accessing quality education and achieving their full potential. To build more equitable societies, gender equality must be placed at the center of educational planning, budgeting, and policy development.
Prize Benefits
Each laureate will receive an award of US$50,000 to support their work.
Eligibility Criteria
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Nominations must be submitted by UNESCO member state governments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in official partnership with UNESCO.
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Each nominating entity may submit up to three candidates (individuals, institutions, or organizations).
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Self-nominations are not accepted.
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Nominated projects must demonstrate innovation, impact, and potential for sustainability and replicability.
Who Can Be Nominated?
The prize is open to individuals, institutions, and organizations that have developed and implemented projects dedicated to promoting girls’ and women’s education. To be eligible:
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The project must have been operational for at least two years.
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It may be based in any country or region of the world.
Who Can Nominate?
Eligible nominators include:
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The government of a UNESCO Member State, through its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
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An NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
Each nominator can propose up to three candidates. Nominations should focus on specific, ongoing projects or programmes that have shown measurable success and impact.
How to Be Nominated
If you or your organization meet the eligibility requirements and wish to be considered:
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Contact your country’s National Commission to UNESCO, or
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Reach out to a UNESCO-affiliated NGO that may nominate you.
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Request that the nominating entity contact the Prize Secretariat at GWEPrize@unesco.org to obtain access to the online nomination platform.
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Complete the online nomination form once access is granted. The form must be validated and submitted by the nominating entity.
Online Submission and Key Dates
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All nominations must be submitted through UNESCO’s online platform (available in English and French).
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The deadline for submission is 12 May 2025 at midnight (UTC+1, Paris time).
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Deadline to request platform access: 12 May 2025
Apply Now
To learn more and begin the application process, click here.
UNESCO has called for nominations for the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, which honors two laureates annually for exceptional contributions to advancing education for girls and women. Despite progress, 122 million girls are still out of school, and women represent 63% of the world’s illiterate adults. Barriers include gender, cultural norms, and poverty, highlighting the need to prioritize gender equality in education planning and policies.
Each laureate receives US$50,000 to support their work. Nominations must be submitted by UNESCO member state governments or partner NGOs, with a limit of three candidates per entity. Projects must be innovative, impactful, and sustainable, and be operational for at least two years. Eligible nominators are UNESCO Member State governments through their delegations or UNESCO-affiliated NGOs.
Nominations are to be submitted via an online platform by 12 May 2025. Potential nominees should contact their national UNESCO commission, partner NGOs, or the Prize Secretariat at GWEPrize@unesco.org, requesting access to the online form to complete the submission process. Further details and applications can be accessed on UNESCO's website.
