UNESCO has launched a Global Citizenship Education Prize with Focus on Youth-Led Projects

Naijaonpoint Media reports that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in partnership with the Republic of Korea, has launched the inaugural edition of the UNESCO Prize for Global Citizenship Education (GCED), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at promoting and recognizing impactful educational projects across the globe.

Established in 2024, the biennial prize provides a global platform to celebrate and scale innovative efforts that advance the ideals of global citizenship, peacebuilding, and inclusive learning. It is open to individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and particularly youth-led organizations.

The initiative comes at a time when global challenges such as inequality, misinformation, and social division require urgent educational responses that promote empathy, civic engagement, and intercultural understanding.

Two Prize Categories Available

According to UNESCO, the Prize will be awarded under two broad categories:

Youth-Led Organizations: Open to organizations led by individuals aged between 18 and 30 years.
Others: Open to individuals, institutions, NGOs, and other entities actively working in the field of Global Citizenship Education.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for nomination, applicants must meet the following requirements:

The initiative must be directly relevant to Global Citizenship Education (GCED).
Projects must have been operational for at least one year and must show evidence of concrete results and activities.
Applicants must not be affiliated with or receive funding from UNESCO.
All applications must be nominated either by a UNESCO National Commission or an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.

How to Apply for the UNESCO GCED Prize

UNESCO has outlined a structured application process as follows:

For Nomination by a National Commission:

Contact your country’s National Commission for UNESCO to express interest.
Create an account by filling out this request form.
Once approved, access the online application platform.
Fill out the application form in English or French, ensuring each section is completed clearly and within character limits.
Submit the application. It will automatically be sent to the National Commission for consideration.
If approved, the National Commission will forward the nomination to the UNESCO Prize Secretariat.

For Nomination by an NGO Partner:

Identify an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
Present your project and request a letter of nomination.
Attach the letter to your completed online application form.
Submit the full application package to the Prize Secretariat via the online system.

Applicants are advised to act quickly and begin contacting the appropriate nominating body as soon as possible due to nomination processing timelines.

Call for African Entries

Education experts and youth advocates across Africa, including Nigeria, are encouraged to take advantage of this prestigious opportunity. The prize not only promotes the visibility of transformative grassroots initiatives but also enhances collaboration, capacity building, and access to international networks in education and policy.