Bringing people together to build a common future

Call for nominations: 2026 UNESCO ICT in Education Prize

The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education recognizes innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal 4 on education.
Established in 2005 with the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Prize rewards individuals and organizations that are implementing outstanding projects and promoting the creative use of technologies to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance in the digital age. An international Jury selects two best projects annually. Each prizewinner receives US$ 25,000, a medal and a diploma during a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Every year the Prize has a specific theme, which, while being in line with UNESCO’s mandate and values, advocates for responsible and ethical use of information and communication technologies.
The 2026 edition of the Prize focuses on the theme “Reimagining creativity and critical
thinking with artificial intelligence”. It will recognize projects that demonstrate how
teachers and learners in diverse contexts are engaging with artificial intelligence (AI) systems
in ways that challenge the flattening effects of AI and encourage critical thinking, imagination
and creativity with evidence-based practices. The Prize seeks to surface and spotlight best
practices that resist creativity offload and instead examine how AI can expand the horizons
of human ingenuity across all education levels and in both formal and non-formal learning
environments.

• Open to developing countries
• US$ 100,000 grant
• Deadline: 8 May 2026

UNESCO REGIONAL YOUTH CONTEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN EASTERN AFRICA.

The UNESCO Regional Youth Contest for Human Rights in Eastern Africa invites youth aged 18–35 from Eastern African to creatively advocate for human rights as "Everyday Essentials ” under the 2025 Human Rights Day campaign. Through essays or poems, videos or animations and creative art, participants are encouraged to promote UNESCO’s five core human rights education; freedom of expression, information and privacy; scientific progress; cultural participation; and access to water and sanitation using innovative, ethical, and context-relevant approaches, including digital tools and AI.

• Open to developing countries
• US$ 100,000 grant
• Deadline: 21 March 2026

Call for Nominations for the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize

Call for nominations for the 11th edition of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize.

Established to commemorate the inscription of the oldest known book printed with movable metal type, the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, this Prize aims to promote documentary heritage as a common good of humanity.

Funded by the Republic of Korea, the Prize consists of US$40,000 and is awarded every two years to individuals, institutions, or non-governmental organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.
The deadline for submission
30 April 2026

• Open to developing countries
• US$ 100,000 grant
• Deadline: 30 April 2026