Applications are Now Open for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2026: Celebrating Global Excellence in Education

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Application Deadline: October 31, 2025

The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2026 is now open for nominations, offering a golden opportunity to honor outstanding initiatives that are revolutionizing teacher training and development across the globe. This prestigious award is a vital part of the global effort to enhance the quality of teaching in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

An Award Rooted in Impact and Innovation

Established in 2008, the prize is funded by the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, a philanthropic body committed to advancing education and supporting innovative practices. With a biennial cycle, this award recognizes exceptional contributions to teacher development that have proven results and the potential for global scalability.

What the Prize Offers

The prize carries a total monetary award of USD $300,000, distributed equally among three laureates—each receiving USD $100,000. In addition to the financial prize, recipients gain:

  • A certificate of recognition from UNESCO
  • International visibility and credibility
  • Access to influential global networks of educators and policymakers

This recognition boosts the reach and influence of the winning projects, allowing their impact to be felt beyond borders.

Why the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize Matters

Teachers play a foundational role in shaping learners’ futures. As education systems face disruptions from displacement, technological changes, and financial constraints, this award provides a platform to elevate impactful models of teacher development that work.

The prize targets initiatives that demonstrate:

  • Creative and practical solutions to teaching challenges
  • Evidenced improvements in teaching and learning outcomes
  • Potential for replication, policy adoption, or expansion across different regions

Past winners have led innovations in inclusive education, teacher mentorship programs, and scalable pedagogical tools, significantly advancing the global education agenda.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations, institutions, and educational initiatives from all corners of the world are eligible to be nominated. Projects must:

  • Focus primarily on teacher development
  • Demonstrate measurable results and sustained impact
  • Have been operational for at least two years
  • Submit strong evidence-based documentation of achievements

Submissions are accepted in English or French and must align with the prize’s core objective: enhancing the quality of teaching to achieve SDG 4.

Nominations and Submission Process

Self-nominations are not accepted. Projects must be nominated by third parties such as:

  • Governments
  • International or regional organizations
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
  • Academic institutions

To submit a nomination:

  1. Complete the official form via the UNESCO online platform
  2. Provide a detailed project overview, objectives, methodology, and outcomes
  3. Include documentation proving effectiveness and alignment with SDG 4
  4. Offer justification for how the initiative enhances teacher development

Visit the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize official website for complete guidelines, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria.

Selection Timeline

The selection process is overseen by an International Jury made up of education experts from diverse regions. The final decision is endorsed by the Director-General of UNESCO.

Key Dates:

  • Call for Nominations: Open now
  • Submission Deadline: Late 2025 (exact date to be announced)
  • Winners Announced: Early 2026
  • Award Ceremony: Held during a major UNESCO education event

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Why You Should Nominate a Project

Nominating a deserving project is a powerful way to spotlight transformational work in teacher development. Winners not only receive international recognition and funding but also help inform global education practices through their innovative models.

If you know of a project making a real difference in teacher education, now is the time to bring it to the world’s attention.

Join the Global Movement to Elevate Teaching

The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize is more than just a reward—it’s a movement to recognize the educators, institutions, and innovators building a better future through teaching. Take part by nominating a project that exemplifies excellence in education.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

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