UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2025-2026 (Deadline: 31 October, 2025)

Nominations are open for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2025-2026. The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development was created in 2008 to support the improvement of teaching and learning quality toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, one of UNESCO’s priorities. Awarded every two years, the Prize is generously supported by the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences (Hamdan Foundation).

The Hamdan Foundation was established in 1998 by His Highness the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, former Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates. The Foundation supports educational excellence and the sponsorship of giftedness and innovation, to improve educational performance in all levels and sectors, honoring all groups and relevant authorities in the education sector as well as institutions and individuals contributing outstanding innovations and creations.

Prizes

• The Prize awards US$ 300,000 (divided equally between three winners), who each also receive a certificate. 
• In addition, laureates may benefit from increased visibility, networking opportunities, and international recognition. Laureated projects have demonstrated outstanding achievements in improving teaching practices and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, including potential for adaptation and mutual policy or programmatic learning.

Eligibility

The following organizations, active in the field of teaching and learning, are eligible to apply:

• International or national organizations and institutions​
• Governmental or non-governmental organizations​
• Educational or research institutions

Projects by individuals are not eligible and will not be considered.

Nomination

Nominations are requested through a nomination form, in either of the following ways:

• Candidates may contact the National Commission for UNESCO of their country or an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO to request a nomination form;
• Nominating bodies may identify organizations with candidate projects and send them a nomination form.

The nomination form will be completed by the nominated body and uploaded by the candidate to the online application. To be eligible, the nomination form must comply with the Prize eligibility and selection requirements and be completed by the following Representatives:

• National Commissions: the nomination form is completed by the President or Secretary General of the National Commission.
• NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO: the nomination form is completed by the President or Director-General at headquarters. If the NGO has branches, the Head of the NGO branch may complete the nomination form; however, a communication confirming that the candidate nomination has been approved by the executive leadership at headquarters should be joined to the nomination form from the branch.

Timeline

• Launch of the call for nominations and applications: July 2025
• Application submission deadline : 31 October 2025
• Selection meeting of the International Jury: February- March 2026
• Award ceremony and announcement of the laureates of the Prize 2025-2026 Edition: 5 October 2026 on World Teachers’ Day

For more information,