The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize was initiated during 2008 to support the improvement of teaching and learning quality in achieving the Education for All goals, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities. Awarded every two years, the Prize is generously supported by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates. It amounts to US $300,000, which is equally divided between three winners whose projects aim at improving worldwide, the performance and effectiveness of teachers. The winners are selected by an international jury composed of five distinguished professionals chosen for their high-level of knowledge and experience in teacher-related issues.

The Prize will be awarded for the sixth time at a ceremony that will take place during World Teachers’ Day celebrations at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 5 October 2020. The deadline for submitting applications is 31 October 2019.

The DBE nominated and invited organisations that have been helping with teacher development initiatives to submit profiles to send as DBE nominations for the UNESCO-Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize. Submissions were received from the following organisations who have been asked to present at the WTD seminar on 09 October 2019: the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVOB); the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT); the British Council; and the Sasol Foundation.