Applications are open for the UNESCO Global Citizenship Education Prize 2025.

The UNESCO Global Citizenship Education Prize offers a unique opportunity for global recognition of impactful projects that champion the values of global citizenship education (GCED). Launched in 2024 with support from the Republic of Korea, this pioneering award celebrates outstanding efforts in promoting peace, equity, and social justice through education.

Why This Prize Matters

Amid rising global tensions, deepening climate crises, widespread inequality, and the spread of hate speech, the need for transformative education is greater than ever. Global Citizenship Education equips learners with the skills, understanding, and mindset needed to tackle these interconnected challenges and work toward more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies.

GCED encourages learners to:

• Respect human rights and embrace diversity

• Engage actively in addressing social injustices

• Think critically and act ethically

• Reject violence, discrimination, and hate

• Collaborate across cultures and disciplines to co-create solutions

What Are They Looking For?

Key Selection Criteria:

• Community Engagement:
  Your project should involve meaningful collaboration with local communities, stakeholders, and partner organizations.

• GCED Principles in Action:
  The initiative should incorporate key values such as:

  • Respect for human rights and dignity

  • Anti-discrimination and inclusion

  • Equal access to quality education

  • Care, compassion, and gender equity

  • Cultural respect and identity

  • Well-being and safety in learning spaces

  • Lifelong learning and co-created knowledge

  • Dialogue across generations and cultures

  • Freedom of belief and opposition to hate

  • Responsible use of technology

  • Global and local interconnectedness

  • Shared accountability for sustainable development

• Impact and Reach:
  Evidence of change—such as improved learner outcomes, community impact, behavioral shifts, or educational materials produced—is essential.

• Innovation:
  Creative approaches and novel solutions to challenges in education are highly valued, whether through new methods or reimagining traditional ones.

• Sustainability:
  Your project should demonstrate how its influence will last beyond the original implementation. This includes:

  • Continued community engagement

  • Institutional adoption of practices

  • Replication or growth of the initiative

• Vision for the Future:
  Applicants should share their plans for expansion and explain how they intend to use the prize funds to strengthen or scale their work.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 1 September 2025.