The Call for Nominations is now open for the 2020–2021 UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The Prize is awarded biennially to individuals and organisations that use digital solutions to promote inclusion and enhance the lives of people with disabilities. This year, the Prize will include recognition of solutions that have provided an immediate response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
‘Digital empowerment’ refers to the use of digital solutions which give people more control over their lives. To fit in with UNESCO’s strategic objectives, the Prize particularly emphasises technologies that remove barriers to access to information, learning and participation in society. UNESCO also highlights advocacy and co-operation, creating enabling environments, and building and strengthening people’s capacity to use digital technologies as particularly important to empowerment.
The Prize of USD 40,000 is shared between an individual winner and an organisation. Winners are chosen by the Director-General of UNESCO, based on recommendations from a Jury.
Applications to the Prize must be submitted by 2 September 2020. The winners will be announced in November 2020, with an Awards Ceremony taking place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on 3 December 2020. For more information on the Prize and how to apply, visit the UNESCO website.
In addition to applying for the Prize, individuals and organisations are invited to share stories of empowerment on a new online platform. ‘Story for Development’ is created by UNESCO and supported by the Nippon Foundation. By sharing people’s stories, it aims to show how removing barriers to participation can allow people with disabilities to achieve their potential. The stories can also be used by governments and organisations in developing their policies and business plans.
To read the stories or share one of your own, visit the Story for Development website.