Deadline: 30 November 2019
The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) has announced financial prize grants of up to US $1 million to NGOs, International NGOs, UN Agencies, Government institutions and also individuals around the world under the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development.
The Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) is a regional organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AGFUND was established in 1980 upon the initiative of His Royal Highness, Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud with the support of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait.
AGFUND works mainly in the field of development and growth at the international level through an effective partnership with the United Nations Organization, with regional and national development organizations, with public institutions, with the private sector, as well as with organizations of the civil society.
Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development carries a financial reward of US$ 1,000,000, awarded annually by the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND).
Since its establishment in 1999, the prize has been known as AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Human Development Projects. Following the passing away of His Royal Highness Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, founder of AGFUND, in December 2018, the AGFUND’s Board of Directors decided to rename the prize after the late Prince Talal.
This decision was taken to commemorate his lifelong dedication to the service of human development and poverty alleviation through AGFUND and the other institutions he established. Hence, the prize new name is “Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development”.
Stemmed from AGFUND’s approach to enhancing development performance and support key development projects, the overall objective behind the Prize idea is to contribute to the efforts aiming to achieve sustainability in development and investment in people.
In this sense, Prince Talal International Prize is considered to be an important tool to identify successful development projects, reward them and disseminate their innovative ideas to best contribute to the improvement of development work. It is also an innovative approach and a strategic instrument to exchange successful experiences to strengthen the mechanisms of development cooperation and project funding with special emphasis on the most prominent factors that militate against development and affect the vulnerable groups, particularly women and children in developing countries. These include poverty, social exclusion, socio-economic marginalization, education and health.
Prize Objectives
- Support the distinguished efforts aiming at the promotion and development of the concepts and dimensions of human development.
- Reproduce and disseminate successful project experiences.
- Highlight the best practices, which aim to improve the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged with particular emphasis on women and children.
- Enhance the exchange of experiences and develop better mechanisms to find solutions to the problems of poverty, marginalization and socioeconomic exclusion of vulnerable groups.
Prince Talal Award is divided into four categories, and offers financial rewards to the winners in the four categories with certificates of appreciation and memorial shields:
- First Category Prize: Worth US $400,000, specified for projects that are funded, designed and implemented by UN Development Agencies or international and regional NGOs, it worth US$ 400,000
- Second Category Prize: Worth US $300,000, specified for projects that are funded designed and implemented by national NGOs.
- Third Category Prize: Worth US $200,000, specified for projects that are funded designed and implemented by government ministries and public institutions or social business enterprises.
- Fourth Category Prize: Worth US $100,000, specified for projects that are initiated, funded and/or implemented by individuals
The nominated projects are evaluated by an international team of three experts selected on the basis of their international experience in development projects’ evaluation, their thorough knowledge in the theme launched for the Prize and indeed for their objectivity and fair assessment. The composition of this team may vary each year, depending on the Prize thematic focus.
Projects that meet the criteria will be evaluated, individually by the three evaluators, in accordance with specific criteria to measure the elements of creativity in the project, and the efficiency and effectiveness of its management as well as its impact.
The Prize secretariat classifies the submitted projects based on the results of the evaluation both in terms of the total score the ranking of the projects by the evaluators, in order to avoid differences in giving the grades, which may vary from one evaluator to another.
The secretariat will then prepare the final report containing the top five projects in each of the four categories to be presented to the Prize Committee for the selection of the winning projects.
The following criteria shall be applied to the projects that are nominated for Prince Talal International Prize:
- Innovative ways in which the project meets AGFUND mission, values and objectives.
- The quality of the project design to achieve its specific objectives.
- The degree of the project relevance to the Prize subject and the extent to which it contributes to the achievement of the SDG set as subject for the Prize.
- The project impact in terms of quality of services provided, and the new ideas and information forwarded.
- The accessibility for the targeted beneficiaries to reach the services and benefits of the project.
- Project replicability or adaptability in other areas/ countries.
- The efficiency in financial management and the use of resources.
- The attainment of project objectives.
- The sustainability of the project’s activities, benefits and services.
- The environmental and social impact.
For more information, visit this link.