UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy

The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy recognizes the activities of outstanding individuals, governments or governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in literacy serving rural adults and out-of-school youth, particularly women and girls. The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy was established in 2005 through the generosity of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in honour of the great Chinese scholar Confucius. It awards two Prizes of US$20,000 each, a medal and a diploma. Furthermore, the Confucius Prize offers a study visit to literacy project sites in China. The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy recognizes the activities of outstanding individuals, governments or governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the field of literacy and serving rural adults and out-of-school youth, particularly women and girls. The UNESCO Confucius Prize is part of a set of UNESCO International Literacy Prizes awarded annually by UNESCO in recognition of excellence and inspiring experiences in the field of literacy throughout the world.

The aim of these Prizes is to enhance efforts and services worldwide to create literate societies. There are currently three Prizes:

UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy

UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

Who can apply and how

The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy is open to institutions, organizations or individuals displaying outstanding merit in literacy, achieving particularly effective results and promoting innovative approaches.

Candidates should have made a significant contribution to literacy work serving rural adults and out of-school youth, particularly women and girls.

Nominations must be submitted to the Director-General of UNESCO either by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions to UNESCO, or by International Non-governmental Organizations maintaining formal relations with UNESCO (INGOs). Each government or INGO is entitled to nominate only two candidates per year. Each nomination must be accompanied by a written recommendation. A self-nomination cannot be considered.

Applicants need to receive the endorsement either of the Government (through the Ministry in charge of Literacy, the National Commission for UNESCO or the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO), or of an International Non-governmental Organization. Nomination files should be forwarded in hard copy and, if possible, by electronic copy to UNESCO Headquarters no later than the announced due date.

*The submission must be in English or French only.

The Selection process

The selection of prizewinners is made by an International Jury appointed by UNESCO’s Director-General, which meets in Paris once a year. The Prize is awarded at an official ceremony held for that purpose at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on the occasion of International Literacy Day (8 September).

Recipients of the Prize by year

*2007:
**Family Re-orientation Education and Empowerment (FREE) (Nigeria)
**Reach Out and Read (United States of America)

*2006:
**Ministry of National Education of the Kingdom of Morocco, for its innovative national literacy initiative
**Directorate of Literacy and Continuing Education of Rajastan, for its Useful Learning through Literacy and Continuing Education Programme in Rajasthan (India)