CALL FOR NORMINATION: UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy

BACKGROUND

The UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy was created in 2020 to recognise and reward exceptional initiatives of an individual, institution, an entity or non-governmental organization which/who devised and delivered innovative projects or programmes that promote youth entrepreneurship, with the age starting at 16.The Prize, generously supported by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, bears the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in honour of the Father of the nation of Bangladesh, on the centenary of his birth. The US $50,000 Prize will be awarded on a biennial basis, initially for three iterations of the Prize. The first award ceremony will be held on the occasion of UNESCO’s 41st General Conference in November 2021 and subsequent award ceremonies will beheld on the occasion of the Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Who may submit nominations for the Prize*?

Nominations can be submitted by:

Governments of UNESCO Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions for UNESCO, and relevant Ministries working in the field of the creative economy

NGOs maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO

International, regional or national professional, academic and non-governmental organisations active in the field of the creative economy

Self-nominations will not be considered.

Who is eligible?

The Prize is open to:

Individuals, institutions, organisations, entities, and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) that have made a significant contribution to the creative economy by devising and delivering innovative initiatives that promote youth entrepreneurship in the creative economy

Initiatives, projects and programmes that focus on building the capacity and participation of women or disadvantaged groups, particularly from diaspora or migrant communities, are particularly encouraged.

Work produced by a deceased person will not be considered.

*See the Statutes of the Prize here.

Each nomination should include:

1. A description of the nominee’s background and the achievements of the initiative;
2. A detailed description demonstrating how the nominee’s initiative contributes to the Prize’s objectives;
3. Supporting documents (photos, video testimonies from beneficiary of the programme, reports);
4. Endorsement letter from the National Commission for UNESCO.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

A Jury consisting of five independent members, being personalities with a recognized reputation in the field of the creative economy, shall be appointed by UNESCO’s Director-General.

The Prize-winner shall be selected by UNESCO’s Director-General on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made to her by the Jury.

The Jury shall be guided in its recommendations by the innovative nature and/or proven impact of the initiatives put forward in the nominations. Particular attention will be given to initiatives that:

Address gender inequality in access to labour markets in cultural and creative industries

Build capacities in creative entrepreneurship among migrant and diaspora communities to foster wider cultural exchange.

All incomplete submissions will not be considered.