UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development 2025

The UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for sustainable development, funded by the Government of Japan, consists of three annual awards of USD 50,000 for each recipient. It was awarded for the first time by the Director-General of UNESCO in November 2015.

The Prize and award winners recognize the role of education in connecting the social, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It was established by the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 195th session within the framework of the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD and officially announced at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD (10-12 November 2014, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan).

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
• Aim and Benefits of UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
• Requirements for UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity. I... continue reading

UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development

Aim and Benefits of UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development

Three annual awards of USD 50,000 for each recipient

Requirements for UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development Qualification

To be considered for the UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD, the nominated project or program must:

• Be ongoing and have been running for at least four years.
• Demonstrate significant impact relative to the resources invested.
• Address all three dimensions of sustainable development: society, economy, and environment.
• Incorporate transformative, integrative, and innovative approaches to ESD.
• Be replicable and scalable for broader impact.
• Contribute to one or more priority action areas under the ESD for 2030 framework.

Interview date, Process and Venue for UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development

Selection Criteria

The UNESCO jury assesses nominations based on:

• Transformation: How the project enables learners to bring about positive change.
• Integration: The extent to which the project incorporates social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
• Innovation: Unique approaches in themes, methodologies, or partnerships that advance ESD.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

1. Complete the Online Nomination Form
   • Available in English or French via the official UNESCO platform.
   • Must be submitted by a government’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO or an NGO/foundation in official partnership with UNESCO.
2. Submit the Nomination Form
   • The completed form must be submitted online by the Permanent Delegation, NGO, or foundation.
   • Supporting materials (e.g., publications, photos, videos) must be uploaded electronically.
   • The nomination should be clear, structured, and follow all guidelines.

For more details, visit UNESCO webpage