ABOUT AGFUND PRIZE

THE IDEA OF THE PRIZE :

AGFUND International Prize is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its president HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, to honor the pioneering development projects in the developing countries.

The Prize is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 300, 000 (three hundred thousand dollars) in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing pioneering development projects and stimulating the efforts of those who are capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to support the efforts targeting the alleviation of human suffering and pain.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRIZE :

1. Supporting distinguished efforts aiming at developing and promoting the concepts and dimensions of sustainable human development.
2. Promoting the developmental action on scientific bases that could help it achieve its objectives.
3. Highlighting and enhancing pioneering efforts in the developing countries, which aim at establishing distinguished non-governmental organizations that work towards a better future, in which social security, justice and equality prevail.
4. Contributing to the achievement of AGFUND strategic objectives.

PRIZE CATEGORIES :

AGFUND Prize is classified into three categories in accordance with the nature of the implementing bodies of the nominated projects:

1. The First Category Prize : For projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations, amounting to US$ 150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand dollars)
2. The Second Category prize : For projects implemented by NGOs, amounting to US$ 100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars)
3. The Third Category prize :For projects founded, sponsored and/ or implemented by individuals, amounting to US$ 50,000 (fifty thousand dollars)..

PERIODICITY :

The Prize shall be awarded annually in a ceremony, to which representatives of the winning projects, experts and specialists in the field of development and prominent world personalities interested in development issues are invited.

NOMINATION :

Bodies Eligible to Nominate:

The United Nations organizations, international and regional organizations, universities, research centers, NGOs, Governmental bodies (if not participating in the project implementation) and country federations of NGOs shall be eligible to submit nominations for the Prize.

Projects Eligible for Nomination:

1. Pioneering projects implemented by UN, international or regional organizations.
2. Pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations.
3. Pioneering projects founded, sponsored and/ or implemented by individuals.

NOMINATION CONDITIONS :

The project nominator should comply with the following conditions:

1. Only projects that have been completed or a phase of which has been completed will be considered.
2. Nominations may be submitted in any language, provided that an English version of the Nomination Form and the project document be submitted.
3. Nominations shall be submitted in two duplicates.
4. All documents related to nomination, including the Nomination Form must be submitted in typed form; handwritten documents will be disregarded.
5. The nominators may not nominate their own projects, or projects in the implementation of which they have participated.
6. Nominators may not nominate projects with which they have any financial or legal connection.
7. Projects implemented by governmental bodies are not eligible for consideration.
8. Projects dealing with subjects other than the Prize subjects, as specified for the year, will not be considered.
9. Nominations submitted without the documents referred to in paragraph 19 of the nomination form, will not be considered.
10. Original nomination documents should be sent to AGFUND on the address mentioned hereunder. However, the Nomination Form may be sent by fax or e-mail. Nomination may also be made by filling the Electronic Form on the AGFUND's web site.
11. All the paragraphs contained in the nomination form should, be carefully completed as they reflect the criteria on which basis the project will be evaluated.
12. Closing date for acceptance of nominations is April 30 every year.

CONTENTS OF THE NOMINATION FILE:

• The nomination form.
• The nominated project document.
• The organizational and functional structure of the project.
• The project’s budget for the last 2 years including the administrative expenditures.
• For NGOS, the audited financial statement of the implementing NGO.
• Any evaluation reports of the project.
• Any documents reflecting the opinions of others on the nominated project.
• Any documents that highlight the activities of the project (photograph, video, printed materials, CD)

ARBITRATION:

After screening the nominated projects, the nominations that satisfy the Prize conditions are sent to development experts specializing in each of the three subjects of the Prize in order to evaluate them in strict confidence. Results of the referees’ reports are then submitted to the Prize Committee for study and selection of the winning projects. The winning projects are then announced in the proper media, and official notifications are sent to the concerned bodies.

PRIZE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order for a project to qualify, it should fulfill the following criteria:

1. Its objectives should be properly defined and logically related to its activities and outputs.
2. It should contain new concepts, ideas, mechanisms…etc.
3. The techniques and strategies used in the project should be appropriate.
4. It should have an efficient administrative organization.
5. The financial resources should be well optimized to implement the project.
6. It should reach the targeted group of AGFUND (women and/ or children).
7. It should be capable of generating or attracting enough funds to guarantee continuity.
8. It should be suitable for implementation in other developing countries.
9. It should meet the targeted beneficiaries' needs.
10. It should contribute to the achievement of AGFUND objectives, which aim at the support of sustainable human development efforts targeting the neediest groups in the developing countries, especially women and children.
11. For projects by individuals, the role undertaken by the individual in the foundation, funding and/ or implementation of the project should be clearly detailed.

THE PRIZE COMMITTEE :