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Yerevan – Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, and in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Sofía, a member of the Prize Committee, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of the Board of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and Chairman of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development Committee, honored the winners of the Prize’s 2025 cycle, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister, during its 27th ceremony, held on the evening of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
The 2025 cycle was dedicated to “Affordable and Clean Energy,” the seventh Sustainable Development Goal. His Royal Highness presented the awards to the winning projects in the Prize’s four categories, with a total value of US$1 million, in the presence of members of AGFUND’s Board, the Prize Committee and the evaluation team, as well as members of the Armenian government and parliament, ambassadors and diplomats, and representatives of development organizations and institutions.
In his address, His Excellency Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed Yerevan’s hosting of the ceremony, expressing his appreciation for AGFUND’s efforts to advance human development and strengthen international cooperation. He emphasized that the true value of development is measured by people’s quality of life, the opportunities available to them and their confidence in the future. He also highlighted the close connection between human well-being and environmental protection, and the role of the energy transition in strengthening economic security and creating opportunities for different segments of society.
For his part, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal stressed that the world faces extraordinary challenges arising from conflicts, instability and humanitarian crises affecting millions of lives. He noted that, despite the attacks on their territories since the beginning of 2026, and the challenges that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to face to this day, the Arab Gulf states remain committed to building, development, investing in people and extending a helping hand to communities around the world.
His Royal Highness said: “Our commitment to humanity does not stop at our borders, nor does it cease when our security is challenged. Development cannot wait until peace prevails; cooperation and investment in people are what create the conditions for lasting peace. Our circumstances may change, but our responsibilities do not.”
His Royal Highness thanked Armenia’s leadership and people for their warm hospitality, recalling the words of Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan that “deeds are what endure.” He affirmed that this idea embodies the philosophy of the late HRH Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, founder of AGFUND, may God have mercy on him, who believed that a person’s legacy is measured not by words and intentions, but by what they build for others and the opportunities they leave behind. He added that this vision had evolved into institutions serving people around the world, and into a prize launched in 1999 to identify development achievements and transform successful ideas into sustainable solutions whose impact extends across communities and generations.
His Royal Highness reviewed the Prize’s achievements since its establishment: it has received 2,299 nominated projects, honored 95 winning projects, awarded more than US$14 million and supported the scaling up of 81 development projects in dozens of countries. He emphasized that these figures “represent opportunities created, livelihoods improved and communities empowered.”
He explained that the 2025 cycle received 160 nominations, of which 64 projects qualified for evaluation. Four winning projects were selected, with operations spanning five countries, offering practical solutions that can be adapted and applied in other communities. He called for bringing together knowledge, institutions and resources “to turn our shared ambitions into results that improve people’s lives.”
First Category (Projects by UN, International and Regional Organizations – US$400,000): “Climate-Resilient Community Water Supply Systems” in Myanmar, implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Second Category (Projects by National Non-Governmental Organizations – US$300,000): The project of Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) in Kenya and Somalia, aimed at strengthening food security, livelihoods and community-based conflict management, and supporting the resilience of displaced people and host communities.
Third Category (Projects by Government Agencies and Social Enterprises – US$200,000): “Bio-360,” implemented by D-Olivette Laboratories in Nigeria, which uses artificial intelligence to convert waste into biofuel.
Fourth Category (Projects Funded or Implemented by Individuals – US$100,000): “Scaling Solar-Powered Irrigation Services and Climate-Smart Agricultural Advisory Services to Improve Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihoods” in India, implemented by Oorja Development Solutions.
His Royal Highness paid special tribute to the members of the Prize Committee, announcing their transition to the status of “Legacy Members” as a new committee is formed, in recognition of their role in building the Prize and establishing its international standing. They will continue to offer their expertise and advice to support its future direction and expand its global impact. Addressing the members, His Royal Highness said: “Your role is evolving, but your contribution to the Prize and its future remains invaluable.”
His Royal Highness also expressed his pride in Her Majesty Queen Sofía’s continued membership of the Committee, affirming that her longstanding commitment to humanitarian causes and continued support for the Prize represent an important link between its founding vision and its future.
Yerevan was selected to host the ceremony to coincide with the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), reflecting the intersection between the Prize’s theme and international efforts to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development.
His Royal Highness announced that the 2026 cycle would be dedicated to “Good Health and Well-Being,” the third Sustainable Development Goal. He emphasized that good health is a fundamental pillar of education, economic participation and the stability of communities, and called on innovators and development organizations around the world to present solutions that promote health and well-being for all at every age.
His Royal Highness concluded his address by remembering Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, saying: “Prince Talal has passed away, but his message lives on. Our responsibility today is to carry forward what he began, ensuring that his vision reaches new generations and changes more lives.” He called for “not allowing conflicts to silence the voice of compassion, hardships to weaken our resolve, or uncertainty to stand in the way of building a better future for humanity.”
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