UNESCO calls nominations for prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Nominations can be endorsed and proposed by Ministries in charge of relations with UNESCO, National Commissions for UNESCO and Non-governmental organizations having official relations with the Organization.

The call for nominations for the 2018/2019 edition of the UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is now open. The aim of the Prize is to reward the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations that promote inclusion and the enhancement of the lives of persons with disabilities in society through the effective, innovative and inclusive application of digital solutions.

Candidates (individuals and institutions) must have distinguished themselves through outstanding activities that have contributed to the digital empowerment, as the processes whereby people are able to have more power and control over their lives, particularly in terms of greater inclusion, participation and contribution to social development as well as enhanced life experiences.

UNESCO places special emphasis on the ways through which information and knowledge can contribute to the empowerment of persons with disabilities notably by:

formulating policy, advocacy, co-operation and partnerships; creating and developing digital solutions, enabling environments and processes, including tools and resources; and building and strengthening capacities of people to create, adapt and use digital solutions in a cost-efficient and sustainable manner. The Prize recognizes the converged nature of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and adopts a broad definition of the term digital solutions as a combination of:

Digital technologies: any digital informational or communication device or application, including but not restricted to mobile phones, computers, laptops, televisions, radios, satellite systems, networks, hardware, software and applications;Digital resources: content and information that are accessible through digital technologies; and enabling environments and processes: standards, tools, physical, technical and online infrastructures, resources and locations.

The total amount available for the Prize biennially is USD $ 40,000, which will be distributed equally between the individual and the organizational winners. No later than on 30 September 2018, all applicants must complete the application form, either in English or French, available separately for individuals and institutions online, at http://en.unesco.org/prizes/digital-empowerment.

Nominations can be endorsed and proposed by Ministries in charge of relations with UNESCO, National Commissions for UNESCO and Non-governmental organizations having official relations with the Organization.