King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve and an Opportunity to Win 25000 the SDGs

First of its kind, this global award comes as an expression of the firm faith of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, in young people’s potential to lead their countries and the world towards a better shared future of peace and prosperity for all people on a healthy and renewable planet, as envisioned by the world’s most ambitious plan to transform our world – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The award recognizes young people’s endeavor to be effective and productive citizens, contributing to the welfare of their communities and environment, as well as institutions that improve the enabling environment and infrastructure for youth to make an impact, in all United Nations Member States. The kingdom of Bahrain believes that investing in the capabilities, energies and ingenuity of young people brings about the best yields for sustainable development and future well-being of any nation. That is why, at the national level, the kingdom prioritizes pioneering initiatives that help youth enhance their capabilities, through training, skill-building, and experience-exchange, and expand their opportunities to choose a future that they desire and to contribute to the welfare of their community. 

The award was first launched during the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, in January 2017. The awarding ceremony for that year took place in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in January 2018. As of the 2018 Award Cycle, the King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment to achieve the SDGs will have two main categories which are:

[1] Recognizing youth contribution to achievement of the sustainable development goals:

This category includes five awards, each including a financial prize of USD 20,000. Each of the possible 5 awards will recognize a unique and successful development initiative by youth in one of the 5 key aspects of sustainable development covered in Agenda 2030, namely:

[1] People: Ending poverty and hunger in all forms.

[2] Prosperity: Ensuring prosperous and fulfilling lives in harmony with nature.

[3] Planet: Protecting our planet’s natural resources and climate for future generations.

[4] Peace: Fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

[5] Partnership: Forging solid partnerships to implement Agenda 2030.

Applicants for this categories must:

[1] Be citizens of one of the UN members states.

[2] Be either individual youth above the age of 15 years and below the age of 30 years; a youth-led entity or a youth-focused entity.

[2] Recognizing enablers of youth participation action and impact for SDGS achievement:

This category includes three recognition awards. Winning submission from NGOs/Foundations only may be eligible for an accompanying financial prize of USD25,000. Each of the possible 3 awards will recognize an initiative enabling genuine youth engagement & action for sustainable development in one of the following areas of enabling:

[1] Institutional: Dismantling institutional barriers and/or creating opportunities for youth participation and action (for example, initiating a strategy, policy, regulations, laws, initiative, etc.)

[2] Financial: Providing young people access to start-up financing and/or tools for enterprise viability and development, including incubating initiatives, or similar assistance.

[3] Technical: Providing young people with knowledge assets. technical know-how, skill-building support, including incubating initiatives, or similar assistance.

Applicants in this category must:

[1]Be entities that that are legally recognized and registered in a UN member state.

[2] Be entities in one of the following four sectors: 1) the governmental and public sector; 2) the private sector; 3) NGOs/foundations, 4) the media.

This opportunity covers:

[1] Travel costs.

[2] Accommodation.