Prince Talal Prize: $1,000,000 (U.S.) is allocated to "Life On Land

Chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, President of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development – AGFUND and Chairman of the Prize Committee, the Committee of Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development held its 25th meeting on June 5, 2024. This meeting identified projects that had a significant positive impact in 2023 earning this year’s prestigious Prince Talal Prize.

The Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development is an annual prize that carries a financial reward of $1,000,000 (U.S.) awarded by AGFUND. Since its inception, the prize has attracted a number of pioneering projects that have positively impacted local, regional, and international communities. The yearly award is designed to encourage innovation and creativity in human development for the betterment of the global community. The prize theme is chosen each year by selecting one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030. This year's theme centered on the 15th Goal, "Life on Land", which focuses on projects that protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

This announcement comes on the World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5th to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.

In total, 79 projects were nominated for this year’s prize. The committee was pleased to announce the four winning projects under the theme “Life on Land” as follows:

The winning project for the first category, which is specified as projects implemented by UN agencies or international and regional NGOs, is “PROAmazonía GEF 9055: Sustainable development of the Ecuadorian Amazon: Integrated management of landscapes of multiple use and high value conservation forests”, implemented by United Nations Development Programme in Ecuador. The winning project for the second category, which specifies projects implemented by national NGOs, is “Valle Sagrado Verde”, implemented by Ecosystem Services Association SEPERU in Peru. For the third category, which designates projects implemented by governmental bodies (ministries and public institutions) or social business enterprises, the winning project is “The Oasis Development Project”, implemented by Ministry of Agriculture in Mauritania. Lastly, the fourth category, which is specified as projects initiated, funded and/or implemented by individuals, the winning project is “Blue Filter”, implemented by Mr. Salah El Sadi in Palestine.

Furthermore, the Prize committee chose the theme “Life below Water” that reflects the Goal 14 to be the prize subject for the year 2024, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

The Committee of the Prize is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The Committee members also include Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain, Executive President of the Queen Sofia Foundation and Honorary President of the Royal Board on Education and Care of Handicapped Persons; Mrs. Mercedes Menafra, Former First Lady of Uruguay and the President of Honor of Todos Por Uruguay; Dr. Muhammed Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Founder of Grameen Bank; Dr. Ahmed Muhammed Ali, the former President of the Islamic Bank Group; and Dr. Yusuf Sayed Abdullah, the former Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development.