Call for nominations for the UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad
al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 2011

The aim of the Prize, which is awarded every two years, is to reward the activities of individuals, groups, organizations or centres that promote inclusive quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities. Nominations shall be proposed to UNESCO by the governments of Member States and international non-governmental organizations maintaining official relations with the Organization, each of which may designate one candidate. Nominations should reach UNESCO by 25 August 2011.
The prizewinners will be designated by the Director-General on the basis of the proposals submitted by an international jury consisting of highly qualified professionals in the field from different regions of the world. The Prize shall consist of a diploma and a sum of US $20,000 each for two prizewinners. Candidates must have distinguished themselves through outstanding activities that have contributed to promoting quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities. Please refer to the statutes (see enclosed) for further information regarding the Prize.
Nominations should be accompanied by a description of the candidate’s background and achievements, a summary of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance. Please note that the enclosed
 
nomination form must be completed in either English or French and returned to the following address, no later than 25 August 2011:
UNESCO
Section for Basic Education
Division for Basic to Higher Education and Learning
Education Sector
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Email:  v.curutchet@unesco.org m.kitsiona@unesco.org
Telephone:  +33 1 45 68 08 12  +33 1 45 68 08 65
Fax:    +33 1 45 68 56 27
Additional materials (publications, video, audio and other teaching materials) may be attached to the nomination form. They will be presented to the international jury and will remain at UNESCO.
Please accept, Sir/Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 International non-governmental organizations with official relations to UNESCO working for persons with intellectual disabilities.
 
Enclosures: 2 

 
UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize
to Promote Quality Education for Persons
with Intellectual Disabilities

Nomination form
To be completed in English or French only

The aim of the Prize:
• to reward the activities of individuals, groups, organizations or centres that promote quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities. These contributions shall be in keeping with UNESCO’s policies and aims with special emphasis on achieving the goals of Education for All (EFA).   
The jury will in particular look at the following criteria for evaluating the extent to which the activity has improved and contributed to:
• the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities;
• expanded access, participation and achievements in education for persons with intellectual disabilities;
• raised awareness about the Right to Education;
• necessary change towards inclusion in Education.
The nomination:
• shall be proposed to UNESCO by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and by international non-governmental organizations maintaining official relations with the Organization, each of which may designate one candidate only.
Information about the Nominator:
This nomination is submitted by (Member State):
 
In consultation with the National Commission for UNESCO of:
 
or
Nomination submitted by (Non-governmental organization maintaining formal consultative relations with UNESCO)
 
 
Address:  
 
Contact person (full name and function):  
 
Phone:  
Fax:  
Email:  
Website:  

Information about the Nominee
For individual candidates
Surname and first name (Mr or Ms):  
Date and place of birth:  
Nationality:  

Education and Profession:  
Affiliated organization (if any):  
Other biographical information:  
 
 

For institutional/group candidates
Name and acronym:  
City and country of the headquarters:  
Other background information:  
 
Full Address:  
 
Telephone (please indicate country and city code):  
 
 
Fax:  
E-mail:  
Website:  
The nominee is active in:  Research •
 Research and training  •
 Professional training  •
Description of the work
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Impact of the work on promoting quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities (refer to criteria for evaluation)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATUTES OF THE UNESCO/EMIR JABER AL-AHMAD AL-JABER AL-SABAH PRIZE
TO PROMOTE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR PERSONS
WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

Article 1 – Purpose
The purpose of the UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize is to reward the activities of individuals, groups, organizations or centres to promote inclusive education for persons with intellectual disabilities. These contributions shall be in keeping with UNESCO’s policies and aims, while having a link with the programmes that the Organization is carrying out in this field.
Article 2 – Designation, amount and periodicity
2.1 The Prize, consisting of a Diploma and a sum of money, shall be entitled “The UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities”.
2.2 The Prize shall be funded by the Government of Kuwait. A basic contribution of US $500,000 together with some recurrent payment of additionary contributions (US $80,000 yearly shall cover both the monetary value of the Prize and the costs of administering the Prize. Any interest that may accrue will be added to the overall contribution. The Prize shall consist of a sum of US $40,000 and will be equally divided between two prizewinners.
2.3 All funds received and the interest accrued thereon shall be kept in a special interest-bearing account for the Prize (see financial rules in Annex II).
2.4 The full staff support and operating/management costs of the Prize, including all costs related to the award ceremony and public information activities, shall be fully covered by the donor country, Kuwait. To this end, the Director-General will determine a mandatory overhead cost amount to be applied and charged against the funds in the special account, which is to be established under the financial regulations for the Prize.
2.5 The Prize shall be awarded every two years.
Article 3 – Conditions/Qualifications of candidates
Candidates shall have made a significant contribution to high-quality work in research and theoretical and practical studies to promote quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Article 4 – Designation/Selection of the prizewinners
The two prizewinners shall be selected by the Director-General of UNESCO on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made to him/her by a jury.
Article 5 – Jury
5.1 The Jury shall consist of a number of seven independent members until the end of 2010,  of different nationalities and gender, appointed by the Director-General for a period of four years, eligible for re-election. Representatives and alternatives of Members of the Executive Board cannot be appointed as jurors. Jurors involved in a real or potential conflict of interest shall recuse themselves from further deliberations or be asked by the Director-General to do so. The Director-General may replace members of the Jury for reason.
5.2 The Jury shall elect its own chair and deputy chair. Members shall receive no remuneration for their work, but will receive allowances for travel and accommodation, where required. A quorum of three jurors present will be required for jury deliberations to proceed. The working languages for deliberations by the Jury shall be English and French.
5.3 The Jury shall conduct its business and deliberations in conformity with these Statutes and shall be assisted in the performance of its task by a member of the UNESCO Secretariat designated by the Director-General. Decisions shall be taken by consensus to the extent possible, and otherwise by secret ballot until a simple majority is obtained. A member shall not take part in a vote concerning a nomination from his or her country.
5.4 The Jury shall meet once every two years.
5.5 The Jury shall send an assessment on nominations and accompanying recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO no later than three months before the expected Prize award.
Article 6 – Nomination of candidates
6.1 When UNESCO has received the funding of the Prize, the Director-General of UNESCO shall officially invite the submission of nominations to the Secretariat of the Prize by June every second year, from the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, as well as from non-governmental organizations maintaining formal consultative relations with the Organization and active in relevant fields covered by the Prize.
6.2 Nominations shall be submitted to the Director-General by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and by non-governmental organizations maintaining formal relations with UNESCO. A self-nomination cannot be considered.
6.3 Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation, which shall include, in English or French, inter alia:
(a) a description of the candidate’s background and achievements;
(b) a summary of the work or the results of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance, submitted for consideration;
(c) a definition of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s objectives.
Article 7 – Procedure for the awarding of the Prize
7.1 The Prize shall be awarded by the Director-General at an official ceremony held for that purpose in Kuwait. UNESCO shall present to the prizewinner(s) a check for the amount of the prize, as well as a diploma. UNESCO shall officially announce the name(s) of the prizewinner(s).
7.2 If a work being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons.
7.3 The prizewinner(s), if possible, shall give a lecture on a subject relevant to the work for which the prize has been awarded. Such a lecture shall be organized during or in connection with the Prize ceremony.
7.4 The work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered for the Prize. If, however, a prizewinner dies before he/she has received the Prize, then the Prize may be presented posthumously.
7.5 Should a prizewinner decline the prize, the jury shall submit a new proposal to the Director-General.
Article 8 – Sunset clause – mandatory renewal of the Prize
8.1 After a period of six years, UNESCO’s Director-General, together with the donor, will undertake a review of all aspects of the Prize and decide about its continuation or termination. The Director-General will inform the Executive Board of UNESCO about the results of this review.
8.2 In case of termination of the Prize, the use of any unspent balance of funds shall be determined by the Director-General, in accordance with the financial regulations of the Prize.
Article 9 – Appeals
No appeals shall be allowed against the decision of UNESCO with regard to the award of the Prize. Proposals received for the award of a prize may not be divulged.
Article 10 – Amendments to the Statutes of the Prize
Any amendment to the present Statutes shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval.