Annual Award

• Nominations must be submitted by an individual or institution with direct knowledge of the nominated organization’s work.
• To ensure independence and integrity:
  • The nominating party may not be an employee of, or receive remuneration from, the nominated organization. 
  • Board members may nominate, provided they receive no compensation for their services.
• The nominating party may not be:
  • A family member, employee or founder of the nominated organization.
  • An employee or board member of the OPEC Fund. 
     

The three award categories are open to nominations from partner countries whereas the Youth Entrepreneurship Category is also open to nominations from OPEC Fund member countries.

Eligible recipients for the different award categories will be as follows: 

• Transformational Impact Award: public institutions and development agencies operating in OPEC Fund-eligible partner countries that have successfully completed development projects or programs within the past three years.
• Innovation for Development Award: startups, private companies, social enterprises and research institutions operating in OPEC Fund-eligible partner countries.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Award: young entrepreneurs advancing solutions in renewable energy, food security, or climate action from OPEC Fund partner and member countries. 
   

Eligible nominations will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Strategic alignment: Projects must align with the OPEC Fund’s strategic core objectives, including Driving Climate Innovation and a Just Transition, Promoting Sustainable Development through South–South Cooperation and Building Resilient and Equitable Societies, and contribute to one or more of the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Innovation: The project must introduce new solutions or approaches to development challenges. This includes approaches that may exist elsewhere but that are being applied in a new context or setting.
• Measurable impact: The project must demonstrate significant, evidence-based positive development outcomes or clear potential to achieve such impact. Applicants should provide supporting data and documentation, including baselines, outputs, outcomes and, where possible, independent evaluations or other quantifiable metrics.
• Replicability and scalability: The project should show strong potential to expand in scope or scale, enabling its impact to be replicated within and across regions or countries.
• Sustainability: The project should demonstrate financial, institutional and environmental sustainability, ensuring that development benefits can be maintained over time. 
• Equity and inclusion: Priority is given to solutions that promote equity and the inclusion of vulnerable or underserved groups, foster synergies across sectors (such as health and education or agriculture, water and climate resilience), and, where possible, contribute to job creation or youth empowerment.
• Ethical standards and compliance: Applicants must comply with applicable environmental and social safeguards and must have no record of serious violations, including human rights abuses, corruption or related misconduct. 
   

The nomination form, which can be downloaded on OPEC Fund’s website, along with a nomination motivation letter should be sent to: 

AnnualAward@opecfund.org

Step 1: Call for Nominations (23 February- 23 March)
Information about the Annual Award for Development (AAD), including nomination guidelines, forms and process, will be published on the OPEC Fund’s website on 23 February. The nomination period closes on 23 March.

Step 2: Submission of Nominations
Nominations must be submitted in English using the official nomination form and sent to the designated email address: AnnualAward@opecfund.org. The nomination must be signed by a senior official (e.g. Chief Executive Officer, Vice-President, or Head of Operations).

Step 3: Review and Selection
Once an organization has been short-listed, the OPEC Fund may contact both the nominee and the nominating party to request additional information or supporting documents, as needed.
Submissions will undergo a rigorous evaluation by the OPEC Fund Award Secretariat and an independent Selection Committee, in accordance with the established evaluation criteria. 

• Final awardees will be endorsed by OPEC Fund Management based on the Committee’s recommendations.

Step 4: Notification of Awardees
Successful nominees and their nominating parties will be formally notified by official letter, including the terms and conditions governing the use of the AAD grant.

Step 5: Communications and Outreach
Following acceptance of the Award and its terms, the OPEC Fund will implement a dedicated communications and outreach campaign in partnership with the awardees.

Awardees will be expected to:

• Provide audio-visual materials and written testimonials about their work. 
• Participate in filmed interviews with the OPEC Fund and selected media.
• Engage in other agreed communications activities.

Step 6: Award Announcement and Presentation
The Awards will be officially announced at the OPEC Fund Development Forum in Vienna on 23 June 2026.  Awardees will be invited to attend the ceremony and to participate in related outreach activities.

Step 7: Post-Award Engagement and Reporting

Awardees will be requested to:

• Acknowledge receipt of the Annual Award for Development on their websites and/or social media platforms. 
• Share updated audio-visual materials and testimonials in line with an agreed timeline.
• Provide brief progress updates, as outlined in the award acceptance letter, highlighting key achievements supported by the Award.
• Where appropriate, awardees may also be invited to contribute to OPEC Fund publications, participate in communications campaigns, and take part in special events to share insights and lessons learned.
   

The OPEC Fund therefore dedicated its 2021 Annual Award for Development to NGO African Agency for Integrated Development (AAID) for its community work in promoting clean cooking technologies, training and advocacy for women and youth in the Kyaka II refugee settlement in Western Uganda. AAID website 

AAID is working with the local government to lead awareness and training sessions and aims to create a ripple effect to encourage women and youth in the settlement to switch to more efficient, safe and cleaner cooking practices. 

See press release for details.

The 2020 OPEC Fund Annual Award for Development was conferred upon EarthSpark International, a non-profit organization committed to expanding access to electricity in Haiti. It recognizes EarthSpark for its innovative solutions to energy access and climate-related projects and for providing outstanding support to rural communities in Haiti.  See press release.

Read the EarthSpark story as published in our 2020 4 issue of the OPEC Fund Quarterly. 

The 2019 OFID Annual Award for Development was conferred upon Vida Duti, in recognition of her remarkable work in striving for sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for the population of Ghana. Duti, who is Country Director of the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, leads a team of 12 in Ghana. The team’s priority is advocating for greater financial and political support for WASH, while also supporting national government policies, standards and guidelines.

The 2018 OFID Annual Award for Development was conferred upon the Bangladesh-based BRAC. The NGO received the award in recognition of its support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

BRAC has launched the largest civil society response in support of the newly arrived Rohingya refugees. This response is meeting the immediate needs of vulnerable people, while building skills, resilience and awareness that will facilitate their long-term wellbeing as the situation evolves.  Read more

aQ´on Jay Program of the Foundation for Integral Development (FUDI) - Guatemala 

The aQ´on Jay Program of the Foundation for Integral Development (FUDI) in Guatemala was the winner of 2017 OFID Annual Award for Development. The program  received US$100,000 from OFID in support of its efforts to improve maternal and child health and nutrition. Read more

20 year-old Syrian refugee Doaa Al Zamel

The 2016 winner was 20 year-old Syrian refugee Doaa Al Zamel, a survivor of the September 2014 Mediterranean shipwreck tragedy that claimed almost 500 lives. Doaa’s selection as winner of Award formed part of OFID’s 40th Anniversary dedication to highlight the plight of refugees. The Award was conferred to honor Doaa’s bravery and her determination to draw greater attention to the refugee crisis by sharing her story.  Read more

View clip of Doaa's acceptance speech at OFID's Ministerial Council evening event:

Children’s Cancer Hospital (CCHE) receives OFID 2015 Annual Award for Development

CCHE exemplifies excellence, not only within the region, but globally. Located in the historic El Sayeda Zeinab district of Cairo, it was founded through a private initiative, and is one of the largest children’s cancer hospitals in the world. CCHE is charged with caring for paediatric cancer patients free of charge. The hospital is using high-tech solutions to help clinicians provide state-of-the-art care for an estimated 1,500 new paediatric cancer patients each year, with the mission of improving childhood cancer survival rates in Egypt.  Read more

Kakenya Center for Excellence, Kenya and Ashesi University, Ghana

The two organisations, Kakenya Center for Excellence (KCE) in Kenya and Ashesi University in Ghana, were selected based on their significant impact on promoting grassroots-level education within their communities, while addressing cross-cutting issues such as women’s empowerment, cultural challenges and leadership. The Award, which comes with a US$100,000 prize, will be divided equally between the two recipients. 
The Kakenya Center for Excellence (KCE) in Kenya, which seeks to empower and motivate young girls through education and to break the cycle of destructive cultural practices. Some of these include early marriage and childbirth, and girls’ lack of health education and understanding of their legal rights, particularly with regard to female genital mutilation.
The center was established by women and girls’ rights pioneer Kakenya Ntaiya in 2009, herself directly affected by some of the issues her center is working to alleviate. Since the establishment of the center, hundreds of girls have received life-altering education and leadership training.
The Ashesi University in Ghana, a private, not-for-profit coeducational institution with the mission to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders for Africa. Ashesi is the first university in Ghana to adopt and blend the Liberal Arts method of education with majors in Computer Science, Management Information Systems and Business Administration. 
Patrick Awuah is Founder and President of the university, which has gained a reputation for innovation and providing a high-quality education. To date, Ashesi has graduated over 500 students, nearly half of them women. The majority remained in Africa and were able to secure quality employment, thus helping fostering progress across the continent.

Malala Yousafzai

Ms Malala Yousafzai was conferred with the 2013 OFID Annual Award for Development in appreciation of her fearless struggle to uphold the right of girls and women in the Swat Valley of Pakistan to receive an education. 

Ms Yousafzai, a Pakistani national and activist for education and women’s rights, is the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in history. In 2012, she was shot for speaking out in favor of young women’s right to education. She has received numerous awards including Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize, the Simone de Beauvoir Prize and was featured on Foreign Policy Magazine’s list of top global thinkers. 

Palestinian Ex-Detainees Rehabilitation Program (EDRP)

The EDRP of the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs focuses on the economic and social rehabilitation of former detainees and their reintegration into Palestinian society. OFID's Annual Award was conferred in the organization in recognition of the role the EDRP plays in caring for Ex-Detainees and their families. 

The Program has to date provided rehabilitation services directed toward 18,000 prisoners. These services include a College Education facility for Ex-Detainees; Vocational Training Service; Loan Services; Health Insurance; and finally Psychological Counselling to ex-detainees as well as family members to further enable a positive environment for the family nucleus. 

Dr Mazen Al-Hajri, Surgeon and Philanthropist

Dr Al-Hajri, a UAE national, is a pioneer in the field of ear, nose and throat medicine. He is particularly well known for his charitable work, and has performed countless cochlear implant operations on Palestinian children, who have suffered hearing damage. Dr Al-Hajri is renowned in the Middle-East healthcare arena and is widely recognized amongst his peers for his dedication in operating on children and training surgeons in Gaza.

The OFID Annual Award for Development carries a prize of US$100,000. Dr Al-Hajri stated that this amount would be donated to conducting surgeries on deaf children in Gaza.

Yéle Haiti Foundation

OFID conferred its 2010 Annual Award for Development on Yele Haiti to help Haitian communities in need after a devastating earthquake struck the country in January 2010.

Bartolina Sisa National Confederation of Peasant Indigenous Native Women of Bolivia.

Bartolina Sisa is a Bolivia-based grassroots organization, which was established in January 1980 and became a confederation in November 2008. Its core activities include: promotion of land ownership rights as a basic principle of sovereignty for the indigenous and rural populations; participation of women in the economic, social and political life of Bolivia; improvement of food security; and reduction of illiteracy in the rural areas. Others are strengthening the economic potential of peasant indigenous women; promotion of organizational capacity and self determination of women. To date, Bartolina Sisa has achieved commendable results in many areas of its work including: education, access to land, rural economy, and empowerment of its target groups – indigenous women.
 

Professor Muhammad Yunus, Founder and Managing Director of the Grameen Bank

The Grameen bank is a micro finance organization and community development bank established in Bangladesh in 1976. The bank provides micro credit to the impoverished without requiring collateral. Another distinctive feature of the bank’s credit program is that a significant majority of its borrowers are women. The Grameen Bank and its founder, Professor Yunus, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. See press release Professor Yunus gets 2008 OFID Annual Award for Development