The UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy to be established

The establishment of the “UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy” was unanimously approved by acclamation at the 210^th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board. The Prize, which will reward outstanding initiatives that promote the engagement of young people in the creative economy, was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of Bangladesh.

Named after the Father of the nation of Bangladesh, the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy will award, every two years, US$50,000 to an individual or organization with recognised excellence in nurturing entrepreneurship among young people in the cultural and creative industries. Initiatives which promote entrepreneurship among women, migrant and diaspora communities will be given priority. The Prize will contribute directly to UNESCO’s Global Priority on Gender Equality and UNESCO’s Operational Strategy on Youth.

Delegations and observers turned on their microphones to cheer the establishment of the Prize during the 210^th session of the Executive Board, which was held online extraordinarily due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This ovation was followed by statements made by the representatives of Afghanistan, China, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates who took the floor to congratulate the government of Bangladesh.

The first iteration of the Prize will be awarded in the fall of 2021 during UNESCO’s 41^st General Conference, to mark the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.