Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment

Global award

kingdom Bahrain

October 26, 2025

Award/Grant

Urgent

Application ends: March 20, 2026

Date Posted

October 26, 2025
Location:

kingdom Bahrain
Expiration date

March 20, 2026
Funding Type

Fully Funded
Level

Non-Degree

Job Description

Princess Sabeeka Global Award for Women’s Empowerment

The Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment recognizes outstanding contributions to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. The Award celebrates the innovative work of civil society, public and private sector institutions, and individual champions who deliver measurable impact for women’s rights, inclusion, and sustainable development.

Award Objectives

The Award aims to:

Highlight significant public and private sector, civil society and individual contributions to global gender equality efforts.
Promote women’s empowerment and equality between women and men.
Encourage innovative approaches and practical solutions to advance women’s empowerment through policy, programming, and community action.
Foster creative and inclusive thinking by communities — recognizing that equality for all contributes to prosperity and sustainable development.

Why This Award Matters

The Princess Sabeeka Global Award builds momentum for gender equality by spotlighting scalable solutions and exemplary leadership. It mobilizes political support, private investment, and civil society collaboration — demonstrating that targeted programs for women’s empowerment produce social stability, economic opportunity, and sustainable development.

Who Should Apply

The Award is open to a range of actors who demonstrate measurable impact on women’s empowerment:

Civil society organizations and NGOs
Public sector institutions and government entities
Private sector companies and social enterprises
Individual champions leading initiatives for women and girls

If your program, organization, or personal work advances economic opportunity, social protection, legal access, education, health, anti-trafficking, environmental resilience, or other areas benefiting women and girls — consider applying.

Application Categories

Applicants may apply under one of four categories:

Civil Society
Public Sector
Private Sector
Individual

Apply online via the official Award portal

Application deadline: 20 March 2026 at 11:59 PM (New York time).

Award History & Impact

The Award was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa to spotlight programs that transform the lives of women and children — especially those from families with limited incomes or special needs. HRH Princess Sabeeka has led many initiatives focused on women’s participation in development, revival of traditional crafts, youth and childhood issues, combating human trafficking, peace, social security, environmental sustainability, and agricultural development in Bahrain.

Notable facts:

Winners of the inaugural Award in 2019 were celebrated during CSW63.
Past winners have used the Award to scale programs globally and to achieve deep impact for women and girls.
Award winners have included civil society groups, public defender programs, private enterprises tackling energy poverty, and individual grassroots champions.

Success Stories & Follow-Up (Selected Highlights)

Rukungiri Women Integrated Development Foundation (RWIDF) – The Award supported VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Associations) activities that improved household incomes and reduced domestic violence in beneficiary communities.
Public Defender’s Office of the State of Bahia (Brazil) – Recognized for improving legal access and protections for women and girls.
D-Olivette Global Enterprise – A private sector winner addressing energy poverty and scaling clean technology in rural Africa.
Nawal Mostafa (Egypt) – Individual champion working with female prisoners and their children, providing training, employment and reintegration services.

Awards & Prizes

Winners of the Global Award receive financial support and international recognition to scale their programs and sustain impact. In the 2019 edition winners received significant financial grants (for example, each winner received funds to scale programming; historically the Award has provided substantial financial support to winners). Exact prize amounts and support packages may vary by year — applicants should consult the official announcement for the current cycle.

Application Timeline

Application Period: Open until 20 March 2026, 11:59 PM NY time.
Selection & Review: Shortlisting and assessment take place after the deadline; selected finalists may be invited for additional vetting or interviews.
Award Ceremony & Announcements: Winners are typically celebrated at events connected to global milestones and regional celebrations (e.g., Bahraini Women’s Day and UN forums).

Resources & Downloads

Brochure (English & Arabic): “Empowering Women and Communities: The Journey of RWIDF Post-Global Award” (link to download if available).
Global Award Booklet & Media:
Official Partners: UN Women (Arab States), Supreme Council for Women — include links to their campaign pages and the global award site.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Be evidence-driven: Show clear outcomes, data, beneficiary testimonials, or case studies.
Demonstrate innovation and scalability: Explain how your approach is new or can be adapted elsewhere.
Show sustainability: Include plans for sustained impact beyond a one-off intervention.
Use concise, compelling language: Present your case clearly and attach supporting documents.
Align to Award objectives: Emphasize gender equality, inclusion, and measurable empowerment outcomes.

Call to Action

If your organization or initiative is driving measurable change for women and girls, apply now. The application window closes at 11:59 PM NY time on 20 March 2026. Help us celebrate and scale solutions that empower women worldwide.

Apply now