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On its Silver Jubilee, the Prince Talal International Prize Awards $1 Million to pioneers of Life on Land
In the presence of HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) organized the award ceremony for the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development 2023.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of AGFUND's Board of Directors and Chairman of the Prize Committee, delivered the opening speech, stating: "We at AGFUND and the Prince Talal International Prize are pleased that the focus of this 24th edition aligns with the major development event currently taking place in Riyadh, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)."
HRH expressed gratitude for the support from the Kingdom’s leadership towards initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, relying on clean energy, and enhancing green cover. Key initiatives include the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, which aim to plant 10 billion trees in the Kingdom and 50 billion trees in the region. He stated, "The Kingdom's presidency of COP 16 will serve as strong motivation to achieve its goals and create a record of achievements."
HRH thanked the members of the AGFUND Board of Directors and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for their ongoing support, which began in the early 1980s and continues today. This support has enabled AGFUND to positively impact nearly 150 countries across all continents.
He praised the Arab Coordination Group’s announcement to allocate $10 billion by 2030 to support efforts in protecting land, combating drought and desertification, and addressing climate change impacts. He called on the international community to unite efforts in this area, particularly in regions facing severe challenges, and commended ACG for recognizing the Kingdom's positive approach to desertification and land degradation.
HRH pointed out that the themes selected by the prize in environmental and sustainable development, along with AGFUND’s financing of projects addressing desertification and climate change, significantly contribute to strengthening the goals of COP 16.
Dr. Nasser Alkahtani, Executive Director of AGFUND, emphasized the importance of supporting small farmers, describing them as both strong and vulnerable. He highlighted ways to address their weaknesses and strengths, transforming them into creative, active, and productive individuals.
The ceremony featured a developmental operetta performed by MLS students, followed by the awarding of one million dollars to the winning projects in the field of "Life on Land" the 15th goal of the Sustainable Development were as follows:
The first category award, worth $400,000, went to the " PRO Amazonia 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 Program (UNDP) -Ecuador, allocated to projects by UN agencies or international and regional NGOs.
The second category award went to the “Valle Sagrado Verde” project implemented by Asociación de Servicios Ecosistémicos SEPERU (Ecosystem Services Association SEPERU). The award is worth $300,000 and is allocated to projects by national NGOs.
The third category award, worth $200,000 and allocated to projects by governmental bodies (ministries and public institutions) or social business enterprises, went to the " Oasis Development " project implemented by MINISTÈRE DE L’AGRICULTURE ET DE LA SOUVERAINETÉ ALIMENTAIRE.
The “Blue Filter” project implemented by Mr Salah Al-Sadi in Palestine, won the fourth category award, allocated to projects initiated, funded and/or implemented by individuals, with a value of $100,000.
Additionally, AGFUND signed a partnership agreement to support a global initiative addressing food security and small farmers' issues in collaboration with the University of Chicago, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development.
The ceremony included an exhibition titled "The Prince Talal International Prize in 25 Years," showcasing the life and legacy of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, AGFUND's initiatives, and statistics about the prize since its establishment in 1999. It also presented the prize's criteria, nomination process, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Her Majesty Queen Sofia, several royal highnesses, ministers, representatives from international and UN organizations, civil society members, development experts, and media professionals attended the event.
In addition, AGFUND urged all concerned parties to submit nominations for the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development for the year 2024 in the field of “Life Below Water,” the 14th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals. The deadline for submitting nominations will end on January 15, 2025.