Applications open for Princess Basma Award for Human Development

AMMAN – Entries for the 2017 Princess Basma Award for Human Development and Community Services, which honours social entrepreneurship schemes implemented by individuals or institutions, have opened. 

Organised by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), the award is open to those who developed solutions to social or environmental issues, according to organisers. 

At a press conference on Tuesday, Amal Sabbagh, the head of the award’s committee, stressed the importance of this year’s theme, which focuses on the role of entrepreneurship in developing local communities and bringing about positive change.

“The award targets ventures that are implemented by individuals or corporations, working in line with the sustainable development goals, to address pressing challenges, namely poverty and unemployment,” she noted.

Launched by JOHUD in 2011, the annual award aims to encourage citizens to actively participate in developing their communities and country. 

The prize reflects the principles embodied by Princess Basma’s development work, which places people at the centre of the development process and encourages them to play a role in defining and pursuing their own needs.

Muhannad Jarrah, a member of the award’s committee, said the panel chose social entrepreneurship as the focus of this year’s award out of a belief that the concept is based on a practical and innovative approach that seeks to adopt a social issue and resolve it through an economic scheme, combining profit with altruistic work. 

The winning schemes will be evaluated according to criteria that take into account the project’s innovation, mechanisms of implementation, contribution to addressing a social issue, sustainability and ability to realise tangible results, according to the organisers. 

The award enables owners of pioneering schemes to continue their projects and develop them through networking with institutions that support such ventures.  

Those wishing to take part in the award can fill out an application on the award’s website: www.pbaward.org or send the application to the following e-mail: p.basma-award@johud.org.jo. 

The application can also be directly submitted to JOHUD’s headquarters.

The deadline for receiving the entries is July 10.