The promotion of women's participation and contribution to the betterment of their families, communities and societies is essential for overall socio-economic development and progress.

In order to encourage the participation of women and increase opportunities for them to make their contributions to the society and be recognized for these contributions, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has decided to establish an annual prize for “Women’s Contribution in Development”, which will be awarded to the highest achieving woman, women’s group and/or organization in IDB member countries, or in Muslim communities in non-member countries.

The aim of the IDB’s “Women’s Contribution in Development Prize” is to recognize, reward and encourage an accomplishment of outstanding merit that was aimed at or resulted in integrating women in the development process. Such an activity must have made a significant and sustainable contribution to the general upliftment of women and impacted their socio-economic development at any level – including grassroots, family, entrepreneurial and/or organizational levels.

The IDB Women’s Contribution in Development Prize scheme consists of two (2) kinds of prizes to be awarded on the occasion of the Annual Meetings of the IDB Board of Governors.

One prize (US$ 50,000) is awarded to an individual woman or group of individual women, and another prize (US$ 100,000) for a national or international NGO or women organization in IDB member countries or in non-member countries.

For details on the award and how to nominate candidates for the award, click here . Deadline for applications: 15th Februrary 2009.