The UNESCO-Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-‎Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice and ‎Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness ‎of Teachers was established in 2008‎‏ ‏and ‎funded by his Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin ‎Rashid Al-Maktoum. The purpose of the Prize ‎is to support, encourage and benefit those ‎working to enhance the performance and ‎effectiveness of teachers towards Education ‎for All (EFA), and to showcase and facilitate ‎the global sharing and dissemination of ‎outstanding practices related to teachers.‎

Every two years, the Prize reward three ‎candidates from around the world who have ‎shown outstanding achievement in enhancing ‎the performance and effectiveness of teachers ‎in developing countries or within marginalized ‎or disadvantaged communities from the wider ‎global context.‎

The Prize, generously supported by H.H ‎Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of the ‎United Arab Emirates. The value of the Prize is ‎US $300,000, divided between three winners. ‎The value of each award shall thus be US ‎‎$100,000.‎

Candidates may be individuals representing ‎institutions or organizations; international or ‎national governmental or non-governmental ‎organizations (NGOs); educational or research ‎institutions and local/national/regional ‎communities.‎