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THE UNHCR NANSEN REFUGEE AWARD

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Each year, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award recognizes several individuals, groups or organizations that have taken extraordinary action to protect and assist refugees, internally displaced or stateless people.
Seven people pose for a photo on a stage. They're holding framed certificates.
© UNHCR/Anne-Laure Lechat

The nomination period for the 2025 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is now closed. We will begin accepting nominations for 2026 early next year.

Learn more about the prize and last year’s winners below. 

The 2025 global laureate will receive a commemorative medal and a monetary prize of US$100,000 to be reinvested in the humanitarian initiatives for which they are being recognized. Several regional winners will receive a smaller monetary prize to further their humanitarian work. 

A man in a colorful outfit.

Martin Azia Sodea, chief of Gado-Badzéré village, Cameroon, is the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award’s 2025 Global Laureate.

©UNHCR/Charity Nzomo
A man walks in the middle of a warehouse
© UNHCR/Jeoffrey Guillemard
A woman stands in the middle of a classroom full of young students

Negara Nazari, 2025 Regional winner Asia and the Pacific, with her students at the Ariana Learning Center.

© UNHCR/Elyor Nemat
A group of people wearing the same blue vest

Andrii Surzhan, field worker, Proliska office in Dnipro, and Alyona Sinaeva Psychologist, and other staff during an all staff meeting at Proliska office in Dnipro.

© UNHCR/Nikola Ivanovski
A woman standing in the middle of a street

Taban Shoresh, founder of The Lotus Flower and 2025 Nansen Refugee Award winner for the Middle East and North Africa. 
 

©UNHCR/David Alexander

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The 2025 global laureate is Martin Azia Sodea, chief of the Gado-Badzéré village in eastern Cameroon. Martin Azia Sodea has shown exceptional dedication and leadership. He and his family welcomed over 36,000 refugees from the Central African Republic to his village. They donated land for housing and farming, turning Gado-Badzéré into a hub for fresh produce and self-reliance. He has established support networks for refugee women and youth, regularly resolves disputes, and has created a safe, thriving community.

In addition, four regional winners have been named and will take part in the ceremony in Geneva: Pablo Moreno Cadena (Americas), Negara Nazari (Asia and the Pacific), Proliska (Europe) and Taban Shoresh (Middle East and North Africa).

For 71 years, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award has recognized those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect forcibly displaced and stateless people.

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Learn more about the 2025 winners and their inspirational stories here

Any questions?

Find responses to common questions regarding the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, the nomination process, the ceremony, how to get involved, and more.

Visit our FAQ page