Celebrating 150 years since the birth of Fridtjof Nansen,
the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Formerly known as the Nansen Medal, this award is named after the late Norwegian polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the winner of the 1922 Nobel Peace Prize.
Instituted in 1954, the Nansen Refugee Award is given annually to an individual or an organization in recognition of extraordinary and dedicated service to refugees and is the most prestigious honour conferred by UNHCR. Anybody can nominate someone or some organization for the Nansen Award. Whatever their creed, colour, age or profession, every winner put in extraordinary effort and time to help the forcibly displaced around the world. The award consists of a commemorative medal and a US$100,000 monetary prize donated by the governments of Norway and Switzerland.
More than 60 individuals, groups or organizations have won the Nansen Refugee Award since Eleanor Roosevelt became the first winner in 1954.
