Previous Nansen Winners - UNHCR Israel
Previous Nansen Winners - UNHCR Israel
The first person to win the Nansen Refugee Award, in 1954, was Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and first chair of the UN Human Rights Commission. Over the years, more than 60 individuals, groups or organisations have received the Award for their extraordinary service to refugees and outstanding work on behalf of the displaced.
© UNHCR
Since 1979, Nansen Laureates started to receive a cash prize of USD 50,000 which has increased over time. In 2017, the winner received USD 150,000. The prize is generously donated by the governments of Norway and Switzerland.
The Nansen Refugee Award monetary prize aims at enabling its annual recipient to pursue a project to assist displaced people, developed in close consultation with UNHCR.
Since 2017, regional runners-up are also recognised for their humanitarian efforts.