The World Future Council (WFC) is calling for nominations for the World Future Policy Award 2027, which will focus on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Cities. The award seeks to identify and raise global awareness of innovative policies that use education and community-based learning to help cities become more sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
The award recognises laws, policies, provisions and frameworks at national, subnational, regional or local level. Nominated policies should demonstrate approaches that can contribute to sustainable development and potentially be replicated in other contexts.
About the Organization
The World Future Council is an international organisation that works to place the interests of future generations at the centre of policymaking. Its work focuses on identifying and promoting policy solutions that can address major challenges affecting present and future generations.
The award is being organised with support from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), which works with countries on lifelong learning, inclusive education, skills and learning ecosystems. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is also among the institutional partners supporting the award.
What policies are being sought?
Nominations are encouraged for policies that address one or more of the following areas through a community-based learning framework:
- Greening cities
- Digital inclusion strategies
- Civic participation, particularly participatory budgeting
The nominated policies should also:
- Align with the World Future Council’s 7 Future Justice Principles.
- Take diverse and inclusive perspectives into account.
- Reflect the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous and local communities where relevant.
- Be capable of being replicated in similar contexts.
- Demonstrate transformative, innovative or inspiring approaches.
The organisers are particularly interested in policies involving Indigenous and local communities and reflecting their worldviews, cultural perspectives and socio-legal contexts.
Who can nominate?
The call welcomes nominations from representatives of:
- International organisations
- Universities and academic institutions
- NGOs and civil society organisations
- Parliaments
- National or local governments
- Government agencies
- Indigenous communities
- Local communities
- Other relevant organisations and stakeholders
This means the opportunity is not an individual scholarship or grant. A nominee should put forward an existing policy, law, framework or provision that meets the award’s criteria.
What does the award offer?
The World Future Policy Award aims to give exemplary policies international visibility and recognition, while sharing successful approaches with policymakers, civil society and the wider public.
Finalists are expected to be announced in May or June 2027, with winning policies celebrated at a high-level award ceremony held jointly with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning during the International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC) in 2027.
Eligible Countries
Worldwide.
Policies from different countries and at different levels of governance can be nominated, provided they meet the award’s criteria. The call specifically recognises national, subnational, regional and local policies.
Deadline
30 September 2026
Note: The official page currently displays 30 September 2026 as the nomination deadline. Applicants should use the live nomination form and official page for the latest deadline information.
