Oslo/New York, August 9 – The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has won the 2022 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which is worth $2.5 million, for its work in advocating for displaced people who are seeking a future, including support provided to 10 million people in 2021.
The Hilton Foundation (see Conrad N. Hilton Foundation) said in a news release that it has to date awarded more than $41 million to recipients of the prize. It is also the world’s largest annual humanitarian award presented to a non-profit which recognizes extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering.
The NRC now has joined the roster of 26 Prize Laureates, including CAMFED, Homeboy Industries, METAdrasi, SHOFCO, icddr,b and The Task Force for Global Health, among others. the world’s largest annual humanitarian award presented to a non-profit which recognizes extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering.
(From the news release)
Peter Laugharn, president and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, said: “The Norwegian Refugee Council’s work is imperative right now in terms of the organization’s ability to reach people in the most difficult of circumstances, and to do so at scale. The Jury’s selection of the Norwegian Refugee Council as the recipient of the 2022 Hilton Humanitarian Prize recognizes the importance of advocating for displaced people as they build a new future.”
On the award, Jan Egeland, Secretary General of NRC, said: “We are honored to receive this prestigious humanitarian prize at a time when we are challenged like never before in reaching, aiding and protecting people forced to flee war and repression. We are witnessing one devastating crisis on top of the other, authoritarian regimes and brutal armed actors trying to block our access to those in need and donor purse strings being tightened, leaving aid budgets decimated. This makes the support and recognition from private sector donors such as the Hilton Foundation vital. The world’s displaced must not be overlooked or forgotten.”
Since its foundation in 1946, NRC has effectively and courageously protected the rights of people who are displaced by violence and find themselves in extreme vulnerability during crisis.
NRC works for civilians in armed conflict, prioritizing neglected and hard-to-reach areas where access to assistance is limited, and increasingly supports people displaced by natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and generalized violence. The organization listens to people in need and collaborates with local organizations and communities to deliver a response that is solutions-orientated and tailored to the context.
NRC works in more than 35 countries around the world facing both new and protracted humanitarian crises. This year alone, the organization has mobilized efforts after the earthquake in Afghanistan, during the war in Ukraine and the deepening drought in Somalia to name a few. In 2021, NRC supported 10 million people worldwide. NRC’s work is driven by the needs of displaced people.
Each year, the Hilton Foundation reviews nomination submissions from non-profits throughout the world, and an independent, international panel of distinguished jurors makes the final selection after a rigorous vetting process.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said: “Awarding the 2022 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to the Norwegian Refugee Council is a recognition of their outstanding work with a wide range of stakeholders to ease human suffering. The United Nations values the long experience, skills and networks that the NRC brings to the table, as we work closely together to meet the needs of refugees and displaced people around the world.”
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “I congratulate the Norwegian Refugee Council on winning this year’s Hilton Humanitarian Prize. A long-standing and important partner of UNHCR, NRC is always on the front lines of crises, assisting refugees and other displaced people and making a critical difference to their lives. In a world where more than 100 million people are forced from their homes due to violence and persecution, I am happy to see that the tangible results of NRC’s work are recognised with this important prize.”
• More information about NRC can be found here.
• More information about the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation can be found here.
For inquiries, please contact:
• Norwegian Refugee Council:
Jessica Wanless, Global Media Adviser, jessica.wanless@nrc.no, +47 901 67 022.
Media Hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 90562329
• Conrad N. Hilton Foundation:
Cara Tripicchio and Marla Farrell, HiltonPrizeTeam@shelterpr.com
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