Applications are officially open for the 2026 Global Citizen Waislitz Awards, a globally recognized initiative that rewards individuals making significant contributions toward ending extreme poverty. The awards, presented annually by the Global Citizen and the Waislitz Foundation, are accepting submissions until June 14, 2026.

Now celebrating its twelfth year, the awards offer a total prize pool of $300,000, recognizing innovative leaders and changemakers whose work is creating measurable social impact in communities around the world.

The awards aim to spotlight individuals who are developing scalable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, healthcare inequality, education access, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment.

$300,000 Available Across Three Major Awards

The 2026 edition features three separate prizes worth $100,000 each. Winners will also receive international recognition through editorial features and social media exposure across Global Citizen’s global platform.

The available awards include:

Global Citizen Waislitz Prize
- Awarded to an individual who demonstrates excellence across all evaluation criteria.
- Prize value: $100,000.
Disruptor Award
- Recognizes an individual whose work demonstrates exceptional innovation and disruption in addressing poverty-related challenges.
- Prize value: $100,000.
Global Citizens’ Choice Award
- Selected with input from online voting by the Global Citizen community.
- Prize value: $100,000.

According to the organizers, the awards are designed to empower social innovators and provide the financial support necessary to expand successful interventions that improve lives.

Awards Focus on Innovation and Impact

Applicants will be evaluated using five key criteria that measure both the effectiveness and long-term potential of their initiatives.

Global Citizenship

Applicants must demonstrate how their work embodies the principles and values of global citizenship, including social responsibility, community engagement, and commitment to addressing global challenges.

Proof of Concept

Candidates must provide evidence of a successful project or initiative that has generated measurable impact for at least one to two years in efforts to combat extreme poverty.

Disruption

Judges will assess how applicants have introduced innovative solutions that challenge or transform systems that perpetuate poverty.

Scalability

Applicants should demonstrate how receiving the award would help expand or strengthen their work, allowing them to reach more communities and beneficiaries.

Adaptability

The judging panel will also evaluate the ability of applicants to adapt their approaches in response to changing conditions and emerging challenges.

Alex Waislitz Highlights Commitment to Ending Poverty

Speaking about the mission behind the awards, Alex Waislitz emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing poverty.

He stated that ending extreme poverty is not a choice but an obligation and expressed hope that the awards would inspire thousands of people worldwide to take meaningful action to improve living standards for vulnerable populations.

The Melbourne-based Waislitz Foundation supports projects that create measurable social impact and empower individuals to reach their full potential through innovative solutions.

Previous Winners Showcase Global Impact

Over the years, the awards have recognized entrepreneurs, innovators, and social leaders from across Africa, Asia, and other regions who are developing practical solutions to poverty.

Recent winners include:

2025: Osei Boateng, founder of the OKB Hope Foundation in Ghana, which has provided healthcare services to more than 10,000 people across rural communities.
2024: Dysmus Kisilu, whose solar-powered cold storage technology helps Kenyan farmers reduce post-harvest losses and increase productivity.
2023: Peter Njeri, recognized for converting plastic waste into clean cooking gas for low-income households in Kenya.
2022: Kristin Kagetsu, whose social enterprise improves access to sustainable menstrual hygiene products in India.
2021: Bina Shrestha, whose affordable housing initiative supports safe and environmentally friendly construction practices.

Earlier winners include social innovators such as Haroon Yasin, Charlot Magayi, Koketso Moeti, Wilma Rodrigues, Clarisse Uwineza, Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, and Anoop Jain.

Who Can Apply?

The Global Citizen Waislitz Awards are open to individuals who are leading impactful initiatives aimed at reducing or eliminating extreme poverty. The program welcomes applicants from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds, provided they can demonstrate measurable results and a strong vision for scaling their work.

Successful applicants typically have:

Proven social impact.
Innovative approaches to solving poverty-related challenges.
Evidence of sustainability and scalability.
Strong leadership and community engagement.
A commitment to creating lasting change.

Deadline for Applications

Interested candidates must submit their applications before June 14, 2026.

The Global Citizen Waislitz Awards continue to serve as a major platform for recognizing and supporting individuals who are developing transformative solutions to poverty. By combining financial support, global visibility, and community engagement, the initiative aims to accelerate progress toward a world free from extreme poverty.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.