Organised by The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) in collaboration with UNHCR, SIARA will award AED500,000 to an organisation that demonstrates tangible and sustainable impact on the lives of refugees and displaced communities.

The 10th recipient will join nine previous organisations recognised for strengthening protection, inclusion, opportunity and long-term resilience for displaced communities. The winning organisation will be announced and honoured at the award ceremony on 25 November 2026.

Africa and Asia account for more than 96% of nominations

Africa recorded the most nominations, with 465, followed by Asia with 244. Together, the two regions accounted for 709 nominations, representing more than 96% of the total.

North America recorded 17 nominations, Europe nine, and Oceania one.

Nigeria ranked first with 113 nominations, followed by Uganda with 95, Kenya with 70, Pakistan with 61 and Afghanistan with 43. The five countries accounted for 382 nominations, or nearly 52% of all submissions, while the remaining 354 nominations came from 52 other countries.

The distribution reflects strong participation by countries closely connected to major displacement crises, alongside a wider range of humanitarian approaches from around the world.

SIARA's 10th edition

Mariam Al Hammadi, Advisory Board Member of The Big Heart Foundation, said the 10th edition builds on SIARA's legacy of recognising humanitarian organisations that deliver lasting impact.

She said the nine previous recipients demonstrated that humanitarian action can take many forms, including protection, education, healthcare, employment, clean energy, digital access and community spaces, and that it can turn immediate responses into wider and more lasting change.

Al Hammadi added that SIARA is seeking an organisation whose work is grounded in the realities of displaced communities and that enables people to rebuild their lives with greater agency and independence.

Nine previous recipients

The 2026 winner will join nine previous recipients whose work spans safety and recovery, belonging and inclusion, and economic agency.

Yemen's Sustainable Development Foundation, Malaysia's Dignity for Children Foundation, Lebanon's Amel Association International and Kenya's RefuSHE were recognised for their work across education, healthcare, protection, shelter, livelihoods and psychosocial support.

Malawi's Tumaini Letu and Jordan's 7Hills for Social Development strengthened belonging through culture and community participation, while Talent Beyond Boundaries, Nigeria's LightEd Impact Foundation and Konexio Africa created pathways to employment through skilled migration, clean energy and digital skills.

Selection process

The selection is taking place as 117.8 million people remain forcibly displaced worldwide, according to UNHCR's latest Global Trends Report.

The annual AED500,000 prize is fully funded by TBHF and does not draw on public donations to the Foundation. It provides financial support to strengthen the recipient's work, along with international recognition and an opportunity to share its approach with a wider humanitarian audience.

Nominations opened on 12 November 2025 and closed on 13 February 2026. Submissions are assessed through a multi-stage process involving TBHF, UNHCR and experts from humanitarian work, academia, philanthropy and the private sector.

The evaluation considers tangible impact, the significance of the gaps addressed, gender sensitivity, sustainability, the organisation's record of developing practical solutions, and the potential effect of the award on its future work.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, the selection of the 2026 winner will mark the 10th recipient of the SIARA award since its launch in 2017.