(Abu Dhabi – 4 February 2026): Taawon has been honored with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 at a formal ceremony held at the Zayed Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
This recognition comes in appreciation of the organization’s development approach spanning more than four decades, founded on the belief that enabling the Palestinian people to live with dignity and safeguarding their right to a better future cannot be achieved through emergency responses alone, but rather through long-term sustainable programs that promote education, health, livelihoods, and community capacity building.
On this occasion, Dr. Nabil Hani Qaddumi, Chair of the Board of Taawon, said in his acceptance speech: “This honor does not belong to Taawon alone; it reflects the resilience of the Palestinian people and the efforts of our staff and partners, and serves as motivation to continue our journey. Since its establishment, the organization has adopted an approach that places the Palestinian people at the heart of every intervention, as active agents in development, not merely recipients of assistance.”
He added: “Today’s recognition of Taawon is consistent with the mission of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in upholding human dignity and strengthening social cohesion, and gives us greater determination to continue working for a better future for the children of Palestine and its people.”
Dr. Al-Qaddoumi also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous patronage, to His Excellency Mohammed Abdulsalam, Secretary-General of the Award, and to the distinguished judging committee composed of independent international experts and leaders, affirming that this global recognition highlights humanitarian and development priorities in Palestine and strengthens opportunities for partnerships that achieve greater sustainable impact.
Taawon operates as an independent Palestinian organization, rooted in and working with local communities through direct field presence in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, in addition to its central role in supporting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Its programs touch the lives of more than one million Palestinians annually.
Launched in 2019, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is a global platform that honors individuals and institutions that embody the values of human fraternity, peaceful coexistence, solidarity, and efforts to uphold human dignity. The award is presented annually on the fourth of February, coinciding with the International Day of Human Fraternity as recognized by the United Nations.
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Taawon is an independent, non-profit Palestinian organization founded in Geneva in 1983. As a development institution, Taawon works to strengthen the capacities of the Palestinian people, preserve their heritage and identity, and support their living culture. Through a systematic assessment of Palestinian needs and priorities and the effective mobilization of funding resources, Taawon focuses its efforts on education, culture, community development, and humanitarian relief to empower Palestinian communities and safeguarding their identity in Palestine and in the refugee camps of Lebanon.
www.taawon.org
