Graca Machel, former Education and Culture Minister of Mozambique and an internationally recognised humanitarian, has been selected as the recipient of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced on Wednesday.
The decision was taken by the International Jury chaired by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Advisor and former Foreign Secretary of India. The award recognises Machel’s sustained contribution to peace, social justice and human rights, particularly in Southern Africa, according to an official statement issued by the Trust.
The jury cited her extensive work in education, health and nutrition, economic empowerment and humanitarian action, carried out under challenging socio-political conditions. The Trust said the award acknowledges her role in inspiring efforts toward building a more equitable and just global society.
Machel was born on October 17, 1945, in Mozambique. She received her early education at mission schools before moving to Portugal, where she studied German at the University of Lisbon. It was during this period that her political awareness regarding Mozambique’s struggle for independence developed. After returning to Mozambique in 1973, she joined the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), contributing as both a freedom fighter and an educator.
Following Mozambique’s independence in 1975, she was appointed the country’s first Minister of Education and Culture. During her tenure, the education sector saw a sharp expansion, with school enrolment rates increasing significantly. According to the jury, participation in primary and secondary education rose from about 40 per cent to over 90 per cent for boys and reached nearly 75 per cent for girls.
The jury noted that her influence extended beyond national governance into global policy spaces. Machel is a founding member of The Elders, a group of global leaders working on peace and human rights, and played a key role in the establishment of Girls Not Brides, an international initiative to end child marriage. She also serves on the United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group.
Her work has remained focused on children, youth and vulnerable populations. She is the Patron of the Africa Child Policy Forum and Chairperson of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies, positions through which she has continued to shape policy discussions on social protection and youth development.
In 2010, Machel founded the Graca Machel Trust to advance women’s economic empowerment, food security and good governance. She also established the Zizile Institute for Child Development, further reinforcing her commitment to child welfare and social equity.
Her contributions have received international recognition over the years. In 2018, she was awarded the World Health Organisation’s Gold Medal, the agency’s highest honour, for her work in improving the health and well-being of women and adolescents.
The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is awarded annually to individuals or institutions whose work reflects a commitment to international peace, development and social justice.
