As a member of the Jury Board of the HRH Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, Professor Wadouda Badran draws on extensive academic expertise and long-standing experience in advancing women’s empowerment across the Arab region.

Professor Badran is an academic and political scientist who serves as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Social Science Cluster at the British University in Egypt. She previously served as the first Director-General of the Arab Women Organization under the League of Arab States.

Reflecting on the importance of the Award, Professor Badran emphasized that recognizing efforts to empower women and girls is transformative. “The act of recognition serves as a powerful catalyst for systemic change. When we celebrate initiatives that empower women and girls, we are doing far more than distributing trophies; we are shifting the global narrative from one of deficit to one of agency,” she noted.

She also highlighted how the Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment contributes directly to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. “The Award is intrinsically linked to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, serving as a practical mechanism to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG 5 at its core. When women are empowered, poverty is reduced, health outcomes improve, and economic growth becomes more inclusive and resilient,” she explains.

Drawing on her experience as a jury member, Professor Badran describes what makes an application truly exceptional. “A standout application is not defined by the size of the budget, but by the clarity of the impact. We look for sustainability, measurability, innovation, and scalability. Ultimately, it must present a robust proof of concept that offers a scalable blueprint for the global community to emulate.”

She adds, “The most powerful applications convey a deep understanding of the intersectional barriers women face. They don’t treat women as a monolith. Instead, they demonstrate how they have tailored their approach to meet the specific needs of their target group. When an application can tell a coherent story that connects a specific challenge to a strategic action and a measurable, life-changing result, it immediately rises to the top of our list.”

Professor Badran explained that through its four categories, the public sector, the private sector, civil society, and individuals, the Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment continues to highlight impactful efforts from around the world, affirming that the winning initiatives in each edition not only demonstrate excellence but also contribute meaningfully to global progress on women’s empowerment.