Every two years, the UNESCO Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum prize rewards three candidates from around the world who have shown outstanding achievement in enhancing the performance and effectiveness of teachers in developing countries or within marginalized or disadvantaged communities. The prize aims to support, encourage and benefit those working to improve the quality of teaching towards Education for All. It attaches particular importance to outstanding practices in developing countries and aims to facilitate the global sharing of best practices regarding teachers.

This year the prize was awarded to the Ali Institute of Education (Pakistan), the Center of Excellence for Teacher Training (Dominican Republic) and the Centre Congolais Education pour Tous (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The value of the award is US$ 270,000 to be divided between the three winners.

An international jury made its pre-selection in Dubai in December 2009. The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, attended the prize giving ceremony, which was held in Dubai on 27 April.