Selecting the Laureates

Jury members during the 2020 Jury Meeting in Cologne, Germany, credit: Right Livelihood. Below: Executive Director Ole von Uexkull announcing the 2020 Laureates at a press conference at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, credit: Stina Stjernkvist

Our research process helps our Jury choose the most innovative change-makers from all walks of life.

We receive nominations for the Right Livelihood Award from all regions in the world, covering a variety of topics. This allows us to acquire a sense of what people around the world perceive to be the most urgent problems – and crucially, who is working to solve them.

Each year, we manage upwards of 100 nominations for the Award. During a thorough research process, which lasts roughly from March until September, we build a clear understanding of the nominees’ activities, achievements and reputation among relevant stakeholders. We collect this information by reaching out to independent experts for comment and conducting background research and literature reviews. In some cases, we visit nominees in person to observe their work on the ground first-hand. All information gathered from this process is kept fully confidential.

Following our research, detailed reports are written and submitted to our Board and Jury. It is our Jury that ultimately decides on the year’s Laureates. Composed of Right Livelihood Board members, previous Laureates and their representatives, the Jury meets each September to select the Laureates in a unanimous decision. Their decision is later announced at a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

Jury members

  • Nnimmo Bassey

    2010 Laureate


  • Paul Walker

    Board Member


  • Jamila Raqib

    Legacy holder for Gene Sharp (2012 Laureate)


  • Juliane Kronen

    Board Member


  • Juan Pablo Orrego

    1998 Laureate


  • Gunilla Hallonsten

    Chair of the Board


  • Joshua Castellino


  • Glorene Das

    2005 Laureate Tenaganita


  • Luisa Neubauer

    Credit: Oguz Yilmaz


  • Mozn Hassan

    2016 Laureate


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