Graça Machel, Africa’s trailblazing politician and activist, is the chosen recipient of the 2025 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. The international jury, headed by Shivshankar Menon, salutes her decades-long battle for autonomy, rights, and better lives for the vulnerable.
Her dream of inclusive societies drives every endeavor, aligning perfectly with the award’s focus on peace and equity.
Born in rural Mozambique in 1945, Machel’s education abroad sparked her fervor. Returning in 1973, she joined liberation efforts and taught. Independence brought her role as first Education Minister, where she skyrocketed enrollments—near-universal for boys, strong gains for girls.
On the world stage, her UN-led report on children in conflict zones revolutionized aid strategies, winning her UN and UK honors.
From founding The Elders to launching anti-child marriage initiatives, advising UN goals, and leading African forums and institutes, Machel’s reach is vast. Her trusts advance women’s finances, food security, and child growth, highlighted by WHO’s 2018 supreme award.
Celebrating her inspiration through education, health drives, and crisis humanity, the jury awards her this prize for profound global change.