Anthropology for Humankind Excellence Award

Recognizing Transformative Contributions to Humanity

Introduction and Purpose

The Anthropological Association for Humankind (AAfH) is proud to announce the establishment of the Anthropology for Humankind Excellence Award, an honor conceived to recognize and celebrate individuals whose outstanding contributions have meaningfully advanced the cause of human dignity, cultural understanding, and social well-being.

Rooted in the vision of anthropology as a deeply human science, this award seeks to spotlight those who have bridged theory and practice to serve humanity—whether through groundbreaking research, transformative fieldwork, committed social service, ethical administration, or compassionate investigation.

Why This Award Matters

In a world marked by complex challenges—from climate change and displacement to inequality and cultural erosion—there is a pressing need to acknowledge those who respond with insight, integrity, and impact. The Anthropology for Humankind Excellence Award honors such changemakers, whose life’s work uplifts communities, informs policy, enriches public understanding, and creates sustainable paths toward justice and resilience.

Who We Honor

This award recognizes a wide range of contributors to the human story:

• Accomplished Anthropologists whose scholarship illuminates the diverse ways humans adapt, resist, and thrive;
• Social Workers whose compassion translates into concrete improvements in lives and livelihoods;
• Administrators who have upheld and implemented human-centered values in governance and institutional leadership;
• Investigators whose research and inquiry have led to ethical interventions and empowered communities.
• Each recipient embodies the ethos of Anthropology for Humankind—a commitment to the flourishing of all people, cultures, and ecologies.

Vision Forward

With this award, the AAfH reaffirms its dedication to fostering a global anthropological community rooted in collaboration, care, and courage. We believe that honoring excellence is not merely a gesture of recognition—it is a call to inspire the next generation of scholars, practitioners, and public leaders to serve with insight, integrity, and impact.

Announcement: Call for Nominations – Awards

The Anthropological Association for Humankind (AAfH) is proud to announce that, as part of the World Applied Anthropology Congress – WAAC 2026, we will honor senior anthropologists who have made outstanding contributions to nation-building through their deep theoretical insights and practical applications of anthropology.

These individuals have positively impacted diverse fields by advancing anthropological knowledge to inform effective policy design, implementation, and evaluation at local, national, and global levels.

In this spirit, AAfH invites nominations for a series of awards, honors, and scholarships to recognize:

• Distinguished Senior Anthropologists for their lifetime contributions
• Emerging Scholars and Practitioners who are innovating in applied anthropology
• Students and Early-Career Researchers through dedicated scholarships and fellowships

This is a unique opportunity to celebrate and support individuals shaping the future of anthropology in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

Detailed guidelines and nomination forms will be available shortly on our official WAAC-2026 website.

Let us come together to honour excellence and inspire the next generation of applied anthropologists.