Muhammad Yunus Receives Hillary Rodham Clinton Award

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus has received the prestigious Hillary Rodham Clinton Award in the United States.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the award to Yunus at a ceremony held at Gaston Hall at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on October 15. Georgetown University's Institute for Women, Peace and Security confirmed Yunus as one of this year's award recipients.

The other recipients of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award this year were Reema Nanavaty, director of India's Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), and fashion designer Tory Burch, founder of the Tory Burch Foundation. Muna Sukhtian, board chair of Jordan's Microfund for Women, received the Georgetown Ambassadors Award.

During the ceremony, Clinton praised Yunus's work through Grameen Bank and its contribution to women's economic empowerment. She said she had personally witnessed how the bank's programmes helped women become financially independent and strengthen their security and empowerment. She also highlighted how Yunus's work had expanded beyond Bangladesh.

Accepting the award, Yunus described the recognition as an acknowledgement of five decades of work. He said the ceremony would send an important message to Bangladesh and inspire families associated with Grameen Bank.

Microcredit and Women's Empowerment
Yunus said microcredit had helped people living in extreme poverty work towards financial independence. He highlighted the importance of supporting women so they could make their own decisions, strengthen their economic position and improve their families' financial circumstances.

According to Yunus, women borrowers have become more confident in expressing their needs and addressing their problems. He also noted that Grameen Bank is owned by its borrowers.

Speaking about the next generation, Yunus encouraged young people to become entrepreneurs rather than focus solely on finding jobs. He emphasised the idea: “We are not job seekers; we are job creators.” He said starting businesses could help create employment opportunities for others.

Social Business and Healthcare
Yunus also discussed social business, describing it as an approach focused on solving social problems rather than maximising personal profit.

He said funds associated with social business were supporting the development of hospitals, healthcare centres and eye hospitals in different parts of Bangladesh. According to Yunus, any surplus generated by these institutions is reinvested in healthcare services.

Education and Entrepreneurship
Criticising the current education system, Yunus argued that education should develop creativity and entrepreneurial ability rather than prepare students only for employment.

He expressed hope that Grameen University would launch by the end of this year. According to Yunus, the institution aims to encourage students to become entrepreneurs and provide support, including financing, to help them start businesses.

He said the university could also contribute to his vision of a “Three Zeros” world: zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.