Runa Khan, the founder and executive director of non-government organisation Friendship, has received the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award for her contributions to improving the lives of marginalised and climate-vulnerable populations.

The prestigious award is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Asia”.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 edition of the award on Monday in the Philippines capital Manila. The award is named after the seventh president of the Philippines and is awarded on his birthday.

The awards will officially be presented to the winners at a ceremony at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Nov 15.

The foundation says it presents the awards to recipients whose work reflects the values associated with Magsaysay’s leadership, including a commitment to serving others, creating opportunities for communities, and helping people shape their own futures.