The Prince Claus Fund was established in 1996 and named after Prince Claus of the Netherlands, the late husband of Queen Beatrix. It is annually subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since 1997, the Fund has annually presented the international Prince Claus Awards to recognize individuals and organizations noted for their contemporary approaches to culture and development. Recipients are primarily based in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The recipients are selected by a jury composed of experts from fields related to the promotion of culture and development.

The jury evaluates candidates based on the cultural and social impact of their work, as well as its overall quality. The Prince Claus Fund defines culture broadly, including artistic and intellectual disciplines, science, media, and education.

The Principal Award, valued at €100,000, is presented each December during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Additional awards, each valued at €25,000, are presented in December and January at Dutch embassies in the recipients' respective countries.

Each year, the Fund publishes a book that includes the awards speech delivered by one of the Honorary Chairmen, an excerpt from a lecture by a leading thinker, the jury's report, and analyses of the laureates' work by experts in their respective fields.

The winners of the 1997 awards embody the policy aims of the Prince Claus Fund: Exceptional work in the field of culture and development in Asia, Latin America and notably in Africa.

The Committee had Adriaan van der Staay, Lolle Nauta, Anil Ramdas.