The Robert Burns Humanitarian Awards aims to recognise those who have improved the lives of others

A global search is underway to find people who inspire others.

The Robert Burns Humanitarian Awards (RBHA) 2018 aim to honour humanitarians who bring hope, inspiration and transform lives - at home or abroad.

Organisers are accepting nominations to help recognise those who have saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through personal self-sacrifice, selfless service or direct humanitarian work.

Douglas Campbell, chair of the RBHA judging panel, said: “We’ve welcomed some truly inspirational people to the awards in the last 15 years and I’m sure the 2018 winner will prove to be a fascinating and inspirational individual.

“While people may not see what they do as anything other than their job, so many times in the past the work we have honoured has helped to transform communities, and in some cases has liberated people from repression.

"Named after Robert Burns, the spirit of the award honours his legacy as someone who viewed everyone as equal, and lived his life as a true humanitarian.”

The 2017 winner was Marcelline Budza who founded the women's coffee producing association Rebuild Women's Hope (RWH) in 2013. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country considered the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman, she has helped many women regain their economic empowerment as coffee farmers.