In 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded Tostan its King Sejong Literacy Prize.  The prize honors the activities of institutions or organizations "displaying merit and achieving particularly effective results in contributing to the fight for literacy."  The annual award, worth $20,000, recognizes excellence and innovation in literacy throughout the world.  Special consideration is given to "the creation, development and dissemination of mother-tongue languages in developing countries."

The theme of the 2007 award was literacy and its connection to health, especially literacy pertaining to general healthcare, nutrition, family and reproductive health, and health-related community development.  By integrating literacy and health education into its programs, Tostan significantly impacts all these areas.  Furthermore, all of Tostan's educational programs are taught in the local language, so villagers become literate in the language they have always heard.  According to Executive Director Molly Melching, "Tostan's Community Empowerment Program is rooted in a basic understanding of human rights, and literacy and health are two of the most fundamental [rights].  Our program gives participants not only the knowledge, but also the skills to act on those human rights and responsibilities."