The Manuel Castillo Awards aim to stimulate academic and journalistic research in the field of cooperation and human development. They have the purpose of promoting and encouraging the results of the research, and the orientation of its written or audiovisual format, to be directly related to development cooperation, providing knowledge, revealing capabilities or denouncing human rights and human sustainable development aggression.

Manuel Castillo's biography is that of a character ahead of his time. Born in 1870, in a difficult social environment, he graduated in Philosophy and Letters, worked as a librarian in Salamanca and as a French teacher in Cáceres and Valencia.

His social concern led him to promote editorial and journalistic initiatives. In addition to teaching, he continued his philanthropic activities and was a member of the Provincial Board for the Protection of Minors and a director of the Caixa de Ahorros and Monte de Piedad de València at the proposal of the Minister of Labor. From both institutions, he supported such outstanding social works as the Godella Youth Reformatory, the Valencian Charity Association or various nursing homes. Likewise, Manuel Castillo continued with his journalistic activities.

Professor Manuel Castillo practiced in Valencia and later had to go into exile in Mexico. From there he transmitted to his children the will to leave his legacy at the University in order to promote studies on peace and cooperation between nations.