The UNDP Equator Initiative Prize

In December 2015, we were awarded the prestigious UNDP Equator Initiative Prize at COP21 in Paris.

The prize was awarded by the UNDP Equator Initiative.

The Equator Initiative

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The Equator Initiative seeks to:

Recognize the success of local and indigenous initiatives,
Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice,
Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local and indigenous community action, and
Develop the capacity of local and indigenous initiatives to scale-up their impact.

The Equator Initiative accomplishes these goals through three action areas:

The Equator Prize is awarded biennially to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. As local and indigenous groups across the world chart a path towards sustainable development, the Equator Prize shines a spotlight on their efforts by honoring them on an international stage.

Equator Dialogues are an ongoing series of community-driven meetings and exchanges, held in conjunction with related international forums. Equator Dialogues provide opportunities for people to share experiences, develop capacities and influence policy.

Equator Knowledge is a research, documentation and learning program focused on local best practice in sustainable development. The Equator Initiative works with partners to identify, document, and analyze the success factors of local best practice, and to catalyze ongoing peer-to-peer learning, knowledge exchange and replication of best practice.

In 2013 the Equator Initiative was invited to incorporate the World Network for Indigenous and Local Community Land and Sea Managers (WIN).

WIN is a network that brings together indigenous peoples and local community land and sea managers to share their knowledge and practices in managing ecosystems, protecting the environment and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

The Equator Initiative provides opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities around the world to address the challenges of land degradation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement in a socially equitable manner. It also ensures a connection is made between local actors on the ground, national governments and international policy makers.