Announcing the Equator Prize 2021

The Equator Initiative partners the United Nations with governments, civil societies, businesses, and grassroots organizations to recognize advancements in sustainable development solutions. Each year they award the Equator Prize to those who have shown outstanding community and Indigenous initiatives. Now, the search is on to find nominees for the Equator Prize 2021. Winning initiatives will be honored for their successes in protecting, restoring, or sustainably managing biodiversity for positive development outcomes. With the nomination deadline set for May 10th, 2021, the Equator Prize committee is now looking for candidates. 

Three categories take priority in consideration:

Action on Sustainable Food Systems
Protection, restoration and/or sustainable management of natural and agricultural ecosystems for food security.

Action on Climate
Protection, restoration and/or sustainable management of ecosystems that help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and/or help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Action on Nature and Green Economy
Protection, restoration and/or sustainable management of terrestrial or marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and/or wildlife that enables sustainable and green livelihoods, enterprises, and jobs, including Indigenous economies

Special consideration will be given to nominees working on ecosystem integrity and intactness, water security, disaster risk reduction, advocacy for land and water rights, social and environmental justice, and gender equality. Winners of the  Equator Prize 2021 will join a prestigious network of 255 leading community-based organizations from 83 countries that have been awarded the prize since 2002. Each Equator Prize recipient will receive $10,000 (USD) and will be supported to participate in a series of policy dialogues and special events in the fall of 2021.

Last year, ten winners were awarded the esteemed prize from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Myanmar, Guatemala, Ecuador, Madagascar, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, and Canada. Vie Sauvage created and manages a 4,875 square kilometer reserve for the bonobo and other endangered species, while Mujeres y Ambiente supports women entrepreneurs to grow their agricultural businesses and engages in biodiversity conservation, restoration, stabilization of soils, and nursery cultivation. Through this prize, the Equator Initiative creates opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practices, develops capacities of local communities and Indigenous peoples, informs policy through convening multi-stakeholder dialogues, and fosters enabling environments to replicate and scale up community action.

Nominations may be submitted through the Equator Initiative’s online nomination system.