On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the ten winners of the Equator Prize 2025 through its Equator Initiative. The prize honors Indigenous and local community-led initiatives that provide nature-based solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience. This year’s recipients come from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania—countries where communities are at the forefront of climate action.
The winners were selected from over 700 nominations across 103 countries, aligning with the 2025 theme, “Nature for Climate Action.” Special attention was given to initiatives led by women and youth. These awardees are recognized for efforts that restore critical ecosystems, foster biodiversity, promote sustainable livelihoods, and ensure a just transition to inclusive, nature-based economies. Their work is grounded in traditional knowledge systems and emphasizes the leadership of Indigenous Peoples in building climate-resilient communities.
Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, stated that the 2025 winners exemplify how Indigenous knowledge and local stewardship are essential for a sustainable future. With the inclusion of these new winners, the Equator Prize network now represents over 300 grassroots organizations from 84 countries. Each of the ten winners will receive USD 10,000 and will be honored in a high-level virtual ceremony later this year. They will also have the opportunity to participate in global forums, including the UN General Assembly and COP30 in Brazil.
The winning initiatives span diverse ecosystems and challenges. In Argentina, COMAR supports over 2,600 Indigenous women through sustainable craft production. Brazil’s Uasei Association has created an Indigenous-led açaí value chain to boost income and biodiversity protection. Ecuador’s Hakhu Amazon Foundation promotes Indigenous rights through decolonial education and women-led environmental protection. India’s Bibifathima Self Help Group champions millet-based agriculture and solar innovation, while Indonesia’s Mitra BUMMA and Ranu Welum Foundation lead forest and peatland conservation through community enterprise and youth activism.
In Kenya, Nature and People As One (NaPO) uses traditional techniques to restore drylands and empower pastoralist communities. Papua New Guinea’s Sea Women of Melanesia train Indigenous women in marine science and coral reef conservation. Peru’s Cuyocuyo Terraces initiative safeguards thousands of native crops across ancient Andean agricultural systems. Lastly, Tanzania’s SOA TANZANIA combines youth leadership, marine restoration, and sustainable seaweed farming to protect ocean ecosystems and uplift coastal communities.
Together, the Equator Prize 2025 winners highlight that effective, scalable solutions to the global climate and biodiversity crises are rooted in local knowledge, community leadership, and ecological stewardship. Their work not only preserves natural heritage but also secures livelihoods and cultural continuity in some of the most vulnerable regions of the world.
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