New York, 11 August 2022 (TDI): The 13th Equator Prize winners were announced by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and partners, honoring ten indigenous people and local communities from nine different countries.
Congratulations to @UNDP‘s #EquatorPrize 2022 winners! 🎉
These ten Indigenous peoples & local communities represent the power of local action for #SustDev
🙏 for your commitment to a sustainable future #ForPeopleForPlanet. #IndigenousPeoplesDay 👉https://t.co/soG2cllrAg pic.twitter.com/vPLutVQaPY
— Achim Steiner (@ASteiner) August 9, 2022
The Equator Prize, organized by the Equator initiative within UNDP, is awarded biennially to honor exceptional community efforts to reduce poverty through the preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The winning organizations showcase how creative, nature-based solutions may encourage local communities to achieve their development objectives.
While fostering community resilience, even during times of economic, environmental, political, and public health crises, they can reach up to their development goals.
Moreover, the winners’ announcement also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Equator initiative, which has thus far recognized 264 winners.
Honoring the role of Indigenous Women
The winners this year highlight “the Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge,” which is the theme of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this year serves as a timely reminder of the profound changes that are urgently needed.
As well as the importance of supporting women in the intergenerational transmission of knowledge at the heart of Indigenous identity, culture, and heritage.
Also read: FAO highlights the role of indigenous women
Furthermore, four of this year’s Equator Prize winners are women-led initiatives. All ten winners advocate gender equality in their communities and also demonstrate the value of placing traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions at the core of local development.
Accelerating efforts to conserve and repair the world ecosystem is crucial at the current moment as we’re dealing with unprecedented planetary catastrophes. Nevertheless, indigenous women are at the forefront and leading the effort in this regard.
The traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples & local communities is crucial to finding solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as biodiversity loss & the climate crisis.@UNDP‘s 2022 #EquatorPrize winners are a beacon of hope for all. https://t.co/R80ycRbTMb
— United Nations (@UN) August 10, 2022
Rewards for the winners
The Winners of the Equator Prize were chosen from a pool of over 500 nominees from 109 countries. The winners are from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Panama, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Mozambique, and Argentina.
Moreover, winners will get the chance to participate in a series of exclusive virtual events related to the UN General Assembly, the UNDP Nature for Life Hub, COP 27 in Egypt, and COP 15 in Montreal in addition. Additionally, they will also be receiving the US $10,000 in prize money.
