Apply for the UNDP Equator Prize | $10,000 Award for Sustainable Community Solutions

What is the Equator Prize?

The Equator Prize, organized by the Equator Initiative under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a biennial award that recognizes exceptional community efforts to reduce poverty through biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices. These initiatives, rooted in local communities across the tropics, contribute to a global movement advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By celebrating the efforts of local and Indigenous groups, the Equator Prize highlights their impact on an international stage.

Selection Criteria

An independent Technical Advisory Committee evaluates nominations based on the following criteria:

• Impact: Demonstrates measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits aligned with at least two SDGs.
• Innovation: Introduces new models or approaches that overcome challenges and drive sustainable development.
• Scalability & Replicability: Can be expanded regionally, nationally, or replicated in other locations.
• Resilience & Self-Sufficiency: Shows adaptability to environmental, social, and economic changes while strengthening local capacity.
• Reducing Inequalities: Addresses income disparities and promotes inclusivity across gender, age, ability, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
• Social Inclusion: Actively involves diverse community members, including youth, elders, and Indigenous groups, in decision-making.
• Gender Equality: Advances the empowerment of women and girls.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Equator Prize, initiatives must meet the following requirements:

• Must have been active for at least three years.
• Must be led by a local community-based group in a rural area of a UNDP-supported country or by an Indigenous Peoples’ community in any country.
• Must be nature-based and contribute to at least two SDGs.

Eligible Initiatives

The Equator Prize is open to:
✔ Community-based organizations and associations
✔ Cooperatives and community enterprises
✔ Women’s associations
✔ Indigenous or ethnic minority groups
✔ Youth groups
✔ Non-governmental organizations

Eligible Countries

Local community-based groups must be from a UNDP-supported country.

• Eastern Europe & Central Asia
• Middle East & North Africa
• Latin America & the Caribbean
• Asia & the Pacific
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Global North (Indigenous communities only)

Nominate Now!

Celebrate and support community-led sustainable development—submit a nomination for the Equator Prize today!

For more details on the nomination process and past winners, visit our Equator Initiative website.