New York, Dec 5— The UNDP-led Equator Initiative announces a global call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2020. This worldwide outreach effort aims to identify exceptional local solutions for climate, people, and planet. The prize will be awarded to outstanding local community and indigenous peoples’ initiatives that advance nature-based solutions for sustain-able development. Nominations are open through 9 January 2020.

This eleventh cycle of the UNDP Equator Prize focuses on Nature for Life. It will recognize innovative initiatives from indigenous peoples and local communities that demonstrate exceptional achievements in the area of nature-based solutions for local sustainable development.

Each Equator Prize winner will receive USD 10,000 and will be supported to participate in a series of policy dialogues and special events during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, in June 2020.

The winning initiatives will be honored for their successes in protecting, restoring and/or sustainably managing biodiversity for positive development outcomes. The winners will also receive an opportunity to join a prestigious network of 245 leading community-based organizations from 81 countries that have been awarded the Equator Prize since 2002.

This year’s thematic priorities include:

•    Nature for Prosperity: 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.

•    Nature for Water: Protection, restoration and/or sustainable management of ecosystems for water security.

•    Nature for 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.

To access the online nomination system, please visit prize.equatorinitiative.org. Nominations may be submitted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.
For more news about the Equator Prize follow us on Facebook (@equatorinitiative), Twitter (@equatorinit) or Instagram (@equatorinitiative)

Media Contact: Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, UNDP New York, email: sangita.khadka@undp.org; Tel: +212 906 5043