New York, 22 August 2011 The Equator Initiative is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2012, which will recognize 25 outstanding local initiatives that are working to advance sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The 25 recipients of the Equator Prize 2012 will each receive $5,000 (USD), with 10 selected for special recognition and a total of $20,000 (USD). Representatives of winning communities will participate in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which will be held in Brazil in June 2012.
“Water and energy access, food security, and adaptation to climate change are the development challenges of our time,” she said, noting that new thematic prizes in these areas will reflect the 2012 emphasis on “resilient communities for sustainable development”.
Past award recipients have been grassroots organizations taking action to improve local wellbeing and livelihoods while protecting the environment through, for example, community-based forest management, small-scale fishing, wildlife protection, seed banks, sustainable energy and water access.
The Equator Prize – which has been endorsed by former heads of state Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway) and Oscar Arias (Costa Rica), philanthropist Ted Turner, a host of Nobel laureates, and celebrities like Gisele Bündchen and Edward Norton– will celebrate its 10-year anniversary next year.All 25 recipients of next year’s prize will receive US$5,000, with 10 selected for “special recognition” and a total of US $20,000 each.
Representatives of winning communities will participate at a community meeting in conjunction with the Rio+20 event where they will be celebrated on an international stage, connected with policymakers and recognized as leaders in their fields.
- Have been in operation for at least 3 years
- Be a community-based or local group, operating in a rural area
- Be located within a country receiving support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), excluding countries with a high level of development.
Before submitting a nomination for the Equator Prize 2012, please review the complete list of eligible countries, eligibility requirements and selection criteria
The Equator Initiative is a partnership that brings together the UN, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to advance local solutions for people, the environment and resilient communities in a changing world.
Current partners of the initiative include: Conservation International; Convention on Biological Diversity; Ecoagriculture Partners; Fordham University; German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; International Union for Conservation of Nature; The Nature Conservancy; Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Rare; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); UN Environment Program; UNDP; and UN Foundation.
More information: Equator Initiative
Media inquiries: Ms. Phumza Manqindi ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or +27 12 354-8050
Press Release:
Download Press Release: Equator prize 2012
Call for nominations:
Download Equator Prize Call for Nominations
Equator Initiative
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
304 East 45th Street, Room 640
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 212 906-5104 / Fax: +1 212 906-6642
Email:
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