Equator Prize 2025
By United Nations Development Programme
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Quick Answer
US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) each for ten rural community groups, cooperatives and NGOs with nature-based solutions that fight poverty.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 23 February 2025. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by United Nations Development Programme. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The Equator Prize is run by the Equator Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It recognises community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of nature. More than 296 community organisations from 84 countries have been honoured since it began in 2002.
The 2025 theme was Nature for Climate Action, with two categories and a special focus on youth- and women-led climate action:
- Nature for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience – protecting, conserving and restoring forests, mangroves, peatlands, soils, oceans and marine ecosystems, and building climate-resilient food systems and regenerative farming and forestry.
- Nature for a Just Transition – local solutions for an inclusive green economy that creates decent work, including circular-economy and low-carbon, nature-positive practices.
Ten winners were chosen. Each received US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) to scale their work, plus support to take part in policy dialogues and special events and capacity-building and training. The 2025 winners came from nine countries, including India (Bibifathima Swa Sahaya Sangha, a self-help group).
The nominee must be a local community-based group working in a rural area of a country that receives UNDP support (India is on the list), or an Indigenous Peoples' community in any country. Community enterprises, cooperatives, women's and youth groups and NGOs are all eligible.
The 2025 call closed on 23 February 2025. The Equator Initiative describes the prize as biennial, and its nomination portal currently says the call is closed. No date has been published for the next call.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Each of the ten winners receives a prize of US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) to scale its project. Winners also get support to take part in policy dialogues and special events, linked in 2025 to the UN General Assembly, the UNDP Nature for Life Hub and the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, and are offered capacity-building and training. They join the Equator Initiative's network of past winners.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Cohort size
- 10 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
An independent Technical Advisory Committee assesses nominations on impact across two or more Sustainable Development Goals, innovation, scalability and/or replicability, resilience, adaptability and self-sufficiency, reduced inequalities, social inclusion, and gender equality. In 2025 more than 700 nominations from 103 countries were received and ten winners were selected.
Application Process
- 1
Submit nomination
Submit a nomination on the Equator Prize website during an open call.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be nominated?
A local community-based group working in a rural area of a country that receives UNDP support, or an Indigenous Peoples' community in any country working in a rural area. Community organisations, community enterprises and cooperatives, women's groups, youth groups, Indigenous groups and NGOs are eligible. India is on the list of eligible countries.
How much does a winner get?
In 2025 each of the ten winners received US$10,000, plus support to join policy dialogues and special events and capacity-building and training.
How long must the work have been running?
The initiative must have existed, or its actions been in place, for at least three years.
When is the next call?
The 2025 call closed on 23 February 2025. The Equator Initiative describes the prize as biennial, and no date has been published for the next call.
How are winners chosen?
An independent Technical Advisory Committee scores nominations on impact, innovation, scalability or replicability, resilience and self-sufficiency, reduced inequalities, social inclusion and gender equality.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
