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Introduction
THE EQUATOR INITIATIVE: A PARTNERSHIP FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society groups, businesses, and
grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature
and resilient communities. The partnership arose from recognition that the greatest concentrations of both
biodiversity and acute poverty coincide in equator belt countries, and the high potential for win-win outcomes
where biological wealth could be effectively managed to create sustainable livelihoods for the world’s most
vulnerable and economically marginalized populations. The high dependence of the rural poor on nature for their
livelihoods means that biodiversity loss often exacerbates local poverty. But by the same token, action to sustain
ecosystems and maintain or restore biodiversity can help stabilize and expand local resource-based economies
and relieve poverty.
The Equator Initiative aims to recognize the success of local and indigenous initiatives, create opportunities and
platforms for the sharing of knowledge and good practice, inform policy to foster an enabling environment for
local and indigenous community action, and develop the capacity of local and indigenous communities to scaleup
their impact. The center of Equator Initiative programming is the Equator Prize, awarded biennially to recognize
and advance local sustainable development solutions. As local and indigenous groups across the world chart a
path towards sustainable development, the Equator Prize shines a spotlight on their efforts by honoring them on
an international stage. The Equator Prize is unique for awarding group or community achievement, rather than
that of individuals. Selection criteria include the following:
• Impact: Initiatives that have improved community wellbeing and local livelihoods through sustainable natural
resource management and/or environmental conservation of land based and/or marine resources.
• Sustainability: Initiatives that can demonstrate enduring institutional, operational and financial sustainability
over time.
• Innovation and Transferability: Initiatives demonstrating new approaches that overcome prevailing constraints
and offer knowledge, experience and lessons of potential relevance to other communities.
• Leadership and Community Empowerment: Initiatives demonstrating leadership that has inspired action and
change consistent with the vision of the Equator Initiative, including policy and/or institutional change, the
empowerment of local people, and the community management of protected areas.
• Empowerment of Women and Social Inclusion: Initiatives that promote the equality and empowerment of
women and/or marginalized groups.
• Resilience, Adaptability and Self-Sufficiency: Initiatives demonstrating adaptability to environmental,
social and economic change, resilience in the face of external pressures, and improved capacity for local
self-sufficiency.
Community-Based Sustainable Land Management: Best Practices in Drylands from the Equator Initiative
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