2023 Equator Prize: Community Dialogues and Training

Day 1 - Welcome and Introduction to the Equator Initiative

Monday, October 2, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM New York Time      

Anna Giulia Medri, the Equator Initiative’s Team Lead and Partnerships Advisor, extended her gratitude to the 31 Indigenous Peoples and local community members from Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Greenland. The Equator Initiative event aimed to unite the ten Equator Prize-winning organizations dedicated to driving sustainable change and conserving nature.

Participants introduced themselves, detailing their names, affiliations, locations, and a brief overview of their work. The session outlined the event's objectives:

• Fostering connections among winning organizations.
• Building lasting friendships.
• Sharing knowledge and experiences.
• Enhancing communication skills.
• Highlighting the role of community work and nature-based solutions in achieving the Sustainable
• Development Goals (SDGs).
• Equipping participants with tools to engage policymakers at global and national levels.

Guidelines for active engagement were established, and participants received the full program for the Dialogues. The session concluded with a preview of the Nature for Life Hub and the Equator Prize Award Ceremony, which took place on November 7, 2023.

Emphasis was placed on storytelling to engage both national and international audiences, focusing on the SDGs, the roles of Indigenous Peoples in tackling global challenges, and nature-based solutions. This set the stage for the upcoming communications training.

Jamison Ervin, Manager of the UNDP Global Program on Nature for Development, underscored the urgency of addressing climate challenges and highlighted the pivotal role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. She also outlined how the Equator Initiative contributes to advancing these efforts.