Rural communities – an engine of ideas and solutions for local, nature-based sustainable development
What we do
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities.
We seek to
Recognize the success of local and indigenous initiatives
Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice
Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local and indigenous community action
Develop the capacity of local and indigenous initiatives to scale-up their impact.
How we do it
The Equator Initiative accomplishes its goals through three action areas:
The Equator Prize is awarded biennially to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. 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.
Equator Dialogues are an ongoing series of community-driven meetings and exchanges, held in conjunction with related international forums. Equator Dialogues provide opportunities for people to share experiences, develop capacities and influence policy.
Equator Knowledge is a research, documentation and learning program focused on local best practice in sustainable development. The Equator Initiative works with partners to identify, document, and analyze the success factors of local best practice, and to catalyze ongoing peer-to-peer learning, knowledge exchange and replication of best practice.
The 
Equator Initiative provides opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities around the world to address the challenges of land degradation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement in a socially equitable manner. It also ensures a connection is made between local actors on the ground, national governments and international policy makers.
- Jamison Ervin,
Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development
United Nations Development Programme.