Applications Invited for RRI Collective Action Award: Strengthening Territories, Sustaining Tomorrow

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About the Organization

Securing Indigenous, community, and Afro-descendant land rights—including the rights of the women within these groups—is vital to both staving off the climate crisis and achieving sustainable development. It’s also a human rights imperative. Rights and Resources Initiative is a global coalition of more than 200+ rightsholder organizations and their allies dedicated to advancing the land and resource rights of local peoples— informed and driven by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities themselves.

About the Award

For 20 years, the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) has stood with Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and local communities as they safeguard their lands and territories, advance their rights, and defend the ecosystems essential to all life on Earth. This year, as we commemorate two decades of progress, we are proud to announce the inaugural RRI Collective Action Award. 

This award celebrates the extraordinary achievements and efforts of communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, spotlighting their innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to sustainable livelihoods, protecting nature, and preserving traditional knowledge for future generations.

Communities recognized by the RRI Collective Action Award embody the intersection of resilience, tradition, and innovation. Their efforts show that safeguarding land rights is not just a cornerstone of social justice, but a critical solution to the global climate and biodiversity crises.

These communities work together to: 

• Protect vital ecosystems, ensuring biodiversity thrives.
• Advocate for their community’s land rights while advancing their own collective governance models.
• Combat climate change through sustainable practices rooted in ancestral knowledge. 
• Revitalize cultural heritage, connecting generations and preserving identities. 

This award recognizes their achievements, often invisible to those outside their regions, inspires global audiences, and catalyzes further action to protect our planet.

Award Categories:

Honorees will be recognized for outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:

• Stronger Territorial Rights: Securing and formalizing territorial rights through collective governance, advocacy, legal action, or policy change.
• Community Prosperity: Creating or advancing a sustainable livelihood initiative that increases community and ecosystem prosperity, while preserving the environment and natural resources for future generations.
• Cultural Revival: Revitalizing and celebrating cultural beliefs, traditions, languages, and heritages in a way that strengthens community identity, while integrating traditional knowledge with innovative solutions to enhance community resilience.

Who can be nominated:

The award is open to Indigenous, Afro-descendant, local communities, and the women and youth among them who are working on community-led conservation efforts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Who can nominate a community:

• Organizations or individuals wishing to recognize these communities.
• Communities themselves, through self-nomination.

Criteria for Nomination:

Nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Alignment with RRI’s Mission and Values: Initiatives must align with RRI’s commitment to land rights, environmental justice, and sustainable livelihoods for Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and/or local communities.
• Community Leadership and Inclusivity: The initiative must be led by Indigenous, Afro-descendant, or local communities with genuine community leadership and community participation at all stages. Active involvement from women, youth, and intergenerational audiences is essential to ensure justice and inclusivity.
• Collective, Sustained Efforts with Innovative Approaches: Nominated communities must actively work to collectively protect and promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and/or local communities. The initiative should embody long-term, community-wide planning and implementation, aiming for deep-rooted change and impact over time. Stand-alone activities or short-term projects do not meet this requirement. Efforts that incorporate innovative solutions or new methods for achieving sustainable outcomes are especially valued.
• Focus on Territorial Rights, Sustainable livelihoods, and Community-led Conservation: Initiatives should support the protection and stewardship of land and territories, promote environmental justice and equity, and/or encourage sustainable livelihoods. They should help build community resilience by addressing social and environmental challenges in ways that are culturally meaningful and relevant.

We anticipate awarding three RRI Collective Action Awards in 2025, to different communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

How to Apply

• Step 1: Visit the online nomination form at the following links, according to language preference: English, Spanish, French, Nepali, and Bahasa Indonesia.
• Step 2: Complete a simple eligibility checklist and provide detailed information about the nominee’s achievements and impact in the form.
• Step 3: Attach supporting materials  that showcase the communities’ eligibility and efforts, such as videos, photos, and endorsements.
• Step 4: If you are a self-nominating community, please be prepared to provide the name and contact details of a partner or collaborator who can talk about your community’s work and achievements.

Deadline: January 17, 2025

Recognition for Award Winners:

The winners will be honored during RRI’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and Award Ceremony on May 5-6, 2025 in Washington, D.C., where their work will be showcased. Representatives of the community will have the opportunity to connect with RRI partners, collaborators, donors, and other special keynote speakers and guests, for fundraising opportunities and building allyship.

RRI will profile the winners through communication and promotional materials, helping raise the visibility for the community’s initiative. Through the RRI coalition, award winners will be introduced to new funding sources and opportunities to engage in international advocacy and mobilization.

Submit your nomination

For more information please check the Link

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