UNDP Equator Initiative Award ( UPSC Prelims)

News Context

The Bibi Fatima Women’s self-help group (SHG) from a small village in Dharwad district was among the recipients of the ‘Equator Initiative Award’, often called the Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation. This award is presented every two years as part of the Equator Initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative offers opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to tackle issues such as land degradation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood improvement. The SHG implemented millet-based mixed cropping on rainfed farms, promoted climate-resilient farming systems, engaged in livestock rearing and horticulture, and worked to popularize millets.