Nominations open for RRI Collective Action Award

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.

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.

Award Information

• 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.

Who can nominate a community? 

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

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.

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.

For more information, visit RRI.