The Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from Teertha village in Karnataka’s Dharwad district has been named one of ten global winners of the UNDP Equator Prize 2025, acclaimed for community-led, nature-based climate action. Their work stood out from over 700 global entries under the theme “Women and Youth Leadership for Nature-Based Climate Action.”

Founded in 2018 by 15 women under the guidance of Sahaja Samruddha, the SHG now supports more than 5,000 farmers across 30 villages. They’ve revived millet-based mixed cropping, set up community seed banks to conserve indigenous varieties, and launched solar-powered millet processing units, merging traditional wisdom with sustainable innovation.

Their efforts have paid dividends not just in restoring biodiversity and enhancing food and nutritional security, but also in job creation and stronger local economies. The Equator Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for Biodiversity,” carries a $10,000 award, an online ceremony, and invitations to global forums like the UN General Assembly and COP30.

The recognition shines a light on how grassroots women’s collectives can redefine climate resilience and inclusive progress transforming drylands into thriving ecosystems through cooperation, heritage, and innovation.