BB Fatima Women Self-Help Group: UNDP Equator Award 2025 Winner

Why in news ?

• There has long been a need to recognize rural women’s leadership and sustainable agricultural practices in India on the international stage.
• The BB Fatima Women Self-Help Group (SHG) from Teertha village, Dharwad, won the UNDP Equator Award 2025 for their pioneering work in eco-friendly farming, millet promotion, and women-led rural enterprises.
• This award highlights India’s rural women’s efforts in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development at the global level.

Introduction to the Equator Award:

• Presenter: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Objective: To honor nature-based solutions by indigenous and local communities that promote sustainable development and ecological resilience.
• 2025 Theme: Women and youth leadership in nature-based climate action
• Competition Scale: Around 700 nominations from 103 countries
• Winning Countries including India: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tanzania
• Prize Amount: $10,000 (~₹8.5 lakh)
• Announcement: 9 August, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Journey of BB Fatima SHG:

• Established: 2018 by 15 women
• Guiding Organization: Sahaj Samriddh
• Collaborating Institutions:
  • Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad
  • CROPS4HD (Crop Diversity for Human Nutrition)
  • SELCO Foundation – Solar-powered millet processing
  • Devdhanya Farmer Producer Company – Rural enterprise promotion

Key Achievements:

1. Eco-friendly farming in rainfed land – Conserving natural resources and ensuring sustainable production.
2. Community seed bank – Preserving and reusing local and indigenous seeds.
3. Millet promotion and processing – Producing nutritious crops and generating rural income.
4. Market linkage and rural entrepreneurship – Selling products and empowering women-led local economy.

Significance:

• The BB Fatima Women SHG award demonstrates that at the local level, women can lead in biodiversity conservation, sustainable farming, and rural entrepreneurship. 
• This success raises awareness among rural communities about the importance of nature-based innovations and women’s leadership.