The European Commission has awarded the #ForOurPlanet 2026 prize to the Amazonia Indigenous Women's Fellowship (AIWF) programme, run by Conservation International, for empowering indigenous women as leaders in rainforest protection. The award, announced on 8 June 2026, recognises the programme's direct funding model and its emphasis on ancestral knowledge over corporate hierarchies.
The AIWF programme has transferred €1.36 million in direct grants since 2021 to conservation fronts led by indigenous women, supporting over 115 projects that have directly benefited more than 4,200 people. The jury praised the initiative for demonstrating that protecting the rights and sovereignty of indigenous women is one of the most effective ways to physically safeguard the rainforest. Instead of fostering short-term charity dependence, the programme builds a self-sufficient network of leaders who can manage the Amazon for generations.
Paola Chindoy, an Indigenous Kamëntsá fellow from Colombia and President of the 'Chagra de la Vida' Indigenous Women's Association, said: 'This recognition demonstrates and vindicates the rights of Mother Nature and the work of indigenous women and communities in the Amazon. It increases the political influence needed to position our voices at the centre of global discussions on the importance of safeguarding territorial and cultural rights against the negative impacts of climate change.'
The annual competition, which this year focused on nature restoration and bringing life back to ecosystems, attracted 370 high-level candidates from around the world. The prize was awarded during a ceremony at EU Green Week 2026 in Brussels on 4 June, which centred on investment towards a nature-positive economy. The award was collected by Chindoy and Carolina Rosero, Executive Director of Conservation International-Ecuador.
Second place went to Trees Under the Microscope (Armenia), an outdoor ecology education project using microscopy workshops to connect displaced and vulnerable children with tree cell biology. Third place was awarded to 360.come (Portugal), an environmental education programme in Guimarães that engages over 2,000 preschool students in sustainable practices through organic school gardens and composters.
The #ForOurPlanet campaign is a joint initiative of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) and the European External Action Service (EEAS). For the second consecutive year, it partnered with the ETF Green Skills Award to create this special category. The winner was selected from 11 finalists through a combined process based equally on public online vote (50%) and jury vote (50%).
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