AJSA India Wins Global Locally Led Adaptation Award at COP30 for Empowering Tribal Women in Odisha

Belém, Brazil: In a proud moment for India, AJSA India has won the Most Prestigious Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) Award 2025 under the Women’s Livelihoods category at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil. The honour places the Odisha-based organisation among the world’s leading community-driven climate action initiatives.

The award was presented to Manoranjan Behera, Executive Director of AJSA India, by an esteemed panel comprising Her Excellency Janja Lula Da Silva, First Lady of Brazil; Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas of Jordan; and Prof. Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), during a special ceremony at the Resilience Hub.

This year’s LLA Awards received 489 applications from 86 countries, with only 20 initiatives shortlisted for the final stage. AJSA India emerged as the global winner in its category for its transformative work with over 5,500 tribal women in Kalahandi district, Odisha, enabling them to adopt climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable mobility solutions in one of India’s most drought-prone regions.

The distinguished jury included international leaders such as Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General; Baroness Chapman of Darlington, UK Minister of International Development; Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, Minister of International Development, Norway; and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency, alongside other eminent global experts.

For years, AJSA India has worked across Kalahandi’s vulnerable tribal belts, helping communities build resilience through innovative livelihood models, improved market linkages, and climate-adaptive farming practices. Their women-led initiatives have become a benchmark for grassroots climate leadership.

“This award is a tribute to the strength and determination of the women from Kalahandi’s most climate-vulnerable villages,” said Manoranjan Behera, receiving the award at COP30. “They are the real champions of change—leading adaptation, strengthening local governance, and proving that climate resilience begins with women at the grassroots. We dedicate this global recognition to our women leaders, staff, and volunteers who continue to make adaptation a reality. We also thank the Global Centre on Adaptation and the esteemed jury for amplifying the voices of local communities on the world stage.”

AJSA’s recognition at COP30 underscores the critical role of locally led, women-driven climate solutions in achieving global adaptation goals and points to Odisha’s growing presence in global climate leadership forums.