Deadline: October 31, 2025
Applications are open for the Mountain Future Award 2025. In celebration of International Mountain Day 2025, which contributes to the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invites institutions, established organizations and individuals over the age of 18 to submit proposals for transformative projects that build resilience to glacier-related impacts and strengthen sustainable mountain economies and livelihoods, for a chance to win the 2025 Mountain Future Award.
The Mountain Future Award, sponsored by a Mountain Partnership member, will recognize the three best project proposals—one per category. Winners will be selected by mid-November, and the award will be presented during the official International Mountain Day event in December 2025.
There are three winning categories:
- Innovation – Projects that encompass technological (including digital), social, policy, financial and/or institutional innovations that address complex social, economic and environmental challenges in mountain regions.
- Adaptation and/or mitigation – Projects that apply adaptation or/and mitigation strategies tailored to mountain ecosystems and communities. These may include sustainable water management, data and climate monitoring, resilient agrifood systems, nature-based approaches, the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge or traditional techniques, and the promotion of circular economy.
- Youth – Projects that emphasize youth leadership, such as being youth-led and/or youth-focused. This includes initiatives that promote universal and accessible training for young people in mountain areas and empower youth as agents of change through digital technology, research or entrepreneurship that contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of mountain resources.
The award will prioritize projects that address glacier-related challenges, sustainable water management, agrifood systems, glacier preservation or the resilience and livelihoods of mountain communities.
Prizes
Each awardee will receive:
- Cash prize to support project implementation
- International recognition and visibility opportunities (i.e. promotion on FAO and Mountain Partnership websites, social media features, potential media outreach and engagement with the Mountain Partnership’s global network)
- Follow-up meetings with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat to discuss project progress
Eligibility
- Applicants must be individuals over the age of 18, institutions or established organizations.
- Applicants must be the original creators of the project proposal they submit.
- Eligible proposals may include new projects, or projects in planning, pilot or early implementation stages. Projects that are fully implemented are not eligible.
- Only projects that operate in or directly benefit mountain regions are eligible. Entirely AI-generated submissions are not permitted. Applicants must demonstrate original thought and are encouraged to disclose any AI-assisted content.
Selection Criteria
Project proposals will be assessed by a panel of experts from FAO and the Mountain Partnership based on the following criteria:
- Feasibility and sustainability
- Impact on mountain communities and livelihoods
- Scalability and replicability
- Community engagement and inclusivity
- Level of innovation and technical merit
- Involvement of youth
- Relevance to glacier-related challenges and mountain resilience
Application
The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2025. Project proposals may be submitted in English, Spanish or French via the online form.
For more information, visit Mountain Future Award.
