Alianza Ceibo wins 1 million euro Gulbenkian Prize for Amazon protection

Alianza Ceibo, an indigenous alliance representing the A'i Cofán, Siekopai, Siona, and Waorani peoples, has won the 2026 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. The award includes one million euros in recognition of the group's decade-long efforts to protect over two million hectares of tropical rainforest across Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.

The jury, presided over by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, selected the alliance from 304 candidates representing 73 countries. The organization has achieved significant legal victories, including the annulment of 52 illegal mining concessions in A'i Cofán territory and securing ancestral land titles for the Siekopai people.

Beyond legal and environmental defense against oil and mining exploitation, Alianza Ceibo has implemented vital infrastructure projects. These include installing rainwater filtration systems providing potable water to over 6,500 people affected by oil contamination, and providing solar energy to hundreds of families and local schools. The alliance also works to preserve indigenous languages and traditional knowledge, with the Ecuadorian government recently recognizing community-developed educational models for integration into the public school system.