Saint Vincent’s grassroots organization Hand2Earth has achieved international acclaim by securing an invitation to present at the prestigious UNIDO Climate Adaptation and Industrial Resilience Forum scheduled for February 2026 in Vienna, Austria. This recognition comes as a direct result of the NGO’s receipt of the highly competitive GEF Assembly Challenge Award in 2023, where it emerged victorious among 600 global applicants as one of only 22 selected winners.
The organization will showcase its innovative vetiver systems project, which has demonstrated remarkable success in farmland recovery throughout North Leeward. Since its inception in 2022 with initial funding from the SVG Conservation Fund, the project has expanded significantly, now engaging 85 active farmers and 21 craft beneficiaries while positively impacting over 200 households through its comprehensive watershed management and agri-heritage tourism initiatives.
Project Manager Vonnie Roudette has been personally invited to deliver a keynote address focusing on the governance, design, and sustainability of community-led climate adaptation solutions. Her presentation will emphasize the holistic approach that has become Hand2Earth’s trademark—a methodology that combines creative praxis with inclusive problem-solving to ensure community ownership and long-term viability.
The four-day UNIDO forum, aligned with the UNIDO Climate Action Plan 2025–2029, will convene government representatives, private sector leaders, and technical experts to establish practical pathways for integrating climate adaptation into sustainable industrial development. Additionally, a specialized workshop will provide capacity-building training and networking opportunities for the 22 selected civil society organizations, enabling knowledge exchange and initiative scaling.
Hand2Earth’s invitation acknowledges both its environmental achievements and its established reputation in prisoner rehabilitation programs encompassing vetiver crafts, literacy education, and sustainable farming practices since 2015. The organization’s participation represents not just local success but a model for global community-led climate resilience.