Islamabad: The DASTAK Women Rights and Awareness Foundation has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Award in the Organisation category. The honour was bestowed by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a global civil society alliance committed to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world.
DASTAK was recognised for its transformative initiative, FIERCE (Feminist Initiative for Environmental Resilience, Collective Care, and Well-being of Eco-Justice Defenders), which challenges conventional approaches to climate and gender justice. The project pioneers a decolonial, gender-responsive, and community-driven research model that places care, emotional well-being, and lived experiences at its core.
According to CIVICUS, the award honours organisations that "embody the values of Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel—championing people power, dignity, and innovative justice." DASTAK’s work, particularly through FIERCE, is seen as a vital contribution to reshaping how civil society addresses environmental and gender challenges, especially in the Global South.
DASTAK emerged as a key voice after the catastrophic 2022 floods in Pakistan, with a firm commitment to moving beyond traditional narratives and amplifying the voices of frontline eco-defenders. Rather than relying on extractive forms of research and storytelling, the Foundation centres the knowledge, emotions, and aspirations of those most affected by climate crises.
Speaking about the achievement, Hira Amjad, DASTAK’s Founder and Executive Director, stated:
“This award validates our belief in the transformative power of care, community, and grassroots wisdom. It affirms that climate justice, when approached through a decolonial and feminist lens, is both urgent and effective. This honour belongs to every survivor and climate defender working toward liberation with love.”
Now in its 20th year, the Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards celebrate visionary changemakers across the globe who are committed to advancing justice and human rights in difficult and under-resourced environments. The recognition aims to amplify their voices and elevate their work on the international stage.
With this accolade, DASTAK Foundation joins a global network of bold, community-based innovators redefining climate action and justice.
