Bangladesh has secured a landmark achievement on the global stage as Friendship, a renowned social purpose organisation, won the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2025 in the “Fix Our Climate” category. This marks the first time a Bangladeshi organisation has received the honour since the prize was launched by His Royal Highness Prince William of the United Kingdom in 2020. The award ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Friendship was celebrated for its pioneering and holistic development model designed to uplift climate-vulnerable communities. The organisation will receive prize money worth £1 million.
Friendship was recognised for its integrated, scalable, and locally-led development approach, which acknowledges that sustainable progress cannot be achieved through isolated interventions. Its model is built on the understanding that all 17 Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected and essential for driving long-term transformation in remote and fragile regions. By ensuring that every aspect of development—health, education, climate resilience, livelihoods, rights, and social cohesion—supports the other, Friendship empowers vulnerable communities with dignity, security, and hope.
In his speech at the ceremony, HRH Prince William praised the innovation and determination of this year’s winners, saying that when the Earthshot Prize was conceived in 2020, the goal was to make the decade a turning point for the planet. He said the winners’ work demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible and that their stories inspire courage and optimism. “It’s no exaggeration to say that they are the world’s true action heroes,” Prince William declared.
Accepting the award on behalf of Friendship, Founder Runa Khan said the recognition was a deep honour not only for the organisation but also for the climate-vulnerable communities of Bangladesh. She said the award celebrates the resilience, ingenuity, and spirit of the people Friendship serves. “Our achievement belongs to everyone, especially the communities we work with and for. This honour strengthens our commitment to continue our mission with even greater passion,” she added.
Among Friendship’s significant initiatives, its Mangrove Afforestation Project played a major role in securing the Earthshot Prize. The organisation has planted more than 650,000 mangrove trees across over 200 hectares of coastal land, strengthening 62 kilometres of embankments that protect more than 125,000 people from cyclones and tidal surges. The restored mangrove ecosystems not only safeguard lives and property but also support livelihoods for nearly 3,000 households through community-managed conservation. These forests contribute to Bangladesh’s blue carbon potential by acting as powerful carbon sinks and building the foundation for a sustainable blue economy. Friendship aims to expand the project to 1,500 hectares by 2030, in alignment with the country’s National Adaptation Plan (2023–2050) and Forestry Master Plan (2017–2036).
Friendship has a strong history of international recognition, having previously received the Royal Institute of British Architects Award in 2021 for the climate-resilient design of Friendship Hospital Shyamnagar and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for the environmentally sensitive Friendship Centre in Gaibandha. Its Earthshot Prize 2025 win reinforces Bangladesh’s growing global reputation as a leader in climate resilience and community-driven innovation.
