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CACD-ONG wins the 2025 UNESCO-Japan Prize with the restauration of the Ookpo Sacred Forest of Pobè
22/11/2025
In November 2025, Culture at the Heart of Development (CACD-ONG) was honoured in Paris by UNESCO as a recipient of the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). This prestigious international award recognizes CACD-ONG’s commitment to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage through its innovative project for the restoration and sustainable management of the Ookpo Sacred Forest in Pobè, Benin.
An Innovative Project for the Restoration of the Ookpo Sacred Forest
Implemented since 2019, the Ookpo Sacred Forest restoration project aims to protect a major spiritual and ecological site while transforming it into a space for learning, transmission of traditional knowledge, and social cohesion. The initiative is based on the active involvement of local communities, particularly women and young people, in the sustainable management of the forest.
Through environmental education activities, cultural awareness initiatives, and heritage valorisation actions, the project contributes to biodiversity conservation, the strengthening of social cohesion, and the promotion of responsible eco-tourism that supports local development.
International Recognition for Benin
Awarded to outstanding initiatives worldwide, the UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD recognises projects that place education at the heart of sustainable development. By selecting CACD-ONG, the international jury highlighted an approach that is inclusive, innovative, and replicable, deeply rooted in local cultural realities.
Accompanied by a grant of USD 50,000, this distinction enhances the international visibility of Benin and confirms the important role of sacred forests and indigenous knowledge as key drivers of education, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
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