2026 SAG Award Winners

Faya Foundation

Project Goal

Our goal is to pioneer a new model of sustainable development where environmental conservation and economic opportunity reinforce each other. Through the Natural Dividend programme, we use data, technology and community engagement to measure ecosystem protection and translate it into direct financial rewards for local communities on Príncipe Island. This creates a scalable and replicable system where protecting biodiversity becomes an investment rather than a cost, aligning environmental outcomes with social progress and long-term resilience
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Business Problem Solved

Conservation efforts often fail because they impose restrictions without creating tangible value for local populations. This leads to misaligned incentives and unsustainable outcomes. We addressed this by designing a system that quantifies environmental stewardship and directly links it to financial compensation. By integrating geospatial data, field observations and socio-economic data, we created a transparent mechanism that aligns community behaviour with conservation goals, solving the disconnect between ecological protection and economic livelihoods.

Technology Implemented

The solution was built around Esri GIS capabilities for spatial analysis, mapping, and operational monitoring. Based on the publicly visible project framing, the most relevant components are likely web mapping, field data collection, dashboarding, and spatial analysis for satellite and drone-derived monitoring; however, this is an inference from the public material, not a confirmed technical stack statement from the site. If you want, I can turn this into a more precise version once you confirm the exact Esri products used, such as ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, Dashboards, Survey123, Field Maps, Experience Builder, or ArcGIS Enterprise

Development Team Biography

The FAYA team combines expertise in conservation, sustainable development, sociology, economy, data science, environment, GIS, drones, and field operations. Key named roles on the site include Jorge Alcobia as CEO, José Maria Mascarenhas as Head of Innovation, João Garcia as Head of Data Science, João Guimarães as Head of Environment, and Flascoter Hugo Cassandra de Oliveira as GIS and Drone Operations Manager.