Overview of Funding Agencies that Fund 

Activities to Combat Land Degradation

Action for Greening Sahel (AGS)

AGS operates in Burkina Faso and Chad in the Sahel region. Together with the people of the Sahel, it is working to stop desertification, the loss of any more green, and then to restore the natural ecosystem, allowing the people of the region to again be self-sufficient in their production of food. The organisation provides funding and technical assistance for: the growing and distribution of seedlings; the provision of nursing advice and the installation of nursery facilities; stabilizing dunes by reforestation and stonework; installation of wells; and training in agricultural techniques.

Contact information:
Contact person: Mr. Takuya Sugakawa, secretary

Address: Nihon Sozo-Kyoiku-Kenkyujo Bldg. 3F, 2-2-7, Minami-Suna, Koto-ku, 136-0076 Tokyo - Japan

Phone: +81-3-5632-3029

Fax: +81-3-5632-3070    

E-mail: sahel@jca.apc.org   

Internet: www.jca.apc.org/~sahel (Japanese only)

Information collected 02/2005

AEON Foundation

ÆON is involved anti-desertification measures and recycling of resources, and is also addressing the problems of waste disposal through own environmental conservation activities and supporting the work of other groups with similar objectives. Activities which are supported are tree planting, greening, provision of water and ecology preservation, but is also involved in global environmental conservation activities. The Foundation operates in Asia (South East Asia, China and Mongolia).

Note: Applicants should be endorsed by individual(s) or group(s) in Japan (learned persons familiar with environmental issues or experts in appropriately related fields are considered apt as presenters. The Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2005, so its is offering special assistance programs of a total of 50 million yen each year for the three year period that includes 2004 and 2006 (for a total of 150 million yen during these three years.)

Contact information:
Address: 5-1, 1-chome, Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, 261-8515 Chiba - Japan

Phone: +81-43-212.6022

Fax: +81-43-212.6815      

E-mail: ef@aeon.info  or aeon-ef@mailgw.jusco.co.jp

Internet: www.aeon.info/ef

Information collected 02/2005

Africare

Africare initially concentrated on helping to alleviate the effects of severe drought in West Africa. By the mid-1970s, Africare shifted its emphasis to development programs in the areas of food, water, the environment and health. The organisation is active in 24 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt. Africare's programs address needs in the principal areas of food security and agriculture as well as natural resource management. Africare also supports water resource development, environmental management, basic education and vocational training, micro-enterprise development, civil-society development and governance initiatives. Africare helps farmers in dry, drought-prone to combat soil's erosion and to cultivate crops and nurture their livestock despite scarce water supplies. 

Contact information:

Contact person(s): Alan C. Alemian (East and Anglophone West Africa); Myron Golden and Lori duTrieuille (Francophone West and Central Africa); Kevin G. Lowther and Sharie A. Blanton (Southern Africa Region).

Address: Africare House, 440 R Street, N.W., DC 20001 Washington - United States

Phone: +1-202-462.3614

Fax: +1-202-387.1034

E-mail: development@africare.org

Internet: www.africare.org

Information collected 05/2005

Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR)

The objective of this small organisation is to assist local community groups in Central America to conserve their environment through reforestation, sustainable farming, and education. AIR plants trees, establishes tree nurseries, digs wells, builds fuel-efficient brick ovens, and helps to educate everyone about the environmental challenges facing Central America. 

The establishment of permanent tree nurseries is the keystone of AIR's work. The aim is to train community groups to initiate a process of reforestation and conservation of their land. In order to accomplish this, AIR assists community groups to organize reforestation committees and provides them with educational and training programs designed to increase their ability to establish, manage and maintain tree nurseries. These groups are directly responsible for implementing project activities, such as planting seeds, caring for the saplings, maintaining the nurseries and transplanting the trees. AIR's staff provides technical assistance as needed. All of the equipment needed for the construction and maintenance of the nurseries is provided by AIR, while the communities contribute the labor in a voluntary fashion.

Contact information:

Address: Stetson University, 421 North Woodland Boulevard, Unit 8301, FL 32723 DeLand - United States

Phone: +1-386-822.7575

E-mail: ahallum@stetson.edu 

Internet: www.stetson.edu/org/forest  

Information collected 04/2005

Belgian Survival Fund (BSF)

The objective of the Fund is improving the food security of the most vulnerable population groups in the poorest countries. The focus of the BSF is on the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and especially on the partner countries of direct bilateral cooperation. The BSF finances programmes in countries faced with a chronic food shortage, in order to guarantee the chances of survival of persons threatened by hunger, under-nourishment, poverty and exclusion.

The programmes favour an integrated approach with the aim of improving the food and nutritional security of families and local communities in rural and semi-urban environments. The Fund also finances programmes whose aim it is to reinforce the institutional capacities of the national and local authorities and the local communities being assisted. The operations of the Survival Fund are carried out within the framework of the partnership programmes with 4 multilateral organizations (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, UNCDF) and 14 Belgian NGOs.

Contact information:
Contact person: Dirk Teerlinck, programme officer
Address: Rue des Petits Carmes 15, 1000 Brussels - Belgium
Phone: +32-2-501.81.11
E-mail: dirk.teerlinck@diplobel.fed.be 
Internet: www.dgdc.be/en/actors/belgian_survival_fund/index.html 

Information collected 07/2005

Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR)

CLWR is the service delivery arm for development programming and overseas relief for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Lutheran Church-Canada. The principle mission centres on development initiatives in partnership with the marginalized of the world community. CLWR facilitates and supports development programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

One of its areas of work is long-term development assistance. Special attention is paid to the integration of development projects with a sensitive (critical) concern for the environment with special attention for on the use of appropriate technology. Project priorities are: soil and water conservation (a.o. by curbing the rate of deforestation through afforestation campaigns); rehabilitation of irrigation canals and drinking water supplies; and agro-ecological development with the objective to increase sustainable agricultural production through ecologically-sound cultivation practices.

Contact information:
Address: 1080 Kingsbury Avenue, R2P 1W5 Winnipeg - Canada
Phone: +1-204-694.5602
Fax: +1-204-694.5460
E-mail: clwr@clwr.mb.ca 
Internet: www.clwr.org 

Information collected 12/2003

Church of Sweden Aid (Lutherhjalpen)

Church of Sweden Aid is Church of Sweden's organisation for development co-operation and emergency aid; it is working to enhance human dignity in people´s living conditions as well as fighting injustice, poverty and oppression.

An important working field for the organisation is sustainable ecological development. Ecological considerations are therefore an important aspect of development projects. More trees, composts and cultivation on terraces keep the soil in place and provide better harvests, both in the short and long-term perspective. Compost soil decreases the need for artificial manure. Protected springs keep the water clean. Power saving engineering saves resources, and knowledge in ecology increases the commitment.

Contact information:
Contact person: Eva Christina Nilsson
Address: Sysslomansgatan 4, 751 70 Uppsala - Sweden
Phone: +46-18-169600
Fax: +46-18-169707
E-mail: lutherhjalpen@svenskakyrkan.se 
Internet: www.svenskakyrkan.se/lutherhjalpen/info/indexeng.htm 

Information collected 02/2002

Conserve Africa Foundation (CAF)

CAF was founded in 1998 by a group of NGOs, public institutions and individuals in Africa and in the North, involved in the issues pertaining to sustainable development and conservation in Africa. Its purpose is to work to promote a healthy, safe, fair and sustainable future for all the people of Africa, improving the quality of their life through the advancement of environmental protection and conservation.
Through its EcoFund a wide range of community-based initiatives, that protect the environment in the most undeserved and threatened regions in Africa, are supported; including activities to combat desertification.

Contact information:
Address: 24 Carterhatch Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN3 5LS London - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-20-8443.4852
E-mail: info@conserveafrica.org or caf@conserveafrica.org 
Internet: www.conserveafrica.org 

Information collected 02/2003

Cottonwood Foundation

The Foundation is dedicated to promoting empowerment of people, protection of the environment, and respect for cultural diversity. The foundation focuses its funding on committed, grass roots organizations that rely strongly on volunteer efforts and where foundation support will make a significant difference.
Cottonwood supports initiatives in the fields of reforestation (seedlings and tree-planting), sustainable soil fertility management practices, alternative energy and fuel wood resources etc.

Note: the Foundation has a very limited amount of funding available, and will only award grants to organizations that meet all four of the following criteria: protect the environment; promote cultural diversity; empower people to meet their basic needs; and rely on volunteer efforts. The Foundation does plan to invite a few new organizations to become partners each year, and may invite online applications again during 2005.

Contact information:
Contact person: Paul Moss, executive director
Address: Box 10803, MN 55110 White Bear Lake - United States
Phone: +1-651-426.87.97
Fax: +1-651-426.03.20
E-mail: info@cottonwoodfdn.org 
Internet: www.cottonwoodfdn.org 

Information collected 06/2005

Development Workshop Austria (EWA)

EWA has specialised in regional development programs in the Sahel. The projects are planned and carried out in cooperation with grass-root organisations, farmer and artisan cooperatives, and other NGOs. The main focus of EWA's work lies on sustainable use of natural resources, conservation of the ecological equilibrium, diversification of income generation and the promotion of "rural artisans".

In the context of desertification the sustainable use of water, soil and vegetation is of particular importance and therefore the EWA carries out i.a. the following programs: support, development and promotion of ecologically sound land-use systems with focus on agro-forestry, designed and implemented in cooperation with the affected population; promotion of sustainable water management, in particular well rehabilitation erosion protection, etc.; and support of rural infrastructure. EWA is currently involved in the implementation of a total of 10 projects in Burkina Faso and in Senegal.

Contact information:
Address: Thunstrasse 16, 5400 Hallein - Austria
Phone: +43-662-627.112
Fax: +43-662-624.812
E-mail: EWA@magnet.at 
Internet: www.ewa.or.at 

Information collected 08/2003

Double Harvest

Double Harvest is a small family foundation and, allthough non-denominational, it works closely with Christian churches local to the project areas. The organisation supports agricultural and reforestation projects. It provides land, materials, equipment, and technical instruction to establish nursery and farm areas used as teaching tools. Also projects in the field of crop and livestock development are supported. Double Harvest is active in several countries in Africa and Asia, as well in Haiti.

The Dutch branch of Double Harvest is foremost active in Ethiopia: www.doubleharvest.nl 

Contact information:
Address: 1856 Jeffress Road, NC 28732 Fletcher - United States
Phone: +1-828-891.4116
Fax: +1-828-891.8581
E-mail: bertle@vanwingerden-intl.com 

Information collected 03/2005

Drylands Coordination Group (DRC)

The Drylands Coordination Group is a cooperation forum of five Norwegian NGOs involved in development cooperation in dryland areas in Africa: ADRA Norway, CARE Norway, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People's Aid, and The Development Fund (Noragric, the Department for International Environment and Development Studies at the University of Life Sciences provides technical support to DCG while DCG's activities are funded by the NORAD). DCG's vision is to improve the livelihood security of vulnerable households in drought-prone and marginal areas, especially in Africa. The group's objectives are: increased food security; sustainable management and use of natural resources; increased access to community based services such as health, education and clean water; competence building and institutional strengthening at local and regional levels.

The group's activities can be divided into the following five categories: technical assistance to individual projects; identifying topics of common interest (e.g. through seminars and workshops); research and study assignments; information dissemination and networking; coordination and technical backstopping.

Contact information:
Contact person: Grete Benjaminsen
Address: c/o Noragric P.O. Box 5001, 1432 Aas - Norway
Phone: +47-64-949.823
Fax: +47-64-940.760
E-mail: grete.benjaminsen@noragric.nlh.no 
Internet: www.drylands-group.org

Information collected 01/2003

Earth Preservation Fund (EPF)

The nonprofit EPF was founded by the travel organisation JOURNEYS. This organisation has accepted a responsibility to preserve the resources we enjoy and over the years has supported numerous projects and ongoing programs. EPF was the first wholly traveler-funded conservation organization in the United States.

The Fund and JOURNEYS collaborate to create the highest form of participatory travel. Contributions in the form of funds, labor or publicity are backed on-site by local community leadership and workmanship which assure that goals are achieved. The EPF works to preserve local cultures and natural habitats around the globe. The Fund especially supports international community-based projects focused on environmental conservation and cultural preservation.

Contact information:
Address: PO Box 7545, MI 48107 Ann Arbor - United States
Fax: +1-734-665.2945
E-mail: info@earthpreservation.org 
Internet: www.earthpreservation.org 

Information collected 10/2004

FARM-Africa

FARM-Africa aims to reduce poverty by enabling marginal African farmers and herders to make sustainable improvements to their well-being through more effective management of their renewable natural resources. FARM works in partnership with communities, governments, local organisations, international NGOs and the private sector to develop strong rural livelihoods and then share the results of our work with others for it to have maximum impact.
FARM works with a wide range of small-scale farmers and herders through its country programmes in Eastern and South Africa. The focus is on developing innovative approaches to natural resource management and communicating good practice to policy makers, government and NGOs. There are three key areas of work: Community Forest Management, Pastoral Development, and Smallholder Development & Land Reform. Within these FARM concentrates on a number of specific processes promoting rural change such as participatory planning, management and research, sourcing innovation and improving market access.

Contact information:
Contact person: Dr. Christie Peacock, Chief Executive
Address: 9-10 Southampton Place, London WC1A 2EA - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-20-7430.0440
Fax: +44-20-7430.0460
E-mail: farmafrica@farmafrica.org.uk 
Internet: www.farmafrica.org.uk 

Information collected 07/2005

Friends of Conservation (FOC)

FOC is a conservation charity that works with local communities across the world to protect their surrounding wildlife and habitats. Its mission statement is to join with local people and partners to support sustainable ways of living in harmony with wildlife, ecosystems and the environment. FOC is committed to working with local peoples to develop and promote a balance between their needs and those of the wildlife with which they share their natural habitat and ecosystems. Projects aim at protection of wildlife (including research), conservation of habitats (including environmental education and reforestation programmes), and community development.

FOC's Travel and Tourism Conservation Committee (TTCC) aims to increase co-operation between the tourism industry and communities to preserve local ecosystems. The key objective of the TTCC is: raising funds for FOC UK, to support global conservation, community and education projects and promote those objectives within the industry to tourists.

Contact information:
UK Office:
Address: 16-18 Denbigh Street, SW1V 2 ER London - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-20-7592.0110; Fax: +44-20-7828.4856
E-mail: focinfo@aol.com 
Internet: www.foc-uk.com 

USA Office:
Address: 1520 Kensington Road, Suite 212, IL 60523-2156 Oak Brook - United States
Phone: +1-630-954.3388
Fax: +1-630-954.1016
E-mail: info@friendsofconservation.org 

Kenya office:
Address: Left Wing, Great Jubilee Centre, Langata Road, Nairobi - Kenya
Phone: +254-20-890.143
Fax: +254-20-890.147
E-mail: info@fockenya.org 

Information collected: 05/2005

Fundació Natura

Fundació Naturais one of the first NGO created in Spain exclusively devoted to the conservation of the biological diversity through the protection, improvement and restoration of the natural ecosystems. Fundació Natura achieves its objectives through the purchase, leasing, transference of land property, management agreements with landowners or the purchase of resource exploitation rights. Thus, a network of protected natural areas is created and managed to conserve and improve its biodiversity. It also encourages the restoration of highly natural valued areas, which have suffered a process of degradation (due to fires or other human alterations) so that they will regain their original natural value. Whenever possible, it tries to reconcile public use and conservation.

Contact information:
Address: Rambla de Catalunya, 121, 6è 9a, 08008 Barcelona - Spain
Phone: +34-93-237.01.81
Fax: +34-93-237.01.81
E-mail: info@fundacionatura.org 
Internet: www.fundacionatura.org 

Information collected 02/2004

German Agro Action (GGA)

Welthungerhilfe a.k.a. German Agro Action is one of the largest non-governmental development organisations in Germany. GGA fights poverty in developing countries in order to improve living conditions and secure a dignified existence. One of the focus areas of GGA's project work concentrates on agriculture and the environment. The spectrum of projects ranges from reforestation measures, erosion prevention and building wells to special programmes supporting women, children and youth.

Contact information:
Contact person: Kerstin Bandsom
Postal address: Postfach 120509, 53000 Bonn - Germany
Phone: +49-228-2288.0
Fax: +49-228-220710
E-mail: info@welthungerhilfe.de 
Internet: www.welthungerhilfe.de 

Information collected 12/2003

Global Environment Facility

GEF is the designated financial mechanism for international agreements on biodiversity, climate change, and persistent organic pollutants. The GEF funds projects in six focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters, ozone, land degradation (desertification), and persistent organic pollutants.
Taking into account the objectives of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), dozens of GEF projects cut across the focal areas described above to address land degradation.

Two operational programmes of importance regarding the combat against desertification and measures with respect to environmental degradation are:

Operational Programmme # 1 on Arid And Semi-Arid Zone Ecosystems:
The objective of this Programme is the conservation and sustainable use of the biological resources in arid and semi-arid zone ecosystems.
(a) Conservation or protection, will be sought through protection of
systems of conservation areas, focusing primarily on countries in Africa and in the Mediterranean type climatic zone threatened by increased pressure from intensified use, drought, and desertification, which lead to land degradation; and (b) Sustainable use/management will be sought by combining production, socio-economic, and biodiversity goals.

Operational Program # 15 on Sustainable Land Management:
this focal area on land degradation (i.e. desertification and deforestation) is to catalyze partnerships with other organizations working on land management issues, land users, and other stakeholders at the local, national, regional, and global levels to provide coordinated financial and technical support to address land degradation in a way that achieves long-term global environment benefits within the context of sustainable development.
GEF can support investment, technical assistance, capacity building (institutional strengthening, human resource development, and information exchange), policy, public education, and targeted research. Through these means, GEF will help to finance the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use.

Contact information:
Postal address: 1818 H Street, NW, MSN G 6-602 , DC 20433 Washington - United States
Phone: +1-202-473.0508; Fax: +1-202-522.3240/3245
E-mail: gef@gefweb.org 
Internet: www.gefweb.org 

Information collected 01/2003

Global Finland

The Department for International Development Co-operation, formerly known under the name FINNIDA, is the department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, which is responsible for international development co-operation. One of the long-term development objectives of the Finnish development cooperation is combating global and local environmental threats.

The International Environment Policy Unit is responsible for International NGOs, which concentrate their work on international and regional environmental issues such as climate policy (mitigation and adaption), water and sanitation, sustainable forest management, watershed management and land degradation (e.g. desertification), biodiversity as well as implementation of sustainable development. Funding is primarily directed towards the international environmental activities where the work by the International NGOs is an extension of the work Finland is already engaged in. The main focus is to assist cooperation with developing countries, especially in developing their capacity building and awareness on environmental issues.

Contact information:
Contact person: Ms. Anu Pärnänen-Landtman, International Environment Policy Unit
Postal address: P.O. Box 176, 00161 Helsinki - Finland
Phone: +358-9-16056417
Fax: +358-9-1605.6375
E-mail: firstname.surname@formin.fi 
Internet: global.finland.fi/english   

Information collected: 10-2004

Global Greengrants Fund (GGF)

The mission of the Fund is to help protect the global environment by strengthening the grassroots environmental movement in developing countries with small grants. The GGF supports a wide range of community-based initiatives that protect the environment in the most underserved and threatened regions on Earth. The purpose of GGF is to strengthen organizational infrastructure and networking capability with grants for those essential expenses that allow organizations to do their work. The Fund is involved in a vast array of environmental issues (e.g. protection of watersheds and water resources; developing economic alternatives to forest destruction; establishment of tree nurseries).

Contact information:
Address: 2840 Wilderness Place Suite E, CO 80301 Boulder - United States
Phone: +1-303-939.9866
Fax: +1-303-939.9867
E-mail: info@greengrants.org 
Internet: www.greengrants.org 

Information collected 05/2005

GORTA

Gorta is concentrating its development activities in Africa. Gorta's emphasis is on the utilisation of local resources, with projects designed, implemented and controlled by the local people to the greatest extent possible. All projects are concentrated in the most needy areas and are aimed at benefitting the poorest of the poor with emphasis on food security, empowerment of women and improving the health of children to ensure growth and development. Themes are a.o. afforestation (tree nurseries), irrigation and drainage of land, soil conservation, and providing training in all aspects of farming.

Contact Information:
Address: 12 Herbert Street, 2 Dublin - Ireland
Phone: +353-1-661.5522
Fax: +353-1-661.2627
E-mail: admin@gorta.ie 
Internet: www.gorta.ie 

Information collected 02/2004

Heifer Project International (HPI)

Heifer Project helps people utilize livestock as an integral component of sustainable agriculture and holistic development. Heifer Project works at the grassroots level by providing animals and training to organized local groups that request assistance. Projects strengthen rural families and communities through improved nourishment, increased production and the dissemination of skills and knowledge for self-reliance. Care for the earth's natural resources is emphasized through training in livestock management, pasture improvement, soil conservation, reforestation and water harvesting.

Contact information:
Address: P.O. Box 8058, AR 72203 Little Rock - United States
Phone: +1-501-907.2600
E-mail: info@heifer.org 
Internet: www.heifer.org 

Information collected 02-2003

IFAD/NGO Extended Cooperation Programme (ECP)

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was created to mobilize resources on concessional terms for programmes that alleviate rural poverty and improve nutrition. Unlike other international financial institutions, which have a broad range of objectives, the Fund has a very specific mandate: to combat hunger and rural poverty in developing countries.
The purpose of IFAD/NGO ECP is to enhance IFAD's direct collaboration with NGOs in the promotion of participatory and community-based rural development and poverty alleviation.

ECP-supported activities by NGOs focus primarily on three major areas:

• identifying, testing and disseminating appropriate/ innovative technologies for application to the agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions of IFAD's beneficiaries;
  
• identifying and testing appropriate/innovative institutional approaches and mechanisms in various sectors and subsectors of interest to IFAD to ascertain their relevance, acceptability and sustainability; and
  
• carrying out knowledge gathering and dissemination activities and training programmes or improved management of resources through, i.a., the creation of more effective systems of organization, based on viable grass-roots organizations (farmers' groups, water users' associations and other forms of grass-roots networks).

The above may also involve advocacy activities and processes of identification and capacitybuilding of potential NGO partners including support for NGO networking activities. In addition, in line with and in furtherance of its objectives, the Programme supports periodic and regular IFAD/NGO consultations on policy and operational issues pertaining to rural poverty alleviation and development.

Contact information:
Contact person: Ms. Sappho Haralambous, Coordinator NGO and Civil-Society Partnerships
Address: c/o IFAD Via del Serafico 107, 00142 Rome - Italy
Phone: +39-6-5459.2238
Fax: +39-6-5459.2238
E-mail: s.haralambous@ifad.org 
Internet: www.ifad.org/ngo 

Information collected 02/2003

Intercooperation

The aim of Intercooperation is to alleviate poverty through rural development. The focus is on improving rural livelihoods through the sustainable management, harvesting and processing of natural resources in order to promote ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development.

Intercooperation's expertise, process competence and services are grouped around three principal working domains: natural resource management aiming at a balance between production and protection for the benefit of the poor - within this domain Intercooperation works on specific themes, ranging from agricultural production and tropical forestry to climate change and biodiversity, watershed programmes; rural economy issues especially the availability of infrastructure and the existence and accessibility of basic social services; and local governance and civil society in order to promote the development of municipalities, villages and other local bodies.

Contact information:
Address: PO Box 6724, 3001 Bern - Switzerland
Phone: +41-31-382.10.10
Fax: +41-31-382.10.09
E-mail: info@intercooperation.ch 
Internet: www.intercooperation.ch 

Information collected 05/2005

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Drylands Programme

The programme aims to promote the sustainable, equitable, participatory and decentralised management of natural resources in dryland Africa, through policies and institutions, thereby contributing to improved livelihoods, poverty reduction, and long term ecological and economic sustainability. The programme's work covers a.o.: land rights and tenure; supporting pastoral civil society; enhancing dryland livelihoods and market opportunities in a globalising world. Besides implementing projects, IIED complements the ongoing work of partners in Africa (CSOs, development agencies, research institutions) by disseminating research findings, brokering meetings, facilitating dialogue, organising training, and lobbying activities as well as a small grants facility.

The work focuses on the dryland belt of Africa south of the Sahara, particularly the, several coastal countries in West Africa, East Africa and the Horn. IIED chooses to focus on these areas for two main reasons: first, they include some of the poorest countries in the world; secondly, despite the differences across countries and sub-regions, the drylands present important commonalities in the challenges they face, and taking such a "geographical" focus enables mutual learning and cross-fertilisation. Also exchanges between these and other regions, particularly Southern Africa, are promoted. 

Contact information:
Address: 4 Hanover Street, EH2 2EN Edinburgh - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-131-226.7040
Fax: +44-131-624.7050)
E-mail: drylands@iied.org
Internet: www.iied.org/drylands/index.html

Information collected 07/2005

Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE)

JFGE is part of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of the Japan Environment Corporation. Its aim is to provide support for NGO programs working for the conservation of the environment. JFGE contributes through two programs: the Grants Program, which provides financial support for environmental conservation projects conducted by NGOs; and the NGO Support Program, which provides support to NGOs through provision of information materials and training courses (only in Japanese and for Japanese-speaking).

Projects eligible for assistance are: actual implementation of afforestation, desertification, nature conservation, wildlife protection and pollution control (air, water and soil) projects; field studies and research directly related to the above projects; projects aimed at achieving sustainable management of natural resources (local and regional level); projects aimed at raising environmental awareness among the public; provision of skills training and information materials to both NGOs and local communities for the implementation of their environmental projects; organizing of conferences, seminars and workshops; and other conservation projects such as utilization of clean energy.

Note: JFGE requires all applications to be written in Japanese. Therefore, foreign NGOs must have a Japanese representative (resident in Japan), who can coordinate and fill out all the necessary form in Japanese.

Contact information:
Address: 1-4-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyodaku, 100-0013 Tokyo - Japan
Phone: +81-3-5251.1076
Fax: +81-3-3592.5090
E-mail: kikin@jec.go.jp 
Internet: www.jec.go.jp 

Information collected 05/2005

Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)

Keidanren's membership includes all major Japanese companies and industry associations. It is considered one of the most powerful organizations in Japan. The activities of the Fund are: support of activities, including aid, for foreign and Japanese NGO-administered nature conservation projects in developing countries; providing training for personnel that will work on international nature conservation projects; and promotion of environment consciousness.

The KNCF supports field projects which provide assistance for nature conservation efforts in developing countries worldwide but particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The KNCF gives priority to projects that will serve to enrich biodiversity a.o. through regeneration of water sources and forests by the local people efforts, conservation efforts, and sustainable natural resources management.

Contact Information:
Address: Kotani-Bldg. 8F, 1-2-7 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-Ku, 100-0047 Tokyo - Japan
Phone: +81-3-5282-5701
Fax: +81-3-5282-5703
E-mail: kncf@keidanren.or.jp 
Internet: www.keidanren.or.jp/kncf 

Information collected 05/2005

Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation (LCAOF)

The Foundation concerns itself particularly with matters of species extinction, habitat destruction and fragmentation, resource depletion and resource waste. It favors solutions that directly benefit local communities and serve as exemplars for saving species and wildlands. It recognizes the imperative to reconcile nature preservation with human needs and aspirations.

There are two primary programme interests: mitigation of conflict between the land resource needs of local communities; and conservation of biological diversity in rural landscapes outside of parks and reserves; and the implementation of relevant, field-based scientific, technical, and practical training programs for local people. The hallmarks of a Foundation project include local participation, personal involvement and accountability.

Contact information:
Contact person(s): James Murtaugh, Program Manager
Address: 650 5th Avenue, NY 10019 New York - United States
Phone: +1-212-333.2536
Fax: +1-212-956.3531
E-mail: lcaof@fcc.net 
Internet: www.lcaof.org/home.html 

Information collected 02/2005

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (MS)

The Danish Association for International Co-operation combines development assistance with both political lobbyism and active grassroot. MS is working to promote understanding and solidarity across borders, colour and politics; and to contribute to sustainable global development and a just distribution of the earth's resources. MS strives to do that by means of development assistance, youth exchange, development education, ethnic minorities work, information and advocacy work.
In its goal to fight poverty MS supports its partners in the South with different types of assistance such as training, transportation, small-scale funding, equipment, support for employment of qualified local people - and the posting of Danish development workers. Several country programmes concentrate on protection and conservation of the environment a.o. through sustainable use of local natural resources.

Contact Information:
Address: Borgergade 14, 1300 Copenhagen - Denmark
Phone: +45-7-731.00.00
Fax: +45-7-731.01.01
E-mail: ms@ms-dan.dk 
Internet: www.ms.dk/uk/default.htm 

Information collected 07/2004

Nature and Culture International (NCI)

Background: NCI is dedicated: to preserve lands containing high biodiversity and great numbers of threatened and endangered species; to support traditional cultures which can be as threatened as their natural environments; to promote basic scientific research in biological and cultural diversity. Other themes are environmental education, sustainable development, and capacity building of partners.

The Bosque Seco project in Ecuador is an effort to analyze the sustainable development possibilities in several local dry forest communities. Through intensive community participation, one hopes to find ways of life that will be beneficial for both these endangered habitats and the people who live in them. NCI's North American Arid Lands Program arose in recognition of the fact that the deserts of the American southwest and adjacent areas of northwestern Mexico represent rapidly deteriorating living space for a growing number of threatened animal and plant species.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Ivan C. Gayler
Address: 1400 Maiden Lane, CA 92014 Del Mar - United States
Phone: +1-858-259.0374
Fax: +1-858-259.1815
E-mail: igayler@natureandculture.org 
Internet: www.natureandculture.org 

Information collected 04/2004

NC-IUCN-NL DAS Programme

The main aim of the NC-IUCN-NL Dry and Sub-Humid Areas Small Grants Programme is to alleviate poverty through the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of dry and sub-humid ecosystems. Other aims are capacity building of local NGOs (especially dryland ecosystem management) and improved policy influencing by NGOs on all levels.

Regarding the sustainable use and conservation of dry and sub-humid ecosystems and their resources a whole range of initiatives is supported: traditional management and conservation systems; community-based management; sustainable use of (wildlife) resources; gender relations and natural resource management; support for ecosystem restoration (forest landscape restoration, natural regeneration); agroforestry; access to natural resources (including conflict resolution between different stakeholders); marketing of sustainably harvested dry land products; and support for sustainable income generating activities.

(At the moment) DAS only funds projects in the West African ecoregion (SW. Senegal, SW. Mauritania, S. Mali, Burkina Faso, S. Niger, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, SW Chad, N. Cameroon, N. Nigeria).
NGOs and CBOs actually based in dry or sub-humid regions of West Africa are especially encouraged to submit project proposals. Organisations based outside the region under consideration are advised to ensure presence of project personnel in the area for a substantial part of the project duration, and indicate this clearly and in concrete terms in their proposal.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Mrs. Rietje Grit, programme coordinator
Address: Plantage Middenlaan 2K, 1018 DD Amsterdam - the Netherlands
Phone: +31-20-626.17.32
Fax: +31-20-627.93.49
E-mail: mail@nciucn.nl 
Internet: www.nciucn.nl/english/funds/das/eng/index.htm 

Information collected 10/2004

Nouvelle Planète (NP)

Nouvelle Planete works with local organizations and grassroots groups to design and implement community development projects. In the field of agriculture NP supports initiatives like: ecological agriculture courses; construction of wells, dams, dykes and irrigation canals to develop cultures in the dry season, and to fight desertification; creation of tree nurseries and orchards in villages, and of reforested areas; enhancing the sustainable exploitation of natural resources. With respect to appropiate technology NP supports: training courses and local production of appropriate technology for villages and farmers; initiatives in the field of solar energy and other renewable energy sources to replace traditional fuels like wood.

Contact information:
Contact person: Philippe Randin, Director randin@nouvelle-planete.ch
Address: Chemin de la forêt 3, 1042 Assens - Switzerland
Phone: +41-21-881.23.80
Fax: +41-21-882.10.54
E-mail: nouvelle-planete@freesurf.ch 
Internet: www.nouvelle-planete.ch

Information collected 06-2005

Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP)

The PHP provides grants to programs addressing hunger and its causes around the world. One of the five program areas is development assistance for socio-economic activities.
Supported are a whole variety of projects in areas like: appropriate agricultural technology; rural community development (cooperative economic development, community forestry); effective soil conservation and water resource development; restoration and preservation of fragile eco systems (through check dams, terracing and reforestation); an equitable food distribution, appropriate technological research dealing with alternative cooking fuel and preservation of environment.
PHP also supports projects in the field of strengthening of natives' rights and preservation of their biological resources, conservation and diversification of local agriculture (through agro-forestry and horticulture), hydroponic organic agriculture, and the creation of tree nurseries and reforestation programs as income-generating activity for women.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Lionel Derenoncourt (international hunger concerns) 

Address: 100 Witherspoon Street, KY 40202 Louisville - United States
Phone: +1-502-569.8963
E-mail: php@pcusa.org 
Internet: www.pcusa.org 

Information collected 03/2004

Sahel Defis

Developpement Environnement Formation Insertion Sociale - short Sahel Défis - represents a network of Sahelian NGOs active in the field of desertification control and poverty alleviation. The goal is to provide financial and technical support to local initiatives, as a first step towards major sustainable development. It takes advantage of the CCD process to launch, support and follow up on field activities initiated by local NGOs in various countries of the Sahel. Sahel Dàfis supports local initiatives in environmental protection and income generation for women and youth in the Sahel region of Africa. Projects focus on training, income and employement generation, natural resource management and the rehabilitation of degraded natural sites (a.o. through afforestation).

Contact information:
Contact person: M. Tahirou Diao
Address: 253 chemin de Fontanières, 69350 La Mulatière - France
Phone: +33-4-7851.4888
Fax: +33-4-7851.4858
E-mail: ccd1196@wanadoo.fr 
Internet: saheldefis.free.fr 

Information collected 08/2004

Self Help Development International (SHDI)

Self Help works by helping people to help themselves to recover their independence and self sufficiency. Food aid may be essential in the short term, but in the long term the only way to break the famine cycle is through development. SHDI implements rural development programmes with components like conservation and restoration of the natural resources including measures against soil erosion and land degradation (afforestation, conservation), crop production (seed ditribution, irrigation), water distribution, livestock development, women, health, education/training, capacity building.

Contact Information:
Address: Hacketstown, Co. Carlow - Ireland
Phone: +353-508-71175
Fax: +353-508-71292
E-mail: info@selfhelpintl.ie 
Internet: www.selfhelpintl.ie 

Information collected 02/2003

Siemenpuu Foundation

The Siemenpuu Foundation wants to support people in the South to get their voices heard and at the same time to support their work in advancing citizen´s political and other decision-making powers locally and globally; in protecting biological and cultural diversity; in securing the safety of their environment and control over natural resources, and in furthering ecologically sustainable production and consumption.
Primarily, the Foundation gives support directly to civil society organisations and networks of organisations, NGOs, community groups and research institutes operating and based in developing countries. The nature of the activities supported can be diverse: projects, research, publications, training, environmental and human rights advocacy work (both locally and globally), and support for communities in getting organised and politically empowered etc.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Heidi Leino, Officer of Development Co-operation
Address: Aleksanterinkatu 48 A, 00100 Helsinki - Finland
Phone: +58-9-272.23.36
Fax: +358-9-622.718.92
E-mail: info@siemenpuu.org 
Internet: www.siemenpuu.org 

Information collected 04/2004

SOS Sahel UK

SOS Sahel is the only British development organisation to focus exclusively on the semi-arid lands of the Sahel (Mali, Niger, Sudan) and Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya). Projects are designed by local people to meet their needs and address their problems. Activities are: helping groups of herders and farmers to negotiate long-term management agreements so that they have rights to the forest, land and water resources that their livelihoods depend on; improving crop and livestock production, providing credit for income generation, raising literacy levels and ensuring safe water supply to help poor men and women meet their immediate needs; and lobbying governments to change laws and codes of practice in order to help the poorest people fight poverty and environmental degradation.

Contact information:
Address: 10c Littlegate Street, St. Ebbes, OX1 1QT Oxford - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-1865-723.200
Fax: +44-1865-722.355
E-mail: mail@sahel.org.uk 
Internet: www.sahel.org.uk

Information collected 07/2005

Sustainable Harvest International (SHI)

The mission of SHI is to reverse environmental degradation by helping rural inhabitants in Central America restore ecological stability and sustainable economic productivity to overexploited lands. SHI facilitates farmers and communities in the tropics with long-term assistance implementing environmentally and economically sustainable technologies and land use practices that alleviate poverty by restoring ecological stability.

SHI has planted over 1,000,000 trees, converted thousands of acres of degraded land to sustainable uses and saved over hundreds of thousands of acres of tropical forest from slash-and-burn destruction through introduction of agro-forestry techniques (alley-cropping, multi-story cultivation, live barriers, mulch forage and fruit production, silvo-pastoral systems, firewood lots and wind breaks) and afforestation - especially for watershed protection.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Sarah Kennedy
Address: 81 Newbury Neck Rd., ME 04684 Surry - United States
Phone: +1-207-664.0987
Fax: +1-207-664.0700
E-mail: info@sustainableharvest.org 
Internet: www.sustainableharvest.org 

Information collected 05/2002

SwissAid

SwissAid works in rural areas. Its support aims at promoting the autonomy of local populations, and it encourages people to develop sustainable solutions to their problems on the basis of their own knowledge, creativity, resources and traditions. This implies promotion of the full participation of women as well as support for the access to - and the conservation of - natural resources like land and water. Projects include all aspects of rural development: Agriculture, erosion protection, irrigation- and sanitation, transport, crafts, education, healthcare and organisational build-up.

Contact information:
Address: Jubiläumsstrasse 60, 3000 Bern - Switzerland
Phone: +41-31-350.5353
Fax: +41-31-350.2783
E-mail: postmaster@swissaid.ch 
Internet: www.swissaid.ch 

Information collected 04/2002

TREE AID

TREE AID is working to alleviate poverty and reverse environmental degradation through community forest projects in arid Africa. It aims to strengthen the long-term self-reliance of people in Africa's drylands, so that they can meet their basic needs, earn an income, and increase the stability of their communities through the regeneration of their woodlands. TREE AID does not implement its own projects. Rather it funds local organisations that are already working with village communities they know. However, TREE AID does provide training to strengthen the technical and management capacity of the partner organisations, so that they can run their own projects long after funding has ended. Also local expertise is used to follow up on funded projects to learn and improve the work on the ground.

The Project Development Fund is designed to provide small amounts of funds for organizations wishing to carry out participatory research, feasibility studies, baseline assessments and small pilot projects to assist in the development of a project proposal and prior to a project commencing.
The Individual Project Fund funds community tree projects that involve people and the benefits trees can bring to them. A typical project may include one of more of the following: management of natural forests and shrublands and/or rangelands; creation and management of tree nurseries, woodlots and plantations (on a communal or private basis); agroforestry including shelterbelts, windbreaks or livefencing.
TREE AID aims to fund projects, which demonstrate a long-term commitment to a region and its people and therefore welcomes applications for projects which last over 3 -5 years.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Caroline Robottom
Address: Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square, BS2 8PE Bristol - United Kingdom
Phone: +44-117-909.6363
Fax: +44-117-909.6617
E-mail: programmes@treeaid.org.uk 
Internet: www.treeaid.org.uk 

Information collected 06/2004

Trees for Life USA (TFL)

Trees for Life is a people-to-people movement, that helps plant fruit trees in Cambodia, India and Latin America. Each fruit tree protects the environment and provides a low-cost, self-renewing source of food for a large number of people. Trees for Life's activities include three elements: education, health and environment. Volunteers in the villages are trained by Trees for Life and provided with essential support for programs that respond to the needs of their communities. Besides fruit trees the organisation also supports: introduction of fuel-efficient cookstoves, construction of water wells, and measures for soil regeneration in order to improve degraded land.

Contact Information:
Contact person: Jack Murphy
Address: 3006 W St Louis, KS 67203 Wichita- United States
Phone: +1-316-945.6929
Fax: +1-316-945.0909
E-mail: info@treesforlife.org 
Internet: www.treesforlife.org 

Information collected 09/2004

ViSkogen

The Foundation ViSkogen started in 1983 with a cry in the magazine 'Vi' to help stop the spread of the desert in Africa. The focus of the Vi Agroforestry Programme is the preservation of trees in East Africa. ViSkogen plants millions of trees every year, to prevent famine and help East Africans build themselves a sustainable future. Agroforestry is a word which perfectly describes how the ViSkogen is using these resources to the very best advantage. The aim is to integrate agroforestry within the farming systems of small-scale farmers and make it the engine of economic growth and poverty alleviation. The goal is to contribute towards improved livelihood of small-scale farmers. Immediate objectives are: increase of food and nutritional security; increase fuel-wood availability; and increased income.

Contact information:
Address: PO Box 302 27, 10425 Stockholm - Sweden
Phone: +46-8-657.47.36
Fax: +46-8-657.47.39
E-mail: plantera@viskogen.se 
Internet: www.vi-skogen.com/index.html 

Information collected 10/2004

Winrock International

The Winrock International Livestock Research and Training Center was created to improve animal agriculture worldwide. The merger with the Agricultural Development Council (founded by John D. Rockefeller) and the International Agricultural Development Service led to the creation of the Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development. The mission of Winrock is to work with people all around the world in order to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock matches innovative approaches in agriculture, natural resources management, clean energy, and leadership development with the unique needs of its partners. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

Activities with respect to agriculture: introduction of new farm technologies and improved seed varieties; micro-credit programs and micro-enterprise development; water and soil management; livestock and inland fisheries practices; alternative crops; post-harvest processing to add value; policies that ensure market opportunities and fair pricing; partnerships among public and private organizations, farmers, and educational institutions.
Activities regarding forestry and natural resources management: promoting sustainable use and conservation of natural resources - forests, soils, water, and biodiversity - through participatory approaches that build the capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations for integrated natural resources management and economic development.

Contact information:
Address: 2101 Riverfront Drive, AR 72202 Little Rock - United States
Phone: +1-501-280.3000
E-mail: communications@winrock.org 
Internet: www.winrock.org 

Information collected 04/2005

World Vision USA

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision has several focus areas, two of which are:

• Agriculture and Food Production: The goal is to increase food security in food deficit regions through agriculture, reforestation, and soil and water conservation programs. Ensuring a safe water supply forms a foundation for almost every project. Besides drilling wells and installing pumps, World Vision trains communities in system maintenance, hygiene, sanitation and in the use of water in vegetable production, aquaculture and agriculture.
• Natural Resource Management: World Vision considers an on-going commitment to natural resource management as a foundation of all development projects. Efforts include soil and water conservation, livestock management, reforestation, and training in environmentally sensitive land and water management.

Contact Information:
Address: c/o World Vision International Programs, 300 "I" Street NE, DC 20002 Washington - United States
Phone: +1-202-572.-6300
E-mail: info@worldvision.org 
Internet: www.worldvision.org 

Information collected 07/2005

DISCLAIMER

Both ENDS has compiled an overview of donor agencies that are primarily funding forest and/or forest related activities. The information is provided as a service to NGOs. Copies of any and all content on this website are freely provided to not-for-profit organisations and other charitable, educational, public and community minded organisations to use. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this document.

Before relying on the material, users should independently verify its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes. The material may include views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of Both ENDS, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. Links to other websites are inserted for convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service.Any comments should be directed to the information officer, Huub Kistermann, hk@bothends.org

The Netherlands Committee of the World Conservation Union (NC-IUCN) and the Directorate General International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Dutch Foreign Office provided the funding for this publication.

© Both ENDS (09/2005)