Well Grounded support the development of civil society organisations in Africa, helping them to reach their full potential and achieve real, positive change for environmental and social justice
We support African organisations to become stronger, so they deliver lasting impact for forests and communities.
WHO WE ARE
Well Grounded is a registered non-profit in both the UK and Cameroon, that was founded in 2010 in direct response to the challenges faced by local organisations and their leaders in the Congo Basin. Well Grounded provides organisations and leaders with the tools and support they need to realise their objectives and vision, and make a positive change for communities and forest ecosystems.
WHAT WE DO
We believe strong civil society organisations (CSOs) and networks of CSOs are critical actors in delivering lasting impact for forests and communities in the Congo Basin. We focus our strategies on supporting organisations as a whole, as well as on supporting established and emerging leaders, with a particular emphasis on representation and empowerment of traditionally marginalised or under-represented groups.
WHERE WE WORK
The Congo Basin is home to Earth’s second largest rainforest and Africa’s second longest river: the Congo. It supports the livelihoods of 80 million people, including many Indigenous forest peoples, and is a critical priority in the global fight against climate catastrophe. But in many areas, this ecosystem and its resources are not managed in a way that benefits local communities or that ensures that they will be available to future generations.
In our first fifteen years we worked with more than 80 CSOs in the Congo Basin, many of which have emerged as leading national or regional environmental organisations, and attribute their clear sense of purpose, identity and confidence to the processes facilitated by Well Grounded.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Our vision:
A credible, collaborative, inclusive and effective African civil society capable of advocating for social and environmental justice while empowering communities to determine their own future.
Our mission:
We support African organisations to become stronger, so they deliver lasting impact for forests and communities.
Our Theory of Change presents:
• Well Grounded’s activities and outcomes, which focus on civil society leaders and organisations, as well as the broader environment in which they operate; and
• The outcomes and impacts delivered by our partners, which we believe will be reinforced by our support.
OUR VALUES
Our relationships are centred around listening to and valuing the other person.We believe that mutual respect in our relationships means being treated with equity, while being transparent and accountable.
Each person is unique and has a value that should be recognised and a voice that should be heard. We will provide equal access to opportunities and resources for people and groups who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised. We will ensure people we work with have a say in decisions that affect them.
Each individual and organisation is seen as an independent actor in their own right. They hold both the power and the responsibility for their own actions and development.
Making and acknowledging mistakes, as well as celebrating successes, is part of the learning process. We believe in the importance of creating opportunities for continuous learning and in obtaining new knowledge at both the individual and collective levels.
OUR WAYS OF WORKING
We believe that each organisation is unique and requires a unique response to its particular situation. We therefore tailor our support to the organisation’s unique and particular needs.
We believe that the CSOs we work with should take ownership of their organisation’s development process, playing a key role in the transformation they seek. We will not do what organisations can do by and for themselves. We will act as “talking partners”, mentors or coaches supporting them in taking the lead in the transformation process, respecting the autonomy of each organisation to make the decisions on where and how they want to move forward.
We believe that we excel by amplifying strengths, never by only fixing weaknesses, therefore our focus will be on supporting strengths and opportunities — magnifying “what is best” and allowing us to imagine “what is next”.
Structure and processes will change if people’s behaviour and mindsets have changed. While supporting CSOs to improve their strategies, systems and processes, we will create a space to question and transform the organisational culture and practice. We will guide our client through a transformative journey.