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
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
WHO WE ARE
Well Grounded was established by Cath Long and Iola Leal who gave us a vision of a world in which all people are able to seek and secure justice and sustainability through the management of natural resources. Our partners include, among others, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, networks, platforms, coalitions and social movements..
WHAT WE DO
We believe that real and sustainable impacts on natural resource management and community rights won’t be possible until people who live in the countries concerned have the information, skills and resources they need to address these issues directly, and to hold their own governments and decision-makers to account. We work with CSOs who are accountable to the communities they support and help amplify community voices.
WHERE WE WORK
We work in the Congo Basin, home to Earth’s second largest rainforest and Africa’s second-longest river. While the region supports the livelihoods of 40 million people, including many indigenous forest peoples, lack of secure land tenure for forest peoples leaves much of this incredible landscape and the life it supports vulnerable to destruction.
We believe that real and sustainable impacts on natural resource management and community rights won’t be possible until people who live in the countries concerned have the information, skills and resources they need to address these issues directly.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Well Grounded focuses on supporting groups of people who have come together to take action in their own countries, and who have set up some type of civil society organisation. We choose to work with civil society because we consider that it has an important role to play in proposing positive solutions to the challenges faced and as a counterweight to the very powerful voices of government and the private sector.
We believe that real and sustainable impacts on natural resource management and community rights won’t be possible until the people who live in the countries concerned have the information, skills and resources they need to address these issues directly, and to hold their own governments and decision-makers to account.
Our Mission
We support the development of civil society organisations in Africa to reach their full potencial and achieve real, positive change for environmental and social justice.
Our Strategy
Empowering
Civil society organisations
Women CSO leaders
Indigenous Peoples’ CSO leaders
Enabling
Civil society organisations environment
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.