The Congo Basin
Congo Basin Programme
Our research shows that philanthropic funding for mainland African forests is much lower than it is for forest protection in Latin America and Southeast Asia; the current funding response has been insufficient to address needs.
We have been working in the region since 2012 and have now developed a programme designed to encourage a more coordinated response to the threats. We have identified numerous strong local partners, as well as several excellent international organisations and will continue to build on this through our rigorous research, consultation with our partners and site visits.
We are sharing our research and programme with multiple donors to leverage pooled funding to enable a ‘win-win’ for both donor and grantee. For the (often overstretched) grantee, it means less time spent fundraising and completing paperwork; and done well it also means more opportunity to collaborate and learn from other grantees. For the donor, it offers an opportunity to learn about and fund grantees in areas previously inaccessible given lack of capacity to research the region, identify good partners or conduct due diligence.
Current partners in our Congo Basin Programme

Green Development Advocates
Green Development Advocates (GDA) is a Cameroonian organisation which works with forest communities and indigenous peoples to support sustainable development activities in forests in Southwe
FESO: Femmes Solidaires
Femmes Solidaires (FESO), is a coalition of 24 women’s groups from across the DRC advocating for equal energy access and the democratic participation of women in Congolese society. FESO ha
Struggle to Economize Future Environment
Struggle to Economize Future Environment (SEFE) is a grassroots NGO which mobilises communities in Southwest Cameroon to protect forests and farmland from a proposed large-scale palm oil pla
Reseau CREF
Réseau CREF (Network for the Conservation and Restoration of Forest Ecosystems) is a coalition of around 30 local organisations based in North Kivu, Eastern DRC. Its overarching aim is to
Mbou Mon Tour
Mbou Mon Tour is a group of communities working in Mai Ndombe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to protect forests and savannah, which are home to bonobos and other small primates, and ca
LifeMosaic
LifeMosaic, a UK-based organisation, works to empower indigenous peoples globally, with a specific focus on youth. It works at the local level, providing training as well as creative toolkit
International Rivers Africa Programme
International Rivers’ Africa Programme works across the continent to protect river systems and advance the rights of local communities affected by infrastructure development. Africa is a d
Genetic Resources Action International
GRAIN is an international NGO that began in the 1980s as a coalition of likeminded people doing research, advocacy and lobbying around loss of diversity on farms. Its work evolved to focus o
Association Okani
OKANI is a community-based organisation based in the Eastern region of Cameroon established and governed by Baka peoples. It works to secure the rights of and promote sustainable livelihoods
Field Advisory Legality Group
Field Legality Advisory Group (FLAG) was established by a group of three Cameroonian experts in 2012 to build the capacity of government and civil society groups (including of law enforceme
Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones
Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones (DGPA) is a network of around 45 organisations, including indigenous forest peoples’ groups, working to secure the rights of indigenous people
Well Grounded
Well Grounded works across the Congo Basin for civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide organisation and strategy development support so that organisations can have real and sustainable
Rainforest Foundation UK
Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) works with local civil society groups to challenge destructive models of development and support local communities to manage their customary forests. The fore