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Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development, Ghana
CIKOD aims to facilitate dialogue on the role of indigenous knowledge and institution in modern day community development and empowerment.
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Our Vision: CIKOD’s vision is that of a society, where the rural poor, the marginalized and rural women have a voice and contribute pro-actively to equitable and sustainable community development.
Our Mission: CIKOD’s Mission is to strengthen the capacities of communities through traditional authorities (TAs) and local institutions to utilize their local and appropriate external resources for their own development and for future generations.
About Us: The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) is a non-profit organization registered in Ghana under the Companies Code in 2003.
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ABOFAP Organic Farmers, Ghana
Abono Organic Farming project (ABOFAP), an Community based Orgabization based in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. ABOFAP works with rural farmers in the region to promote agro-ecological farming. ABOFAP engages and provides training for farmers in green manuring, composting, Famer management Natural regeneration, sack gardening, indigenous pest control measures.
ABOFAp also organizes and coordinates the work of local farmer crop coopertaives such as Mango farmers Associations, Cashew Farmers Associations and women Farmers Associations in the Brong Ahafo Region.
NACOFAG, The Gambia
http://wado-ngo.com/nacofag.html
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National Coordinating Organization for Farmers Associations in the Gambia (NACOFAG)
NACOFAG is a network of farmers and forest organizations involved in food security, sovereignty and traditional knowledge on indigenous agricultural practices among other initiatives.The aim and objectives as a farmer-based organization is to promote and defend the values of an efficient and sustainable small-holder agriculture, to promote solidarity between farmers associations in the country and the sub-region, to provide technical, managerial and resources support to farmer association and their members for improved production, processing and marketing of high value crops and livestock, to promote agro-business activities, to establish the basis for an organizational network, to attract financial and technical assistance from multi-lateral donors, charitable and governmental organizations, to promote awareness, good governance, effective leadership and empowerment of member associations, to mobilize community resources for members to develop their undertakings, all conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any of them.
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Kivulini Trust, Kenya
Kivulini Trust draws on the wisdom inherent in our communities’ traditional cultural systems and practices, and believe in their power to shape their own destiny - in order to create sustainable livelihoods and inspire the protection and celebration of their rich cultural and natural heritage.
Our vision: A progressive society that cherishes and celebrates its culture, respects its natural environment and enjoys social harmony and prosperity. The Trust holds very strongly that rapid and enduring change is possible when communities are able to harness and grow their own resources and initiate their own solutions on development issues affecting them.
Our mission: To support pastoralist, fishing and other minority communities in the northern rangelands of Kenya to sustain their cultural and natural heritage, and to realize their socio-economic aspirations
Our purpose: To promote and support the perpetuation of cultural knowledge and practices and to facilitate positive change by building on the existing cultural strengths, indigenous knowledge and natural resources management know-how for the realization of holistic and sustainable development.
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Institute for Culture and Ecology, Kenya
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The Institute for Culture and Ecology (ICE) was founded in 2006 out of a visible need to promote the inherent and natural role of culture in environmental and resource management in Kenya. ICE's vision is one of empowered communities harnessing indigenous knowledge for healthy people and ecosystems.
ICE promotes traditional knowledge in environmental rehabilitation, conservation, and resource management. ICE is committed to buttressing traditional knowledge in community-based environmental and resource management initiatives and facilitating culture-based learning that would lead to the social and ecological well-being of the earth community. Their mission is to promote indigenous knowledge for environmental conservation and to enhance the livelihoods of local communities with regard to sustainable development.
ICE is well linked with like-minded organizations in Kenya, Africa and beyond who are pioneering innovative culture-based strategies and policy advocacy for recuperation, recognition and promotion of indigenous knowledge and practices relevant to environmental rehabilitation and management. Their strategies are informed by the current changes in climate and food scenarios on the ground, constant reflection on viable strategies to alleviate the deteriorating environmental situation and learning from current on-going work and the strengths of the organization.
A distinctive strategy for ICE is the recognition and promotion of traditional governance structures as vital elements in resource and environmental governance initiatives. To achieve their aim, strategic objectives include:
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Strengthening conservation of bio-cultural diversity and food security initiatives
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Promoting community reconstruction through alternative knowledge transfer
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Supporting research and advocacy initiatives
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Promoting community level climate change adaptation and mitigation
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Strengthening institutional development
PROMETRA, Uganda;
http://prometra.org/chapters/uganda
PROMETRA Uganda was founded in 2000 as a response to poor health conditions in the country and inadequate modern health services. Its focus is on traditional health care, a form of medicine that is comparatively accessible and affordable. The mission of PROMETRA is to promote traditional medical knowledge and practices for the improved health of the people. It welcomes collaboration from other health care traditions. The philosophy of PROMETRA is to harness nature and promote good health, with the vision of a healthy, well informed and productive population.
MELCA, Ethiopia
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MELCA works for healthy ecosystem, vibrant culture and improved lives of communities through developing and spreading innovative methods. This work is in four main program areas.
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Environmental Governance
The program works on registering and improving the governance of Man and Biosphere Reserves and Community Conserved Areas. It also works on supporting the revival of traditional ecological governance systems, education on environmental laws and policies.
Children & Youth Empowerment
The program aims to create children and youth who are rooted in their sustainable cultural practices but contribute positively to their environment. They will be facilitated to connect with nature, culture and themselves and to get quality education.
Agro-Ecology
The program works towards thriving living soil, increasing biodiversity, strengthening farmer innovation, knowledge development and sharing and higher levels of nutrition security.
Income Generating Activities (IGAs)
This program works to improve the life of disadvantaged local communities through provision of alternative livelihood options but in a way that does not harm both the culture and the environment
Muonde Trust, Zimbabawe
Supporting indigenous innovation in Mazvihwa, Zimbabwe
The Muonde Trust (a registered charitable body in Zimbabwe) is a community-based organisation dedicated to fomenting locally-driven creativity and development in the Mazvihwa and neighbouring areas of south central Zimbabwe (Zvishavane District). Through locally-driven educational, agricultural and community extension programs, and a healthy dose of action research, we back indigenous development efforts that maintain the connections between spirit, community and ecology.
Muonde works in ways that build upon local assets and require as little external funding as possible. However, it also benefits greatly from the generous contributions of individuals and funding agencies locally and overseas that enable it to meet cash needs and employ our entirely local staff. Funds can be received either directly or through the like-minded non-profit “Friends of Muonde” a project of Earth Island Institute (501c3), based in the San Francisco Bay area in California.
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SAEDP, South Africa
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SAEDP is an alliance of Spirit-mediums, Chiefs, Elders, and their Rural Communities and Universities fostering rural development cooperation through promoting and propagating the African traditional values, cultural heritage, and identity of the indigenous people of Southern Africa. It was founded in 2004 and registered in 2006 as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) by the Government of South Africa. It is owned by the Traditional Institutions (Spirit Mediums, Chiefs and their Communities) who are the authentic custodians of IKS, culture, spirituality and cosmo-vision. The vision of SAEDP is “Enhancing Endogenous Development in Southern Africa.” As implied in the name of the Organisation, SAEDP applies an integrated participatory approach in its wide-ranging bio-cultural diversity management operations that include natural resources conservation; organic agriculture; appropriate technology; traditional health delivery; local languages and IKS, culture, spirituality and cosmo-vision cutting across all development activities.
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ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
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CECIK, Ghana
JINUKUN, Benin
Ngaatho Community Foundation, Kenya
RUWFAG, Ghana
Dangne Youth Association, Ghana
Food Processors, The Gambia
