Climate Change Responses That Strengthen Rural Communities
Overview
The goal of this work is to promote climate change policies that meet the needs of rural poor communities worldwide.
The Challenge
The majority of the world's poor live in rural areas that face severe vulnerability to the threats posed by climate change. Sustainable land and resource management can contribute to mitigating climate change, while improving livelihoods of rural populations, particularly indigenous groups and ethnic minorities.
The evolving international response to climate change is particularly relevant for the rural poor, because payments for environmental services can provide new sources of income and benefits.
What We're Doing
We are working to address flawed policies that can limit poor people's access to the natural resources they depend on and can foster land speculation and conflict.
We do this by making grants to support research, advocacy, networking among organizations and communications to increase awareness and training activities.
Our work also focuses on promoting socially just climate change policies that meet the needs of the rural poor.
Learn more about how our strategies and approaches shape our grant making.
From the Newsroom
- Ford Foundation President Addresses UN Convening on Sustainable and Just Cities Discusses how urbanization can improve lives and build a healthier planet
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News from Ford:
Ford Foundation on Sustainable and Just Cities
Ford grantees emphasize new priorities for the Rio+20 conference at UN forum on sustainable development
- In Guatemala, Strengthening Communities and the Economy Ford grantee is recognized for contributing to the country’s economic development
- Using Traditional Knowledge to Confront Climate Change The experiences of indigenous communities can inform global approaches to tackling environmental problems
Regions
Team
What We're Following
- The International Association for the Study of the Commons A key resource for discussion and analysis of community property, its management, and its contribution to sustainable development
- Mexico's Forest Dwellers Carve Out a Future in Trees Agence France Presse video coverage of community forestry in Mexico
- Protected Area Effectiveness in Reducing Tropical Deforestation World Bank study compares protected, multiple-use and indigenous areas 6 MB
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