The goal of the Siemenpuu Foundation’s development cooperation programme for 2026–2029 is to ensure that rural communities have greater equal opportunities to develop sustainable livelihoods, the biodiversity of forests and the agricultural environment is protected and strengthened, and the capacity of rights holders and stakeholders to participate in promoting the sustainability transition is enhanced. The goal is to strengthen the livelihoods of at least 20,000 people (100,000 people including family members).
Between 2026 and 2029, the program will support approximately 35 projects planned and implemented by local organizations in the Global South. Siemenpuu makes funding decisions based on applications received from these organizations. The main target countries for the program are Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, and Myanmar, all of which have a long history of collaboration with Siemenpuu. The primary beneficiaries and rights holders of the projects are the most vulnerable rural indigenous peoples and local communities, whose livelihoods depend on the natural resources of their environment.
Eligible projects promote the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities by strengthening the capacity of both rights holders and duty-bearers. Special attention is given to improving the status of women and people with disabilities. Biocultural and land rights, as well as sustainable practices in agriculture, forest use, and energy production, are central to the programme in terms of both livelihoods and environmental goals. During this programming period, a new call for proposals will also be piloted under the aforementioned themes, targeting organizations in the Global South for projects in which these organizations collaborate with the Finnish private sector.
The programme’s four interrelated themes for the sustainable and community-based management of natural resources are: Biocultural rights, Energy justice, Feminist agroecology and Community forests
THE PROGRAMME’S THEORY OF CHANGE
Long-term impact: Strengthening sustainable life and livelihoods in the rural communities reached by the programme.
Four desired changes (outcomes):
1. Equal opportunities for the communities reached by the programme to develop sustainable livelihoods have been strengthened.
2. Biodiversity in forests and agricultural environments in the areas reached by the programme has been strengthened and protected.
3. The capacity of the communities reached by the programme to participate in promoting the sustainability transition has been strengthened.
4. The Finns targeted by the programme are taking more active steps to promote global justice and ecological democracy.
The programme builds on Siemenpuu’s more than 20 years of work supporting civil society organizations and environmental defenders in the Global South in their efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and lifestyles, as well as the rights of the environment and local communities. Siemenpuu also engages in communication and advocacy work on these themes in Finland and through global networks: this strengthens the results of its activities and increases mutual learning between the Global South and the North.
In December 2025, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs granted Siemenpuu 4.3 million euros for programme-based development cooperation for the years 2026–2029. Read our news!