Projects

REDAA currently supports 21 locally led research-to-action initiatives that improve evidence, tools and governance to help people and nature thrive. These projects take place across 17 countries and cover a diverse range of landscapes and ecosystems.

Explore using the map or read the project summaries below.

Project summaries

Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the forests of the Congo

In aiming to strengthen legal frameworks in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and empower Indigenous Peoples to protect and manage their forest landscapes, this project assesses legal gaps and supports Indigenous Peoples to document customary land use, strengthen community governance and advocate for reforms in land, resource, climate and biodiversity policy.
Image
Woman walks on a field in between green plants.
Country:
Congo - Brazzaville Congo - Kinshasa
Location:
Sangha, Likouala and Lékoumou departments, Congo and Tshopo province, DRC
Environments:
Forests
Lead organisation:
Forest Peoples Programme
Grant amount (GBP):
£500000
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2026
Read more about this project

Community researchers and local innovations for forest care and restoration in Viet Nam

Forest owners and nearby communities in Viet Nam’s natural forest environments, are developing innovative and evidence-based sustainable forest management methods. This project focuses on support for community researchers in their use of bioacoustics and local leadership for enhancing livelihoods while conserving and restoring natural forests.
Country:
Vietnam
Location:
Quang Ninh district
Environments:
Forests
Lead organisation:
Viet Nature Conservation Centre
Grant amount (GBP):
£320000
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
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Community-based research and action for sustainable land use in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Community-based action plans and sustainable land management interventions are co-developed to address land degradation and improve livelihoods in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. This includes land degradation assessments, locally-led participatory approaches, gender-sensitive and low-cost site-specific business models, and local capacity strengthening.
Image
A person walks beside an ox-drawn cart in a dusty, barren field with dry vegetation under a clear sky, with distant hills in the background..
Country:
Ethiopia
Location:
Halaba district
Environments:
Afromontane Rift Valley
Lead organisation:
Hawassa University University of Aberdeen
Grant amount (GBP):
£498316
Project dates:
April 2024 – April 2027
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Improving value chains and ecosystem restoration through local agroforestry innovation in Viet Nam

Smallholder farmers in the Bac Ha district of northern Vietnam are reversing the degradation of their land and improving their livelihoods. This project is supporting agroforestry practices to improve the soil and control erosion and developing new income sources for farmers, thereby reducing pressures on natural resources and promoting climate change resilience.
Image
Terraced agricultural fields in a mountainous rural landscape in Viet Nam, with rows of evenly spaced tree holes prepared for planting. The landscape features a mix of green, brown, and orange patches, a small pond, scattered trees, and a hazy sky in the background.
Country:
Vietnam
Location:
Bac Ha district
Environments:
Agroforestry Forests Mountains
Lead organisation:
International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Grant amount (GBP):
£499992
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
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Inclusive and diversified crop enterprises and restoration for forest-farm landscapes in Myanmar and Viet Nam

This project addresses unsustainable agriculture practices that lead to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss in Myanmar and Viet Nam. Through a research-to-action approach, stakeholders are exploring the drivers of degradation, engaging in transparent policy dialogues, and developing inclusive diversified crop enterprises and restoration practices in forest-farm landscapes.
Country:
Myanmar (Burma) Vietnam
Location:
Inle Lake watershed, Myanmar and Mai Son district, Viet Nam
Environments:
Agriculture Lakes Mountains
Lead organisation:
RECOFTC
Grant amount (GBP):
£493478
Project dates:
March 2024 – February 2027
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Knowledge for improved food-systems and restoration in the Kenya-Tanzania boundary rangelands

Facilitating locally-led research, communications and multi-stakeholder dialogue spaces for good governance and restoration actions within a Southern Kenya-Northern Tanzania transboundary wildlife movement corridor
Country:
Kenya Tanzania
Location:
Mara-Amboseli-Kilimanjaro landscape
Environments:
Wildlife corridors Food systems
Lead organisation:
WWF Tanzania
Grant amount (GBP):
£499946
Project dates:
March 2024 – August 2026
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Knowledge for wildlife, livestock and livelihood strategies in Namibia

Extended periods of drought in northwest Namibia have caused substantial declines in wildlife and livestock, threatening local livelihoods. This project focuses on local knowledge and spatial data to help understand factors affecting wildlife populations. The results will inform strategies aimed at helping wildlife and livelihoods recover after droughts, which can be supported by the Legacy Landscape Fund and others.
Country:
Namibia
Location:
Kunene region
Environments:
Drylands
Lead organisation:
WWF - Namibia WWF - UK
Grant amount (GBP):
£497923
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
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Local citizen science for inclusive watershed management in the Philippines

In the Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve in the Philippines, conflicting development plans and unsustainable practices threaten ecological integrity. In this project, local citizen science will address these threats by establishing safeguards for watershed conservation, inclusive governance of protected areas, and community-led nature-based solutions.
Image
A group of people in a forest is looking up to the trees. One of them is using binoculars (Photo: copyright Haribon)
Country:
Philippines
Location:
Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve
Environments:
Forests Rivers Watershed
Lead organisation:
Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. (Haribon Foundation)
Grant amount (GBP):
£337000
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
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Local credit management for increased agrobiodiversity in Tanzania

To address environmental degradation in Tanzania, this initiative is implementing a locally-led credit-based mechanism which creates an incentive for smallholder farmers to develop agrobiodiversity. Local stakeholders lead the way in action research that is designing and testing this credit system for sustainable resource use with agricultural productivity.
Country:
Tanzania
Location:
Mbarali catchment in Mbeya and Katuma catchment in Katavi
Environments:
Agriculture
Lead organisation:
Rikolto International
Grant amount (GBP):
£400959
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2027
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Long fallow agriculture for improved management of coastal forests in Tanzania

To address the decline of long-fallow swidden agriculture and agroforestry in Tanzania, this project combines research and action to restore these approaches in management of coastal forest areas. Farmer-led research, institutional capacity-building, and developing business opportunities based on ecosystem services will be combined to provide new sustainable land management options for small-scale farmers.
Country:
Tanzania
Location:
Nachingwea district
Environments:
Agriculture Agroforestry Forests
Lead organisation:
Tanzania Forest Conservation Group
Grant amount (GBP):
£499724
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
Read more about this project

Mangroves for enhanced livelihoods and climate resilience in Myanmar

Responding to mangrove deforestation in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Delta, this project focuses on community-led research to explore and implement ways to protect and govern mangroves better, leading to improved climate resilience and increased economic opportunities.
Country:
Myanmar (Burma)
Location:
Ayeyarwady Delta
Environments:
Coastal Fisheries Forests Mangroves
Lead organisation:
Worldwide Fund for Nature Myanmar
Grant amount (GBP):
£500000
Project dates:
March 2024 – February 2027
Read more about this project

Reorienting forest restoration with local knowledge and inclusion in Nepal

In some places in the Nepalese Himalayas, forest degradation and biodiversity loss persist because of restoration policies and carbon management practices that prioritise monocrops. This project combines ecological data and traditional knowledge to help co-develop ecologically sound and inclusive strategies for restoration while strengthening the capacities and decision-making power of local people working on restoration.
Image
Shepherd tending to his flock of sheep in a lush, green field.
Country:
Nepal
Location:
Central Himalayas
Environments:
Forests Mountains
Lead organisation:
ForestAction Nepal
Grant amount (GBP):
£354728
Project dates:
March 2024 – June 2027
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Scaling up locally-led forest restoration in Bangladesh

To restore forests and enhance biodiversity in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts, this project is expanding proven models of restoration in a mosaic of land use types at landscape level through locally-led planning, implementation and monitoring.
Country:
Bangladesh
Location:
Bandarban district
Environments:
Agroforestry Forests
Lead organisation:
Arannayk Foundation
Grant amount (GBP):
£480000
Project dates:
March 2024 – June 2027
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Smallholder research, agroforestry, natural regeneration and policy engagement in Rwanda

Community-led research in the Huye and Gisagara districts of Rwanda is evaluating the effectiveness of country-wide climate strategies and policies. The findings from this work are being used by smallholder communities in their development of agroforestry and natural regeneration and in their approaches to policy engagement for locally-led action to reverse environmental degradation.t
Country:
Rwanda
Location:
Huye and Gisagara districts
Environments:
Agriculture
Lead organisation:
Tearfund Rwanda
Grant amount (GBP):
£500000
Project dates:
April 2024 – March 2027
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Smallholders restoring pollinators for improved livelihoods and climate resilience in Zimbabwe

Communities in Zimbabwe are exploring the benefits of an innovative approach called "Farming with Alternative Pollinators". The project supports smallholder farmers to bring back greater diversity and increased population of pollinators in their farms with proven benefits for crop productivity and resilience while promoting ecosystem restoration.
Image
Bettle polinator on Okra plant
Country:
Zimbabwe
Location:
Gokwe North and Kariba districts
Environments:
Agriculture
Lead organisation:
Nutrition Action Zimbabwe
Grant amount (GBP):
£428000
Project dates:
March 2024 – February 2027
Read more about this project

Strengthening Indigenous land management for improved agroecology and wetland governance in Cambodia

Indigenous Peoples' organisations are supporting communities to strengthen their traditional knowledge and natural resource management and achieve inclusive local governance. Action research is generating evidence that can influence policymakers about the value of Indigenous knowledge in developing alternative approaches to environmental management, local livelihoods and climate action.
Image
Two people walk in a dense forest next to a lake.
Country:
Cambodia
Location:
Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kompong Thom, and Preh Vihear provinces
Environments:
Agriculture Forests Wetlands
Lead organisation:
Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization
Grant amount (GBP):
£400000
Project dates:
March 2024 – December 2027
Read more about this project

Strengthening locally led restoration among farmer and pastoralist communities in Tanzania

Tanzania's Southern Highlands and Northern Arid regions are facing threats from unsustainable use of the land. This initiative is supporting local farmer and pastoralist organisations to lead research, employ restorative practices, and overcome implementation barriers to environmental sustainability and increased productivity.
Image
Aerial view of a group of people in an arid field, next to a road.
Country:
Tanzania
Location:
Mufindi, Longido, Meru, Simanjiro and Kiteto districts
Environments:
Agriculture Drylands Highlands Pasture
Lead organisation:
Trias
Grant amount (GBP):
£498786
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2027
Read more about this project

Supporting refugee and host communities to improve livelihoods and ecosystem restoration in Uganda

Rising refugee numbers in Uganda has contributed to land and vegetation degradation, loss of livelihoods and health challenges, which exacerbate climate change impacts. In this project, refugee and host communities adopt a research-to-action approach to design, pilot and promote solutions for biodiversity conservation, enhanced food security, inclusivity, and improved livelihoods.
Country:
Uganda
Location:
Adjumani, Kikuube and Kamwenge districts
Environments:
Afromontane Informal settlements
Lead organisation:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Grant amount (GBP):
£500000
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2027
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Tackling invasive species through community-based restoration in the Western Ghats

Indigenous Peoples are gaining more control over their ecosystems, helping to restore ecological and cultural services in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats. This community-based ecological restoration project provides communities with support and scientific tools for mapping and removing invasive species, and planting native ones.
Image
Landscape with lush, green vegetation.
Country:
India
Location:
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Environments:
Forests Grasslands
Lead organisation:
Keystone Foundation
Grant amount (GBP):
£349994
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2027
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Urban wetland agroecology restoration in Bangladesh

Agroecological practices and Indigenous knowledge are being brought to the fore in a wetland stewardship programme that addresses biodiversity loss in the Gulshan-Baridhara Lake urban area in Bangladesh. The project aims to help achieve this locally-led stewardship through participatory wetland assessments, co-creation of restoration and management tools, and the development of green entrepreneurship.
Image
A group of individuals in a boat on a lake surrounded by an urban area.
Country:
Bangladesh
Location:
Gulshan-Baridhara Lake
Environments:
Informal settlements Lakes Wetlands
Lead organisation:
River and Delta Research Center University of Sheffield
Grant amount (GBP):
£499995
Project dates:
April 2024 – December 2027
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Young women leading environmental stewardship in West Kalimantan

This project supports Indigenous young women in West Kalimantan to become leaders in environmental stewardship. Through leadership training, community-based environmental projects and an emphasis on traditional knowledge, they are enhancing gender equality and climate and ecological resilience in three regions where young women are often underrepresented.
Image
Three people in a field under a blue sky, tending to green plants
Country:
Indonesia
Location:
West Kalimantan province
Environments:
Forests General
Lead organisation:
Gemawan
Grant amount (GBP):
£250000
Project dates:
March 2024 – March 2026
Read more about this project