Networks & Alliances at Keystone

Strengthening synergies among grassroot organisations largely working towards gender equity and women empowerment, livelihoods of vulnerable communities and climate action through indigenous rights. Through networking we facilitate a space for legal environment, exchange of information, experience, and expertise between organisations.

Components

The aim is to recognize the important role of grassroots action where local communities are at the center of all environmental and development activities. By lending support to grassroots efforts through Networks, we address critical hurdles that communities face while pursuing self-governance, traditional resource management, along with access and tenure of land and forests. Formerly, grants and fellowships had been the standard way of allocation to partner organisations. Currently, our focus is directed towards strengthening affiliations.

Connecting Grassroots Changemakers to Relevant Global Contacts

Connecting farmers, seedkeepers, honey-hunters, beekeepers, NTFP producers and other communities practising traditional livelihoods in remote areas to global connections to improve access to funding and other means of support.

Empowering Communities with Advocacy, Trainings & Collaborations

Engaging indigenous people and local communities in relevant workshops to close gaps in skills and knowledge to improve livelhoods and access to human rights. Planning campaigns for advocacy on underreported issues.

Uniting Communities with Similar Goals to Spearhead Change

Networks empower people; founding wide networks for knowledge exchange and collaborations across thematic areas, from forest rights, healthcare, traditional ecological knowledge to native seed diversity.

Current Projects

Using Diversity

The Using Diversity (UD ) Network aims to promote agricultural biodiversity and stress the importance of uncultivated foods for Adivasi people. The UD network enables civil society groups and community leaders to revive and promote uncultivated foods and traditional mixed cropping system in different parts of India. The network carries the message of food sovereignty, diet diversity and health and nutrition of Adivasi people.

Our partner organisatons in this project are – Paschim Banga Kheria Sabar Kalyan Samiti – West Bengal; Nirman – Madhya Pradesh; PRERAK – Chhattisgarh and Sahaja Samrudha – Karnataka.

Habitat Rights

This project mainly aims to help and facilitate PVTG communities to utilize the Habitat Rights provision under the Forest Rights Act 2006. Support is given to community fellows who raise awareness in villages, document habitat boundaries and inform respective communities of the importance of Habitat Rights. This is mainly implemented in three regions – Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Western Ghats.

Our partners in this project are – Regional Centre for Development Cooperation – Odisha; PRERAK – Chattisgarh; Gramin Samassya Mukti Trust – Maharashtra and Nirman- Madhya Pradesh.

People & Nature Fund

The People and Nature Fund (PNF), is initiated by Keystone Foundation as a funding facility for community fellows working on issues of environment protection and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in India. The fund recognises the important role of grassroots initiatives as communities are the key implementers of environment and development agendas.

Currently, our Fellowships are offered to PVTG community fellows from Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam.

The Eastern India Initiative

Collaborating with Paryavaran Chetna Kendra (PCK) at Bada Sigdi village, East Singbhum District, Jharkhand to investigate key issues and challenges faced by communities, and work to combat them through activities in biodiversity conservation, community wellbeing, environmental governance, and revitalisation of culture and traditions in 10 districts in Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Support from Both ENDS, a Netherlands-based nonprofit, has enabled us to commence work in 5 districts, 4 in Jharkhand and 1 in West Bengal.