Natural resource management matters
At the IAF, we support community-led solutions that focus on strengthening resilience and improving environmental outcomes through sustainable natural resource management. Our work prioritizes a holistic approach to development. We respond to communities’ needs with financial support for projects that connect conservation with enterprise development, inclusion, food security and alternatives to migration, among other program areas.
Environmental challenges affect livelihoods around the world. In communities where we work, persistent drought and severe storms represent an urgent, tangible threat to individuals and families already facing economic disadvantage and other barriers. These communities often bear the brunt of environmental impact, making it even more difficult for residents to improve living conditions.
We know that degradation of natural resources in Latin America and the Caribbean directly undermines overall economic opportunity, governance and security of civil society. Working with local organizations puts us in a unique position to work directly with the people who feel these affects the most. It also shows us how small investments lead to big, life-changing improvements over time.
Talk about community-led development!
Recent News and Stories
Making Their Own Way: Brazil’s Quilombola Communities
Explore the rich history of Brazil's more than 3,000 quilombola communities that have joined together to celebrate their culture and defend their rights.
Afro-Colombian Women’s Vision for Tourism to Benefit Everyone
Colombia’s Pacific coast is best known for the violence it endured during the country’s extended armed conflict. But a group of Afro-Colombian women are leading an initiative to reframe that story, attracting tourists to the area’s cultural and natural riches.
Meet the IAF: Mexico Local Liaison Azucena Díaz
This month, we interview our IAF local liaison in Mexico, who provides key guidance on IAF grants and serves as a link between Mexican grantee partners and our Washington, D.C.-based staff.