stand initiative
What is STAND?
The Standing Together for Environmental Defenders (STAND) Initiative is a limited opportunity for Grassroots Environmental Defenders (GEDs) designed to respond to their urgent need for stronger prevention strategies, particularly defenders who are threatened or embattled and in underserved and underrepresented communities and locations with weak governance. The Initiative will also provide defenders the opportunity to apply for financial resources to confront the risks they face and integrate protection and effective environmental advocacy within broader livelihood, forestry, and climate change work. The STAND Initiative includes:
SESSIONS
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING
DEFENDER SMALL GRAND FUND (DSGF)
Download the brochure for easy access to information on the STAND initiative here
Why is STAND needed?
Grassroots Environmental Defenders (GEDs) are among the planet’s greatest stewards, caring forthe shared natural resources that sustain people, nature, and the climate.
Despite their vital role, too often GEDs, their families, and communities face serious threats and security risks, including criminalization, loss of livelihoods and property, physical attacks, and even killings because of their advocacy. They frequently encounter stigmatization and smear campaigns to reduce community support, particularly in countries reliant on natural resource extraction and large-scale infrastructure. Poor enforcement of human rights and environmental protection laws is often a root cause of attacks on GEDs as is the inadequate recognition of their rights and role by States and the private sector. Weak implementation of environmental impact assessment requirements, lack of public participation in environmental decision-making, and ineffective access to justice lead to social conflicts, attacks against defenders, diminished livelihoods, and environmental devastation, in addition to jeopardizing sound investment in natural resource extraction projects.
What does STAND do?
The Standing Together for Environmental Defenders (STAND) Initiative is a collaborative effort by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Alliance for Land, Indigenous, and Environmental Defenders (ALLIED). The Initiative is designed to respond to GEDs’ urgent need for stronger prevention strategies, particularly GEDs who are threatened or embattled and in underserved and underrepresented communities and locations with weak governance. The Initiative will provide GEDs with financial resources to confront the risks they face and integrate protection and effective environmental advocacy within broader livelihood, forestry, and climate change work. The STAND Initiative strategy uses:
LISTENING SESSIONS
Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING
Through co-created, country-tailored training programs, GEDs will enhance their advocacy skills, including strategies for accessing and using information and data, legal and judicial accountability strategies, and participating in public decision-making. These trainings will integrate psychosocial support and security measures, and overall, help improve GED capacity to hold government and private actors accountable for compliance and enforcement of environmental laws.
DEFENDER SMALL GRANT FUND (DSGF)
Recognizing that financial constraints faced by GEDs imped their success, the DSGF will provide resources for evidence-based advocacy, bolstering their protection measures, and ensuring long term sustainability. This opportunity is reserved for registered members. Click below to learn more about the opportunities available through DSGF.
Registered member?
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
WRI and ALLIED are working with a consortium of country based organizations and international technical training partners to help GEDs strengthen local solidarity networks and promote participation in regional and international environmental governance spaces. These partnerships will enhance the long-term ability of GEDs to engage in campaigns on environmental and development impacts and help reduce the threats and attacks against them, while securing firmer commitments by governments and the private sector to address GED attacks.
Areas of Focus
Brazil
Guatemala
Mexico
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kenya
Liberia
Indonesia
Philippines
STAND Country lead partners include:
Mariana Montoya
Universal Rights Group
Elisa Wiener
ILC LAC
Itzá Castañeda Camey
WRI Mexico
Patrick James
Njakani Okoko
WRI DRC Office
Joseph Burke
Universal Rights Group
Peter Quaqua
Green Advocates
Hidayah Hamzah,
Mutiara Kurniasari
WRI Indonesia Office
Louis Mason
Universal Rights Group