A milestone publication that strengthens the case for Global South–led funding models.
As Alianza celebrates its fourth anniversary, we are proud to launch the full version of Funding from the Ground Up, our most comprehensive mapping of the 16 socio-environmental funds that make up our network. This publication builds on the Executive Summary presented during the opening session of The Global South House at COP30 in Belém and now offers the complete set of findings, data, and analyses that illuminate the depth, diversity, and strategic relevance of Global South–led funding infrastructures.
At a moment when climate and biodiversity debates increasingly acknowledge the need to shift resources to the territories, this research provides concrete evidence of how locally-rooted funds operate, the communities they serve, and the systems they have built to move resources with proximity, agility, and accountability. It confirms a truth that has long been clear to frontline organizations: lasting climate and socio-environmental solutions are being built from the ground up, driven by those who know the realities of their territories best.
A Landscape of Diversity and a Shared Foundation
Across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the 16 member funds of Alianza differ in their histories, structures, and focus areas. Some emerged from social movements; others grew from technical organizations or grassroots coalitions; many now operate across multiple countries. Yet despite these diverse paths, the research highlights three core pillars shared across the network:
These pillars are not merely values — they are operating principles, embedded into governance, decision-making, and funding strategies across the Alianza network.
How Resources Move: Scale, Reach, and Community-Led Grantmaking
The report shows a rapidly growing capacity for resource distribution. In 2024 alone, Alianza funds disbursed USD 14 million in grants – almost double the amount reported in 2022 – with 100% of these resources reaching frontline actors such as grassroots groups, Indigenous organizations, local governance bodies, community enterprises, and in some cases, families and individuals.
The funds collectively support communities in more than 50 countries, engaging a wide spectrum of groups:
Adaptability, being a defining feature of their grantmaking systems, shapes everything from thematic calls to rapid-response mechanisms and low-barrier microgrants designed to reduce administrative burdens. As Lisa Chamberlain from the Environmental Justice Fund (South Africa) notes:
“Open calls are an important methodology for us because they help position us as an accessible organisation: you don’t need to be networked with anyone to access support. They are also an incredibly useful source of information, because each proposal tells a story – what challenges a community is facing, and what strategies they are using to respond.”
More than half of the funds operate emergency support windows — an increasingly essential tool in a world where environmental defenders and communities face escalating risks. This responsiveness is grounded in proximity, as described by Cristi Nozawa of the Samdhana Institute:
“Being able to respond within a 72-hour period is really based on what members of the Alianza have described as our proximity to communities and movements in the places where we work. Proximity means being able to respond, to support resilience-building and rehabilitation when partners need it. That is a key feature of an urgent action response mechanism.”
Beyond Funding: Capacity Strengthening and Long-term Accompaniment
One of the report’s strongest findings is the dual role these funds play. They are donors, but they are also accompaniers, capacity builders, and movement partners. Their work combines flexible funding with long-term accompaniment, technical assistance, organizational strengthening, and peer-learning processes rooted in trust and mutuality.
This combination distinguishes Alianza member funds from traditional intermediaries and strengthens the argument for investing in community-rooted funding architectures.
Contrary to persistent misconceptions about local funds, the research also highlights the solidity of their internal systems. Even with varied sizes and institutional models, the funds invest in the practices and safeguards that allow them to operate with responsibility, transparency, and care – from financial management and collaborative governance to ethical standards and risk mitigation.
Joshua Amponsem, from the Youth Climate Justice Fund, emphasizes the importance of governance rooted in community leadership:
“We had a fantastic panel at the Global South House with other Global South–led funds, and one of the key things we talked about was how governance in the Youth Climate Justice Fund has helped us uphold accountability to the movements we serve. We discussed how this could be a model for many other funds around the world, bringing the communities they seek to serve directly into their governance. This helps bring the perspectives of the communities we support. It allows them to understand the struggles we face as a fund, and it allows us to understand where they see the biggest opportunities for our funding to be catalytic.”
These findings reaffirm what communities and movements have long shown: Global South funds are not only legitimate, they are effective, efficient, and indispensable to any agenda that aims to strengthen climate and socio-environmental justice.
Why This Matters
For Alianza, this report is more than a mapping exercise. It is a tool for political advocacy, institutional strengthening, and narrative change. It provides a shared reference for our 16 member funds, supporting collective learning and building a stronger, more coordinated ecosystem.
For donors and partners, the research offers a clear message: Investing in locally rooted, activist funds is not only the right thing to do, it is the most strategic pathway for ensuring that resources reach those who generate the most durable, legitimate, and transformative solutions.
Access the Full Report
The complete version of Funding from the Ground Up: Inside the Member Funds of Alianza – The Socio-Environmental Funds of the Global South is now available. It offers rich data, case studies, comparative analysis, and insights into the growing strength of Global South-led funding infrastructures.
