About us
We believe conservation should be people-oriented. Therefore, we built our programs upon, and with respect for, existing social systems. Our projects are designed for growth and are driven by local needs and knowledge to assure sustainable solutions.
Mission and vision
Green Growth Suriname Foundation’s mission is to further advance the people of Suriname’s wellbeing and welfare by conserving the biological and cultural richness of the country. GGS envisions Suriname as a country that recognises and maintains its ecological and cultural balance, populated by its citizens that are enabled and recognised as cornerstones of a sustainable society.
We aim to achieve this by:
- Developing and implementing models to include nature in national development processes.
- Designing and executing socio-economic projects that contribute to our mission.
- Building capacity for nationals interested in conservation by organising training sessions, workshops, seminars and socio-cultural excursions.
Theory of change
If one increases the awareness and engagement of citizens, builds capacity in government, and strengthens the stewardship of forest-dependent communities, these actors will be able to take full responsibility for protection of the forest — which will ultimately lead to ecological and cultural balance in the sustainable growth of Suriname.
What makes us different
We adhere to our operating principles. What makes us different is our research-based approach, our core values and our operating model.
- High return on investment
- Green Growth Suriname is based on a virtual network delivery model. A highly focused and limited core staff periodically brings together and disbands networks of professionals based on the needs of specific project activities. This allows the best and most experienced conservation and development professionals to be deployed for short periods without locking in high overheads.
- Solid ethos
- Our programs are rooted in our shared love of nature and local communities, and in a dedication to scientific methodologies. All our programs are designed with balance not just in mind, but at heart.
- Precise alignment with existing needs
- GGS designs all its projects itself, and sees each as a contribution to the wellbeing and welfare of the citizens of Suriname and the wider world. Projects are tailored to the needs and skills of communities, and tied into government policy to advance remote communities — which makes them more effective in terms of impact.
Our four core values
When designing work programmes and interventions we are guided by four core values. They are the four interconnected circles in our logo.
Dedication to socio-cultural balance
Bridging the worldviews at play in project design and implementation, to the ultimate benefit of Suriname’s people.
Love of communities
Capacity building guided by local needs, knowledge and customs, to make vulnerable communities more resilient.
Appreciation of biodiversity
Conservation of biodiversity and data collection, to mainstream the economic benefit of nature and forest stewardship.
Respect for science
Evidence-based research in project design, to add to national knowledge on bio-wealth and socio-cultural developments and inspire informed decision-making.
This integrated approach ensures that our programs reflect our core values and will endure the test of time and integrity.
Our NGO 2.0 concept
Partnerships
We partner with the Suriname government and the Trio tribe in the south of Suriname, who are acknowledged as the best conservationists in the world, overseeing 7.2 million hectares of the largest remaining rainforest. These forest custodians are the main reason Suriname still has 93% forest cover and can call itself the most forested country on earth.
GGS believes in partnerships and in building together towards our goals. In our quest to help Suriname grow with ecological and cultural balance, we equally value our work with Indigenous communities, other NGOs, the private sector and government institutes.
Funders and institutional partners
Organisations that have funded or worked with us on projects since 2019.
- Re:wild Fiscal sponsor until 2024
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
- UNICEF
- United Nations Development Programme — Small Grants Programme (SGP)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Rotary Club of Paramaribo Central and Amsterdam West
- Systemiq Ltd.
- Swedish Postcode Foundation
- Amazon Andes Fund
- Amazon Forest Fund
- National Philanthropic Trust
- Rainforest Trust
- IUCN Netherlands
- Total Energies E.P. Suriname B.V.
- Het Cultuurfonds
Indigenous community-based organisations
Partnerships with the organisations that represent the communities we work in.
- Stichting Tewe Kwamalasamutu
- Stichting Trijana
Conservation organisations working in Suriname
We have ongoing working relationships with the collective of conservation organisations in the country.
- Wildlife & People Suriname (WPS)
- Tropenbos Suriname
- WWF-Guianas
- NeoWild
- Conservation International Suriname (CI-S)
- Amazon Conservation Team Guianas (ACT-Guianas)
- Suriname Alliance For the Environment (SAFE)
- Stichting Ontwikkeling Rurale Gemeenschappen (SORG)
Completed partnerships
Re:wild acted as our fiscal sponsor until 2024. Through Re:wild we received funding from, among others, the Swedish Postcode Foundation.
With the Organisation of Indigenous Suriname (OIS) we ran the COVID-19 Relief Fund for Communities in Suriname, which relieved immediate health and food needs in remote Indigenous communities. The fund closed in 2021.