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Building resilient beekeeping systems: Actionable insights from Chiapas, Mexico
Full text linkIn many parts of the world, honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony loss occurs at alarming rates. This report proposes a framework for colony health based in actions taken not only at the colony, apiary, or ecosystem level, but also within the broader beekeeping system - the extended network of honey bees and beekeepers that are connected to, and impact, each other. It explores factors that contribute to the industrialization of beekeeping systems and describes alternatives to industrial beekeeping. It then turns towards beekeeping in Mexico, discussing the ways industrialization can take hold even inside of small-scale systems, highlighting beekeeper experiences in the southern state of Chiapas. Finally it outlines beekeeper-led actions that policymakers, researchers and extension workers, and the general public can implement to build resilient beekeeping systems.Key messages:A beekeeping system is comprised of a vast network of bees and beekeepers who are connected to – and impact – each other.Industrial beekeeping occurs when inputs-intensive practices come to dominate a beekeeping system.Industrialization erodes honey bee resilience and renders food systems vulnerable. It also contributes to pathogen spillover, jeopardizing wild bees and native ecosystems.Alternatives to industrial beekeeping have always existed and continue to prosper in many parts of the world. In Chiapas, Mexico, many beekeepers opt out of inputs-intensive practices despite pressures to industrialize.Supporting low-inputs alternatives in Mexico is particularly critical now as colony loss escalates, in some regions reaching rates comparable to those found in the U.S.Because honey bee colonies are highly interconnected, and the management that one colony receives can impact outcomes for another, beekeepers must work to build both resilient beekeeping practices and resilient beekeeping systems. In resilient beekeeping systems, honey bee colonies survive with or without beekeeper intervention.Building resilient beekeeping systems means (1) identifying beekeeping practices that contribute to resilience, (2) determining barriers to implementation, (3) expanding beekeeper access to resilience-building practices, and (4) articulating multi-sector strategies to support systems change
Philanthropy in Spain and Portugal : Knowledge, Social attitudes and Behaviours
Full text linkThis report explores the current state of philanthropy in Spain and Portugal, focusing on public awareness, social attitudes and philanthropic behaviours. It highlights the vital role philanthropy plays in addressing needs that are not met by the state or market, allowing individuals to contribute their resources for the common good, support societal improvement and express solidarity with others.Drawing on newly commissioned survey data, the study offers valuable insights into how citizens in both countries engage in philanthropic activities such as donating, volunteering and helping others. These behaviours are found to be widespread and generally viewed positively across both societies, though notable differences emerge based on age, gender, education level and national context.Despite the global prevalence of philanthropic practices, the report identifies a lack of recent, reliable data specific to Spain and Portugal. This new research helps fill that gap and provides a stronger foundation for understanding how philanthropy is perceived and practiced in each region. The findings carry important implications for improving public understanding and guiding future development in the philanthropic sector, and the report concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at supporting its continued growth and relevance
Digital Resilience of Swiss Foundations : Threat Landscape & Recommendations
Full text linkSwiss foundations play a critical role in advancing philanthropic missions but face rising cybersecurity threats in an increasingly digital world. A new report by the CyberPeace Institute, supported by the Republic and State of Geneva, assesses the digital resilience of Swiss foundations and reveals a fragmented cybersecurity landscape. While larger foundations often have dedicated resources, smaller ones operate with limited protections, making them more vulnerable to sophisticated threats.Key challenges include limited awareness and training, insufficient budgets, the absence of cybersecurity expertise at the board level and fragmented security practices. These gaps leave foundations exposed to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, such as deepfake fraud and impersonation scams, as demonstrated in the case studies from the report.The report offers actionable recommendations, including targeted training programs, shared cybersecurity resources and integrating cybersecurity into governance through dedicated budgets and policies. It also advocates for innovation in cybersecurity solutions and encourages collaboration across the sector to build collective resilience. The findings of this report underscore the importance of adopting a proactive and strategic approach to cybersecurity, ensuring that Swiss foundations can continue their vital work in a secure and resilient digital environment
Growing Against All Odds: Mapping funding for intersectional organizing in the CEECCNA regions
Full text linkGrowing Against All Odds: Mapping Funding for Intersectional Organizing in the CEECCNA Regions is the first-ever comprehensive analysis of funding for intersectional organising across the diverse regions of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central and North Asia (CEECCNA).This research is driven by the need to spotlight lived experiences and political agendas of regional social justice movements, whose efforts are critical yet often overlooked and underfunded. At the same time, it is not only about funding in that geography — though worthy of study in its own right. The findings also point to the challenges and possibilities of driving funding to movements around the world that are operating amidst crisis, restricted civic space and attacks on democratic institutions. Funders committed to social justice and human rights around the world can take lessons from the CEECCNA regions, which stand out as a roadmap of right-wing tactics and, at the same time, a case of longstanding organised resistance
Developing Supportive Educational and Career Pathways for Young People: Lessons From the Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) Initiative
Full text linkThe Annie E. Casey Foundation's Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP)⢠initiative aims to improve educational and employment for young people, particularly those who have experienced foster care, justice system involvement or homelessness. Through collaboration with local organizations, LEAP helps youth gain the skills and support necessary to achieve long-term success.This report outlines strategies that LEAP has employed and shares lessons learned to help guide public systems and organizations looking to provide similar support.Key LEAP strategies include:Equity-Centered and Inclusive Environments: Developing processes to identify and address inequitable practices that create barriers for youth of color.Flexible Learning Experiences: Providing high-quality learning opportunities that equip young people with the necessary skills for career and postsecondary success.Youth-Centered Design: Integrating young people into decision-making processes to identify barriers and advocate for policy changes.Support for Meeting Basic Needs: Assisting youth in accessing resources such as housing, mental health services, child care, transportation and technology.Empowering Relationships: Fostering strong peer-to-peer connections and support networks.Formalized Structure for Collaboration: Establishing formal referral and data-sharing agreements to enhance service delivery.By implementing these strategies, systems, organizations and communities can create an equitable, supportive environment that helps young people tap into their talents and realize their full potential
Horizons for funding climate-friendly buildings
No full textA digital resource that maps out pathways for transforming the buildings sector, including concrete solutions and practical examples
Statewide Hunger Study: Findings from a Survey for Second Harvest Heartland
Full text linkSecond Harvest Heartland contracted with Wilder Research to conduct a randomized statewide study to learn more about the prevalence of hunger across the state. In addition to gathering this information, Second Harvest Heartland and Wilder Research collaborated on the development of a metric to better assess food security on a spectrum
Transnational Networks in the Constitution of Latin American Sites of Conscience: The Role of Philanthropic Foundations
Full text linkThis report explores the establishment of sites of conscience in Latin America, focusing on the role of philanthropic foundations in supporting initiatives related to the memory of Latin American dictatorships and in forming transnational networks. The report is part of my doctoral research. Drawing on documents from the Rockefeller Archive Center, the following pages examine the history of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC): the only global network of "memorials, museums, and place-based museums in historical sites that prevent the erasure of the past to ensure a more human future." I focus on one of the Coalition's founding members, the Argentine human rights organization alliance, Memoria Abierta (MA). I argue that philanthropic foundations played a pivotal role in establishing transnational networks crucial for the development of Latin American initiatives focused on human rights and the memory of state terrorism. For that, I map the complexity and conflicts among local NGOs, individuals, and international institutions that contributed to the emergence of innovative practices promoting memory from historical sites across the continent
Hacia el Fortalecimiento de la FilantropÃa Institucional en América Latina
Full text linkHacia el fortalecimiento de la filantropÃa institucional en América Latina contribuye al esfuerzo por entender el crecimiento del sector filantrópico en la región y a fortalecersu práctica basada en la investigación desde tres elementos que enmarcan el valor de esta publicación. En primer lugar, este libro se enfoca en un ámbito particular del sector: la filantropÃa institucional, fenómeno creciente en el mundo y en América Latina y de gran importancia por la capacidad propia que tiene de cumplir un papelen el desarrollo de la sociedad
Making the Arid Lands Green: The History of the Ford Foundationâs Agricultural Program in the Middle East, 1968-1977
Full text linkThis report examines the history of the Ford Foundation's agricultural endeavors in the Middle East, which was spearheaded by its Arid Lands Agricultural Development (ALAD) program, established in 1968. This program was created to address agricultural practices and propel food production. Throughout the 1960s, the Ford Foundation had been interested in having a program based in the Middle East, and so, this program was envisaged as a regional project that engaged national programs and local governments. Unlike other international programs created by the Foundation, ALAD was a project that cooperated with regional actors, workers, scientists, and governmental officials, to generate a space of adaptive technology catered towards local environmental conditions and agricultural aspirations in each country of the region. From the time of its inception, ALAD maintained three objectives to follow in its operations: increasing food production, supporting national institutions, and connecting local agricultural experts with international centers. ALAD focused on wheat production due to its significance in the Middle East. The headquarters of ALAD was at Lebanon's Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, where senior staff supervised the activities of ALAD in Lebanon and other countries. The Ford Foundation partnered with Lebanon's ARI to employ the latter's facilities for the uses of ALAD. Due to funding issues, ALAD's operations ceased in 1976 and its staff were transferred to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in 1977